Comments on: Lighting Their Fires – Book Review

By: devourerofbooks

devourerofbooks — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:55:39 +0000

That title isn’t quite as cheesy as it sounds, I think. According to my husband he actually got his hair set on fire in a class and was so focused on what he was doing he didn’t notice (students had to tell him). So what it really means is teach so wholeheartedly you don’t notice other tings, like your hair being on fire.

By: christina

christina — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:51:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing this book. As an educator, I have seen Teach Like Your Hair is On Fire (or something like that?) and neglected to pick it up because of its cheesy title. This review however has turned me on to his stuff and I just sent myself some sample chapters to my kindle.

By: Beth F

Beth F — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:04:29 +0000

I am so surprised to see how much movies are being used in schools. I had no idea. While I know they can be great learning tools (I used movies when I taught at the university), I think reading and discussion shouldn’t take a backseat.

By: Veens

Veens — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:45:11 +0000

This doesn’t sound like my kind of read!

By: carol

carol — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:27:22 +0000

My daughter’s in elementary and it seems like she watches at least part of a movie every week in school.

There are so many books of advice out there for parents, and they each have their own pros and cons. I guess you take what you think are the good parts and leave the rest.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:19:52 +0000

It’s interesting that he talks about movies a lot. When Vance was in high school, I felt like teachers used movies in the classroom far too often. He came home one day and said he’d watched a movie in every single class that day – I felt like he’d wasted his time by going to school.

By: devourerofbooks

devourerofbooks — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:33:00 +0000

I should have mentioned in the review that he does seem to talk about books more in his other books, I just wish it was more in this one, since this is the one that is for parents, many of the people who read this book won’t read his others.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:16:03 +0000

I usually enjoy reading books about the educational system and educating children since both my mom and aunt have taught elementary and middle grade. That does seem a bit inconsistent to be down on tv but fine with movies, and of course I'm with you about the books thing. I feel like a lot is lacking in our expectations of children sometimes with respect to reading and writing. .-= Nicole´s last blog ..Literary Feasts: Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater =-.