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King Monte: Are You My P.E. Teacher?
Ten-year-old Monte has always been surrounded by his best kids who look like him, live near him, and go to class with him. But when his mother pushes him into the school's honors program, Monte feels like he's stumbled into a whole new world, and despite the fancy calculators and college banners, he's still not sure this world is better than the one he left behind. One thing that's certainly different, is Monte's fourth grade teacher who's unlike any teacher he's ever had - he's a black male.
Monte must decide if succeeding in the honors program is worth the effort - and the risk of failure. Even more importantly, he must convince his old friends that he's still there for them after the school bell rings, when they all head back to the south side neighborhood and the challenges that await them around each corner.
In a potent blend of realism and hope, Michael Woodward, Jr.'s King Are You My P.E. Teacher? illustrates a talented African American child's struggle to find the right role models, conquer self-doubt, and change not just his own life but the lives of the people he loves.
Monte must decide if succeeding in the honors program is worth the effort - and the risk of failure. Even more importantly, he must convince his old friends that he's still there for them after the school bell rings, when they all head back to the south side neighborhood and the challenges that await them around each corner.
In a potent blend of realism and hope, Michael Woodward, Jr.'s King Are You My P.E. Teacher? illustrates a talented African American child's struggle to find the right role models, conquer self-doubt, and change not just his own life but the lives of the people he loves.
220 pages, Hardcover
Published July 17, 2020
About the author
Michael A. Woodward Jr.
7 books2 followersAs a former elementary teacher, Michael A. Woodward, Jr. has found himself back in the classroom as a current PhD student at Barry University in Miami, FL. Throughout his studies, he has collected a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Florida A&M University (FAMU) and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He is inspired daily by his three sons and current fiancé whom he credits much of his motivation from. However, it’s the stories he carries of being in the classroom surrounded by 3rd and 5th grade black and brown scholars who struggled to find fiction literature that they could see themselves in.
Too often than not, a feeling of disconnect overcame his students during class-wide trips to the library between them and the books they lifted from its shelves. As such, Woodward fought through his personal self-doubt and disbelief in his ability to write in an attempt to create stories that are representative of the hundreds of thousands of children who stem from low-income communities and face inequities that many adults may never have to encounter.
One day, he believes that all children will have the opportunity to take advantage of a deserving and equitable education, and it’s his belief that it begins with us as their educators.
source: Amazon
Too often than not, a feeling of disconnect overcame his students during class-wide trips to the library between them and the books they lifted from its shelves. As such, Woodward fought through his personal self-doubt and disbelief in his ability to write in an attempt to create stories that are representative of the hundreds of thousands of children who stem from low-income communities and face inequities that many adults may never have to encounter.
One day, he believes that all children will have the opportunity to take advantage of a deserving and equitable education, and it’s his belief that it begins with us as their educators.
source: Amazon
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 4, 2020
King Monte: Are You My P.E. Teacher is a must read for boys (and children) of all ages! I bought this book for my 8 year old son and he loves it! My son reads a chapter or two a day then we discuss as a family what King Monte encountered and how my son relates.
This book has allowed my son to feel more comfortable expressing his feelings like King Monte but has also allowed our family to have open conversations about things our son may be facing in this world at a young age!
I am forever grateful for King Monte!
This book has allowed my son to feel more comfortable expressing his feelings like King Monte but has also allowed our family to have open conversations about things our son may be facing in this world at a young age!
I am forever grateful for King Monte!
March 26, 2021
This book is fantastic. It fills a spot missing in children's literature and gives a fantastic lesson to both children and adults about race, culture, socio-economic factors, and the importance of a good support system. I highly recommend this book!
March 12, 2020
It’s hard to review a book with so many elements, to properly summarize or even appraise what the author has done.
It’s a children’s book, it’s a coming of age story, it’s about positive role models, it’s intersectional sociology personified, etc.
It’s all that, but most importantly, it’s a great story, with real characters that one connects to, because their is something about each one that is real. You’ve seen them in yourself, a friend, a brother, a cousin, the principal, the store clerk - there’s life in between the pages.
While reading, I felt that this would make great teaching material for 5-8th grade classrooms. There is nothing in these pages that children (and adults) wouldn’t benefit from exploring. It shows the real challenges that one faces growing up - picking the right friends, how to deal with bullies, how to overcome intellectual inadequacy fears, how to get along with siblings, parents, teachers, etc. - and how to try to deal with them, but in a positive, real way.
Reading Beowulf will not inspire children to become honor students, or to go to college - King Monte may have that transformative impact.
And for this reason, I can’t give it any less than 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend that more people read it, without hesitation, especially Middle and Elementary school English teachers and children.
It’s a children’s book, it’s a coming of age story, it’s about positive role models, it’s intersectional sociology personified, etc.
It’s all that, but most importantly, it’s a great story, with real characters that one connects to, because their is something about each one that is real. You’ve seen them in yourself, a friend, a brother, a cousin, the principal, the store clerk - there’s life in between the pages.
While reading, I felt that this would make great teaching material for 5-8th grade classrooms. There is nothing in these pages that children (and adults) wouldn’t benefit from exploring. It shows the real challenges that one faces growing up - picking the right friends, how to deal with bullies, how to overcome intellectual inadequacy fears, how to get along with siblings, parents, teachers, etc. - and how to try to deal with them, but in a positive, real way.
Reading Beowulf will not inspire children to become honor students, or to go to college - King Monte may have that transformative impact.
And for this reason, I can’t give it any less than 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend that more people read it, without hesitation, especially Middle and Elementary school English teachers and children.
December 1, 2020
Phenomenal Read. We need more reads like this!
November 24, 2021
It's mostly filler but If you read the first one you really should read the second book
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews