Book Review by Debb

Reviews

Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner, 2nd Edition ByPérsida Himmele and William Himmele

Teaching techniques have evolved over the years.  Teachers need to keep the students’ interests and their desire to learn in a way that involves interaction with all the students.  This book offers 51 teaching techniques to assist the teacher and engage the student in learning and participating.  It deters students from being passive and not contributing to the lesson.  These Total Participation Techniques (TPT) have been tested in the classroom and can be used as formative assessments.    

One of my favorite on-the-spot TPT is a Chalkboard Splash.  It allows students to see how their peers responded utilizing a limited number of words.  It is quick and allows the student to get out of their seat as they place their answer on the board.  If students include their name, it is on the opposite side of the sticky note, so only the teacher is aware of who generated the response.  It is a good way to promote discussion during the last 10 minutes of class.  It also can be utilized in the last 2 minutes of class, where the teacher collects the responses and uses the findings to modify the next lesson.

Where the Sidewalk Ends By Shel Silverstein

This book is considered a children’s book with numerous poems and many illustrations.  It contains a variety of poems that people of all ages identify with.  Some of the poems make you reflect, some make you smile, and some make you laugh out loud.  As educators, all three of those traits are important in the classroom as well as your own life.  This book is an oldie but goodie that is worth your time.