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There Are No Shortcuts

by Rafe Esquith

There Are No Shortcuts Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Year after year, Rafe Esquith’s fifth-grade students excel. They read passionately, far above their grade level; tackle algebra; and stage Shakespeare so professionally that they often wow the great Shakespearen actor himself, Sir Ian McKellen. Yet Esquith teaches at an L.A. innercity school known as the Jungle, where few of his students speak English at home, and many are from poor or troubled families. What’s his winning recipe? A diet of intensive learning mixed with a lot of kindness and fun. His kids attend class from 6:30 A.M. until well after 4:00 P.M., right through most of their vacations. They take field trips to Europe and Yosemite. They play rock and roll. Mediocrity has no place in their classroom. And the results follow them for life, as they go on to colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.
Possessed by a fierce idealism, Esquith works even harder than his students. As an outspoken maverick of public education (his heroes include Huck Finn and Atticus Finch), he admits to significant mistakes and heated fights with administrators and colleagues. We all—teachers, parents, citizens—have much to learn from his candor and uncompromising vision.

Review:

“Half-memoir, half ‘Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul.’ . . . Esquith’s methods are not complicated, terendy, or political. . . . The perfect spokesman for the ‘pick yourself up by the bootstraps’ crowd.” –The New York Sun

“Freethinking, demanding, encouraging.” –Kirkus Reviews

Review:

“Passionate and inspiring...With anecdotes that are alternately amusing and disheartening, Esquith details the joys and frustrations of teaching and offers valuable insights to parents and teachers alike.” –Booklist

Review:

“Esquith is a modern-day Thoreau, preaching the value of good work, honest self-reflection and the courage to go one’s own way.” –Newsday

Synopsis:

"The 1992 National Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Esquith explains how his inner-city students manage to score in the top ten percent on standardized tests."--"Library Journal."

Synopsis:

Year after year, Rafe Esquith’s fifth-grade students excel. They read passionately, far above their grade level; tackle algebra; and stage Shakespeare so professionally that they often wow the great Shakespearen actor himself, Sir Ian McKellen. Yet Esquith teaches at an L.A. innercity school known as the Jungle, where few of his students speak English at home, and many are from poor or troubled families. What’s his winning recipe? A diet of intensive learning mixed with a lot of kindness and fun. His kids attend class from 6:30 A.M. until well after 4:00 P.M., right through most of their vacations. They take field trips to Europe and Yosemite. They play rock and roll. Mediocrity has no place in their classroom. And the results follow them for life, as they go on to colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

Possessed by a fierce idealism, Esquith works even harder than his students. As an outspoken maverick of public education (his heroes include Huck Finn and Atticus Finch), he admits to significant mistakes and heated fights with administrators and colleagues. We all—teachers, parents, citizens—have much to learn from his candor and uncompromising vision.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Jenn, September 2, 2006 (view all comments by Jenn)
This was such a good book, I read it straight through! Esquith encourages his students to do their best. His 6th graders were learning Shakespeare, economics, to play the guitar, algebra, and things I never learned in college! He is an inspiring teacher, and this book made me want to fill in some gaps in my education!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781400030835
Author:
Esquith, Rafe
Publisher:
Anchor Books
Subject:
General
Subject:
Educators
Publication Date:
May 2004
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Pages:
224
Dimensions:
802x532x58 52

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