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Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America
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$ 23.36
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| Item Number |
755371 |
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Item Description...
Overview
Introduces an educational program created by two young teachers for middle schools that has grown into the highly successful, nationwide Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), detailing the essential principles of the KIPP program, which range from a longer school day to lively lessons, an emphasis on homework, and inspiring slogans. |
Item Specifications...
Dimensions: Length: 1" Width: 5.25" Height: 6"
Weight: 0.58 lbs.
Binding CD
Release Date Apr 8, 2009
ISBN 1598879057
EAN 9781598879056
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Availability 1 units.
Availability accurate as of May 30, 2012 03:53.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Commerce GA.
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 | An inspiring educational story Dec 5, 2009 |
If you found yourself out of your depth trying to teach students from a poor socio-economic background with little apparent interest in learning, how would you go about fixing the problem? That is essentially the problem that Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, two fresh graduates participating in the Teach for America program faced, as described in thsi book.
The book tells the story of the problems and obstacles faced by Feinberg and Levin in the US public school system which led to the creation of the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) chain of charter schools. The schools are built around five principles: high expectations, choice and commitment, more time, power to lead, and focus on results. Most KIPP schools run from 7.30am to 5pm on weekdays and 8.30am to 1.30pm on alternate Saturdays, so that teachers have a lot more teaching time than in normal schools.
KIPP schools use highly engaging teaching methods designed to bring out the best in each student, and they achieve outstanding academic results. The book is well worth reading for any parent or teacher interested in educational techniques, or any communicator interested in holding the attention of an audience, but prospective readers should be aware that the story is told in a warts-and-all manner including occasional coarse language. | | |  | great information and inspiration Oct 2, 2009 |
| This book is exciting and inspirational, as well as wonderfully well-written and entertaining. While the subject matter (improving education) is serious, I smiled or laughed aloud many times. The author is expert at imparting information in a way that makes it delightful to read. | | |  | No Short Cuts; No Panacea Jul 30, 2009 |
To their credit, no one in the KIPP story, neither the writer of this book, nor the teachers themselves, claims that the KIPP program is a panacea for all the ills of education among disadvantaged students. Nonetheless, I imagine that many of this book's readers are teachers like myself who continue to look for ideas and strategies proven successful in schools, especially among struggling students. I opened this book hoping that I might encounter an idea to apply in my own classroom or to bring up as an option for my school administrators as they look for ways to improve. This is not that kind of book.
Halfway through Work Hard, Be Nice, I realized that the heart of the KIPP method--extended teaching hours, Saturday school, summer school, evenings spent with students' families and a cell phone at hand to ensure that students can reach the teacher for homework help--was a recipe for teacher burn out. No one should be surprised by KIPP's success; these students get nearly twice as much attention as most students do. Unfortunately, KIPP's success seems to be built upon the backs of young, energetic teachers who do not yet have families and who do not seem to have a personal need for down time. For those of us who are committed to teaching as a lifetime profession, the book simply underlines what we already know: there are no short cuts, and there is never enough time to do all that we would like to for our students.
Five years into my career, I knew that I had to adopt some limits to the time I would give my students. If I didn't, I would end up leaving a career I loved. I began to limit my workday to eleven hours. That gave me one additional hour of prep and assessment time for each hour I spent with students. I limited my weekend work time to five hours or one set of essays; I would answer email and phone calls during my workday, but not once I was home with my family. Largely because I learned the limits of what I could do, I stayed with the profession and will begin my twenty-fourth year of teaching this fall. And I still love it.
I applaud the idea of doubling up the time we give our students, but to do so, we need two teachers in every class room.
| | | | Required Reading! Jul 28, 2009 |
Work Hard, Be Nice, by Jay Mathews, is an exciting and inspiring story of two inner-city teachers who decided to do whatever it took to make sure their students received a good education. The book traces Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg from their early days as teachers in the 1990s to the establishment of the KIPP foundation and the formation of dozens of successful charter schools based on the lessons learned through their experiences. (KIPP is an acronym for Knowledge Is Power Program.)
Though the author obviously admires his subjects, he has not written a pandering hagiography complete with shining halos. Levin and Feinberg are depicted as real human beings whose greatest strengths double as areas of weakness. They make enemies and at times even alienate their friends. We learn about the times when they lost their tempers and did things they later regretted.
For me, finding out about their "dark sides" only served to confirm the reality of their success as teachers. This story would not have been believable without some bumpy spots in the road. As a teacher, I have learned that any time you strive to achieve high-powered results with your students, you are going to have some people upset with you for one reason or another. You are also going to have times when you are stretched beyond your limit. If you are willing to compromise and settle for less, it is much easier for everyone to be in harmony and everything to run smoothly--but Excellence is demanding.
I was impressed by the possibilities that open up when schools are able to establish and actually enforce expectations and consequences. Most schools articulate a desire for students to achieve, but are willing to compromise those goals when people complain. For example, many KIPP schools have uniforms, but at least where I teach in California, public schools must grant waivers to parents who don't want to have their students wear uniforms, which defeats the whole purpose. Even "dress codes" become subject to debate by parents who don't want the school deciding what is appropriate attire for an educational setting. When the office has to call home because of a student's misbehavior, they often have to argue with the parent about whether or not a punishment is warranted.
I believe that part of KIPP's success springs from the structure created by the program and the clear expectations that are followed up with clear and consistent consequences. KIPP takes the long view with students, considering how the lessons of today will mold them into young adults. KIPP teachers know it is better to deny a student a field trip to Washington DC in order to teach a life lesson than to feel bad about how disappointed they will be when staying behind.
Through the course of the book, it becomes apparent that the KIPP way isn't for everyone. These teachers were consumed by their work and invested much of themselves in their students in order to get these kinds of results. As young men without families, they were able to devote themselves completely to their students. Teaching was not just a job, but a calling for these men. Levin and Feinberg demonstrate that it is possible to achieve great things with low achieving students, but that it requires massive amounts of time, energy, and focus.
This book is required reading for anyone interested in our education system. Even if you are a traditional public school teacher (as I am), it is inspiring to read about these men who were so determined to see their students succeed. Their commitment to excellence motivates me to be a better teacher. Though you may not agree with everything that Levin and Feinberg have done, you will be forced to admit that they have transformed the lives of thousands of young people over the past decade--and you will surely be hearing more about the alumni of KIPP as they distinguish themselves over the next decade.
| | | | Needs a little more meat ! Jul 23, 2009 |
Like one of the other reviewers here, I read this book on the basis that Bill Gates recommended it at a TED lecture.
As the first book I read about education in the US, I was a little inspired and a little disappointed. It is obvious the two protagonists of KIPP were talented, intelligent and driven educators but I would have liked more thorough exploration around why the methodologies they used succeeded where others failed. Also, I thought it would be useful to have pictures or a layout of a KIPP classroom. What could they have done better?
Discussions about individual students were a little superficial where I thought the book could explore more convincingly the hurdles the students had to overcome in order to succeed.
The book oscillates between discussing KIPP and gossiping about the personal lives of Levin and Feinberg. This draws a natural skepticism to me regarding the accuracy of the whole book. Otherwise, I am glad I read the book and I did walk away saying to myself that anyone can persevere despite the monumental challenges that are placed in front of you. I am very curious to meet these two educators and think that they should consider running for secretary of education one day. They obvious have a love for helping others and this selflessness is something the government could use.
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