book data
645 ratings,
3.78
average rating, 142 reviews
(more data...)
edit
published
July 2004
(first published 1991)
by Harry K. Wong Publications
binding
Paperback, 352 pages
isbn
0962936065
(isbn13: 9780962936067)
description
With nearly 1.4 million copies sold, you'll learn practical techniques on discipline, procedures and routines, teaching for mastery, cooperative learn...more
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 829)
All ratings
|
5 stars (197)
|
4 stars (205)
|
3 stars (164)
|
2 stars (61)
|
1 star (18)
|
avg 3.78
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
K-5 teachers, clueless and/or nervous first-time teachers
This book came highly recommended from several sources. I had received a copy as a gift when I began teaching at the high school level, but I hadn't bothered to open it until recently.
After reading it, I'm glad that I didn't adopt Wong's methodologies as a first-day secondary teacher. My classes would have eaten me alive. It's not that the book is necessarily poor, but I believe that it is best-suited for K-5 teachers, who deal with students at a much earlier point in their deve...more
After reading it, I'm glad that I didn't adopt Wong's methodologies as a first-day secondary teacher. My classes would have eaten me alive. It's not that the book is necessarily poor, but I believe that it is best-suited for K-5 teachers, who deal with students at a much earlier point in their deve...more
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in April, 2004
recommends it for:
new teachers who don't like to think for and figure out things for themselves.
This book is given to new teachers in my school district, to help them start the school year. That's a scary thought for me, because I've never been a big believer in Wong's ideals about what teaching is.
He largely stays on the surface here, with how to dress, what to put on the walls, how to make a strong impression, etc. He definitely advocates a perpetuation of traditional schooling, with desks in rows, strict adherence to straight lines, no talking unless spoken to, and stringent...more
He largely stays on the surface here, with how to dress, what to put on the walls, how to make a strong impression, etc. He definitely advocates a perpetuation of traditional schooling, with desks in rows, strict adherence to straight lines, no talking unless spoken to, and stringent...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommended to Ayacalypso by:
A teaching course professorrecommends it for: student teachers, new teachers, or teachers who need help getting control over their classroom.
This book taught me several things that were not taught in my teaching courses, for example:
- How spending time at the beginning of the school year, teaching class procedures instead of content will actually maximize instructional time for the rest of the year.
- How to use a predictable daily routine to get students to begin working right away and minimize transition time.
- When is the best time to take role.
- Stressing the element of student choice in managing behavior (...more
- How spending time at the beginning of the school year, teaching class procedures instead of content will actually maximize instructional time for the rest of the year.
- How to use a predictable daily routine to get students to begin working right away and minimize transition time.
- When is the best time to take role.
- Stressing the element of student choice in managing behavior (...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in December, 2006
recommends it for:
Pre-service teachers
I'm drafting up a lawsuit against my teaching college for not exposing me to this book. Possibly class action, on behalf of my first-year students.
These are insights that I could easily have come up with on my own, if left to my own devices for 20 years or so. I'm glad I didn't have to do that. The book doesn't beat around the bush. The important parts are in bold, with pictures and diagrams. Any teacher can benefit from reading this book, or even just flipping through it for the ke...more
These are insights that I could easily have come up with on my own, if left to my own devices for 20 years or so. I'm glad I didn't have to do that. The book doesn't beat around the bush. The important parts are in bold, with pictures and diagrams. Any teacher can benefit from reading this book, or even just flipping through it for the ke...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Despite the corny, kiddish cover and the lame rectangular shape of this book, it is extremely helfpful for first year teachers or teachers (ahem, Christian!) who aren't, well, the most organized. It's not a classic for nothing! Oh, and ignore all the silly illustrations, and skip over the parts about how "noble" it is for teachers to drive Chevys, too. Now that I think about it, maybe I should just photocopy the good parts for you.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Starting a new job this year caused me to pull out this old 'classic'. I really feel that every teacher should take a few minutes to read through this book at the start of the year. Sure, Wong is a little idealistic, but his attitude and desire for excellence are goals to which we should all aspire. Re-reading this really helped me get my year off to a great start.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in December, 2008
This book was recommended by my alternative certification program so I picked it up. I didn't finish since I realized early on that it was the kind of book that I was going to have to force myself to read and not particularly enjoy to boot. What I did read was well-written and good advice. The problem was with the tone - negative opinions were squeaking through without any analysis of why these things were negative (teacher dress being an example) except nostalgic reasons - and the arrangemen...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2009
As other reviews have noted:
This isn't a book you "read". Skim, yes. Read, no.
This is very "old school". And while i certainly wouldn't adivse throwing the baby out with the bath water there were some suggestions in here that I just couldn't get behind.
But as a more "touchy-feely" kind of person (I'm INFP) i appreciate a different perspective (my guess is ESTJ) on how to be a good teacher. The school I will be teaching at thoroughly e...more
This isn't a book you "read". Skim, yes. Read, no.
This is very "old school". And while i certainly wouldn't adivse throwing the baby out with the bath water there were some suggestions in here that I just couldn't get behind.
But as a more "touchy-feely" kind of person (I'm INFP) i appreciate a different perspective (my guess is ESTJ) on how to be a good teacher. The school I will be teaching at thoroughly e...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
teachers (especially first years)
This is sort of the business side of teaching. It's all about how to manage your classroom, which is something I feel isn't emphasized enough. It's easy to understand and use in your own classroom.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2009
I have very strong feelings about this book. Personally, I think most of it is useless. If you have zero classroom management skills, it could be a helpful resource. However, Harry Wong has some bizarre ideas about the teaching profession, many of which I do not agree with.
The most obvious example that springs to mind is his view on "dressing as a professional." (Yes, there is an entire section devoted to this.) He states that teachers should dress professionally bec...more
The most obvious example that springs to mind is his view on "dressing as a professional." (Yes, there is an entire section devoted to this.) He states that teachers should dress professionally bec...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
new teachers
UUUUGGGH. All signs pointed to 'yes': an administrator I respected recommended this book as a good manual on how to approach classroom management from the beginning of the year, it was referenced often as a good starting point for new teachers, it was the same size and shape as Fred Jones' Tools for Teaching.
But Harry K. and Rosemary T. Wong might be a little bit crazy. They self-published this book so they could have complete control over every aspect of it, which means that it's ...more
But Harry K. and Rosemary T. Wong might be a little bit crazy. They self-published this book so they could have complete control over every aspect of it, which means that it's ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2009
recommends it for:
teachers, teachers-in-training
Because I am becoming a certified teacher through non-traditional means, I have begun reading all that I can on classroom management. So far, this book is the best that I've read on the subject, though many of the techniques seem better for an elementary classroom rather than secondary school.
Basically, Wong advocates these things: the importance of creating a structured classroom, creating lessons with a goal that students clearly understand, and developing lessons using a variet...more
Basically, Wong advocates these things: the importance of creating a structured classroom, creating lessons with a goal that students clearly understand, and developing lessons using a variet...more
Like this review?
yes
3 comments
Easy to read. Harry's suggestions will stay with you through out your teaching career. My favorite is Harry's recommendation to make telephone contact with all families once a month. "Call when no one is home: Hello, this is your child's teacher, just wanted to tell you what a pleasure it is to have _____ in my class. You must be so proud of ____ . Bye" Hang up! No muss, no fuss.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommended to Katie by:
My student teaching mentor teacher
This book has some good and bad points. The major negative is that it is INCREDIBLY repetitive. It takes about 5 pages to make a point that could have been well made and just as effective in 1 paragraph. Also, a lot of the information was just rehashing stuff I learned in my teacher education classes so it wasn't really helpful. However, it is true that no one really tells you how to go about the first days of school and ways to begin the year to set the tone for the type of year you want to...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2009
This was a great book for anyone aspiring to be a teacher. There was definitely more of a focus on elementary school teachers but a lot of the concepts can be applied to secondary grade levels. Very interesting a motivational.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2004
Great for a first year teacher.
He is a little too structured for me, but I would say that a first year teacher would do well to follow his advice exactly and then modify it their own style as the year(s) came.
He is a little too structured for me, but I would say that a first year teacher would do well to follow his advice exactly and then modify it their own style as the year(s) came.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2009
Read this textbook for intro to teaching class. It was very simplistic, and covered incredibly basic stuff. Don't think I learned much from reading it.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
Gives good teaching techniques and advice for teachers. Goes over blooms taxonomy- Talks about how to set up your classroom at the very beginning of the year.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
It doesn't matter if it is your first, fourth or fortieth year of teaching... this is a hands-on, readable, applicable and life-changing book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
teachers, first-year teachers
This is a great book for either the beginning teacher or the teacher who is struggling with classroom management. It's helped me in so many aspects of my teaching. This is the one teaching book I find myself coming back to again and again.
Wong focuses teacher attitude, expectations, classroom management, lesson mastery, and professional development. The part I always find myself turning to is the classroom management part because it provides a lot of advice on procedures and cre...more
Wong focuses teacher attitude, expectations, classroom management, lesson mastery, and professional development. The part I always find myself turning to is the classroom management part because it provides a lot of advice on procedures and cre...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
groups with this book
