The English Teacher's Companion: A Complete Guide to Classroom, Curriculum, and the Profession

by Jim Burke, Sam M. Intrator

This book covers the entire English curriculum, from basic reading and writing to digital literacy, media literacy, and integrated instruction.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction, Professional Development, School, Textbooks, Reference

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

A longtime English teacher, Jim Burke is the author of more than 20 books and senior consultant for the Holt McDougal Literature program. Jim has received several awards, including the 2000 NCTE Exemplary English Leadership Award. In 2009, he created the English Companion Ning―the largest online community of English teachers in the world. More recently, Jim has served on the AP English Course and Exam Review Commission and the PARCC Consortium.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nov. 2012: Still just about the most comprehensive ELA methods textbook out there, that I've seen. I am looking forward to this year's 4th edition, because some sections in this one are really showing their age.

I'm actually referring to the 3rd edition, which doesn't show up on Goodreads, but which is nicely updated from the 2nd edition. Like the Alsup and Bush book, this is one that has become a staple for my Methods course for preservice English teachers. Some chapters are more extensive, and more applicable than others, and there are certainly sections where even the new edition shows its age (the chapter on digital/media literacy, for one, is sorely underdeveloped, I think). Still, it's a great introduction to practical classroom strategies that have serious theoretical underpinnings. This is a title that has always been on my syllabi, and I can't see it going off anytime soon.

[Molly Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it was assigned as reading for my graduate studies in the fall, I finally read this book in full during the spring break of my first year as a teacher. Not only was the book engaging enough to hold my attention in Spain, it was so full of ideas that I began planning my next year of teaching in our hotel in Seville. I fully plan to reread this book and then reread it again. Thank you Jim Burke, for a practical, smart, and engaging book on teaching English.

[Kelly Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really is a must for a new teacher. I wish I'd had it ten years ago!

[Azizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a text that Jim Burke has written several times. In fact, the edition I read was his fourth one. In it, Burke lays out strategies for teaching all the different areas of the English discipline: writing, reading, speaking / listening, assessments, and language study. He offers tips and techniques that have worked in his classroom over the years as well as tons of research to support his suggestions. There are a number of student examples and reproducible graphic organizers and templates that teachers can use- which is really useful. He also includes assignments that are specific to certain student groups (AP, college prep, ELD).

I love this as a book that I can go to if I am looking for a specific strategy or some new ideas for livening up my classroom discussions. But I can not see myself reading the book from cover to cover again. It's way too dense. It reads like a college text book because there are so many references to research and comprehension questions at the end of each section. I kept thinking that this book would make the perfect textbook for prospective teachers in their English Methods course. Don't get me wrong, I am happy that I purchased the book. There is definitely valuable insight in each section. It just isn't written in a style that I particularly care for.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently went back through this book. It contains so many ideas that teachers can use. Personally, I find something to revamp in my teaching/room everytime I look through it.

[Cassey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that every teacher who teaches English needs this book! It is filled with wonderful and relevant ways to encourage students to get dirty with reading, writing, and speaking. I literally had to go out and buy more sticky notes to mark the last half of the book. Not only does Burke back up his chapters with research, but he also gives great ways to implement these teachings into your classroom.


I will continue to subscribe to Burke's methodology and research and borrow his lessons and tools for as long as I am in the English classroom! I am sure this will be a book I gift to any student teacher I have later in my career.

[Anne Bettencourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mid-career high school English teacher, I don't often come across books that are useful for me content-wise. However, both Bruce Penniman's "Inside the English Classroom" and anything by Jim Burke have proven to give me practical food for thought and lots and lots of models to look at that I can modify and adapt to students' needs in my classroom. Both offer a nice balance of research and practical application, and an abundance of samples of student and teacher work. It is precisely what I needed to move my practice forward!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and one of the best things about the graduate class I have taken this semester. It is full of insights, but more importantly, it includes models of the rubrics and handouts that Burke uses in his own classroom. So much of the time, what I find lacking in instructional texts is real-world examples that I can modify for actual use. I had intended to just rent this book and return it at semester's end, but there is so much good stuff here that I marked to copy, that it would be cheaper to just buy it and have it forever.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave it a four because I really think that it should have an appendix with all the worksheets he provides but other than that this is a very reliable book for English teachers that debriefs all the technicalities of teaching the subject. My favorite chapters were teaching how to read, write, and assess because I found them the most helpful where I directly applied his suggestions into my lesson plans. If you're en route to teach English or have been doing it for 10 years it is still a great book to pick up if you find yourself running out of ideas or questioning your career.

[Markmisfit5000 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are lots of great practical suggestions for English teachers, but there's also a lot of "oh, you need to buy and read my other books," with a definite emphasis on "buy." I'm getting tired of authors of pedagogical books trying to sell their other books in a book we've already bought.

Very well written, Burke's tone is personable and affable. Definitely a must for anyone who is teaching English at the secondary level.

[Kristi C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the latest edition of the English Companion by Jim Burke. It includes tons of valuable and succinct resources that every teacher can actively use in their classroom. He gives actual examples of things that he has done in his classroom, and I really appreciate the way he talks to me throughout the book - like I am his colleague and he is just mentoring me. This is the best resource that I have found thus far during all of my graduate classes and I highly recommend it.

[Araminta Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of its categories are overly simplistic (like the chapter on teaching ebonics in the English classroom), but most of the tactics and lessons are valuable. I especially liked the reflections and activities at the end of each chapter and Burke's literary lessons. He has integrated some fascinating tactics into the English classroom!

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read both the 3rd and 4th editions of this text and love them both for different reasons. The 3rd edition has a lot of ideas and activities that you can immediately put in place in your classroom. The 4th edition, however, contains a lot more theory about the evolution of English education. Both are phenomenal, both should be on your shelf.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a textbook, this was an informative and entertaining read. I learned many valuable skills for my future classroom. I liked this book because it provided solid examples, real-life experience, and worksheet templates that I will certainly look back on as a teacher. In terms of textbook learning, I would highly recommend.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think all English teachers should read this book. It changed the way I approach lesson planning, teaching students, and my understanding of the humanity of teaching. This is one of those books that should be reread periodically.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does Jim Burke find the time to write such high-quality books and teach? He's either got a ghost writer or he doesn't sleep. Either way, us mere mortals reap the benefits of his Puritanical work ethic and passion.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this useful at the time I read it for my student teaching, but I don't remember anything about it clearly now. This book was required reading for my student teaching, but I've come across many other books that would have worked better, especially in conjunction with In The Middle.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some of his ideas for integrating technology, but you'd have to be a super teacher to incorporate everything he suggests. My favorite chapter was "Teaching English and Having a Life," it which he argues you really do need to be organized to make it through this job.

[Valerie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, I am 100 pages into it and I can't put it down. I picked it up hoping that it would by dry and boring and cure my insomnia..but I picked the wrong book. It is currently 4am...and I have been reading all night! I LOVE THIS BOOK! I can't wait to read more!

[Janine Darragh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll definitely use this textbook again next year. User-friendly and great practical applications offered. I didn't give it 5 stars because it is a textbook-- and "textbook" and "amazing" just don't work in my head. But as far as textbooks go, it was great!

[Nadiene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be a bit subjective, and he mostly quotes ideas from books I had already read, but overall is a great index of teaching ideas for an ELA teacher. Does seem to overcomplicate some aspects, but is still useful.

[Jen H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of ideas to bring a variety of strategies into classroom use. A more practical application would be a pdf of all the great handouts, but I can make do adapting Burke's ideas into my own classroom practice.

[Sheila Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this textbook for a class, and it was one of the most practical books I've bought for my MAT. I know that I will use the ideas in Burke's chapters for years to come! This is worth the money, and even then, it wasn't that expensive.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually the textbook for my English Methods class in college. And although my professor was mean and condescending, this book already feels like an old friend.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

for class. chock full of good suggestions even if it's occasionally corny.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome resource!! English peeps, def get a copy! Anything you might want to know about is covered in here.

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading this for my teaching english course...it looks promisingly helpful.
so far so good...burke has some great ideas that i would like to implement in a class.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best English teacher resource I have read. It is full of practical ideas. Any time I am looking for something new to do in the classroom, I pull this book out.

[Michael Wolf]

It's one of those that makes one want to scan just about anything; I love the English Companion Ning website.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb reference!