ebook Review
Adam Waxler (2004) eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers
The chapter headings of this ebook are
Chapter 1: Strategies
Chapter 2: Time Management
Chapter 3: Presentations
Chapter 4: Reading
Chapter 5: Homework
Chapter 6: Grading
Chapter 7: Review Games
Chapter 8: Room Layout
Chapter 9: Methods
Chapter 10: Classroom Management
Chapter 11: Closure
Waxler begins this ebook with the following insights:
Have you ever noticed that the older students get the more teachers seem to move away from teaching strategies that are proven to work?
Why in kindergarten are students actively engaged in learning, but college students end up sitting and listening to a professor lecture for three hours?
Think about it ... in which class did the students really learn more?
The focus of this ebook is on well educated students as opposed to well managed students. The ebook is based on the premise that the best "management system" is a strong "instructional system".
He then says:
I am currently using every strategy that is written in this ebook in my own classroom (unless noted).
And then
However, while the ebook is suited for all levels of education, from kindergarten right through graduate school, my middle school experience definitely shines through.
The ebook however, is not more suited for secondary education.
Chapter 1 is the strategy chapter in which Waxler sets out what he considers the fundamentals of good teaching. One is the pass option that he gives his students: I have to confess that I don’t understand the purpose of it.
I do like much of what else Waxler has to say in chapter 1 but I’m not sure that I like his delivery style: I get the impression that he is acting out a military role.
Teacher: OK, please finish up what you’re writing. Now take 2 minutes and share your answer with your partner.
Teacher: How much time do you have, Gabby?
Gabby: 2 minutes (or “pass”)
Teacher: And what am I asking you to do, Tania?
Tania: Share our answers with our partners.
Teacher: 2 minutes…GO!
The strategies are:
Checking for understanding
The pass option
Wait time
On the clock
The all write and the pair share
The interaction sequence
The monitor map
Chapter 2 concerns time management and Waxler says that time should be split into two:
The year
The day
Actually there is nothing unusual here. Take a look at what Waxler calls the curriculum map and you’ll probably find that you have prepared one before: I certainly have. Waxler is from the USA so he talks about things such as the 8th Grade, which mean nothing to me: not a criticism, just something for non Americans to get to grips with.
There are other matters under review in chapter two, for example State examinations, that are definitely American. You will need to read these parts very carefully if you are not working in the American system.
The rest of the book is a good and solid list of top tips for teacher and Waxler is careful to remind us from time to time that checking for understanding is important. He also emphasises the importance of setting objectives by making the good point that if you don’t know what the kids are supposed to learn then how will they?
I would be interested to know who agrees with is, from chapter 4:
YOU MUST INCREASE YOUR STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND INTEREST IN A SUBJECT BEFORE YOU READ ABOUT THE SUBJECT!!
Waxler then says, also on page 36
The problem was, like many teachers, I was teaching the mini lessons in the wrong order. There is a tendency for teachers to assign reading at the beginning of the class, followed by a lab, an activity, an experiential exercise, or even a movie or film clip.
I have very rarely assigned pre reading and I know that the only teachers likely to are teachers of adults and highly motivated self starters.
You might not agree with this either, chapter 5 on page 41:
Homework should NEVER be used to teach new material.
With adult and highly motivated students I have done this. Does it work: well, an email from student Carl at 10:30 in the evening on Saturday night asking me for some advice on the new topic suggests that it might!
Waxler does then go on to give some really sound advice on setting homework: see the rest of chapter 5!
Chapter 7 is well worth reading as it contains a lot of good ideas for reviewing your pupils’ work. I would put a lot of top tips here but there is a severe copyright warning at the start of the ebook.
In summary, I haven’t reviewed the entire ebook here but have tried to give you a flavour of what’s in there. This is an American book written for American teachers but don’t let put you off. The links and ideas all revolve around American centric history and social studies so anyone hoping for a set of teaching resources for the UK will be hard pushed to rely on this one.
As I said above, I don’t always appreciate Axler’s militaristic style but I do respect the tips and insights he is giving.
Reviewed by Duncan Williamson
5th January 2008
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