Book Review: 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny, Life Lessons From Teaching, a memoir by Phillip Done

This book will warm your heart and make your soul smile. Every child in this world deserves at least one Mr. Done in their school years.

Twenty-year veteran elementary school teacher, Phillip Done has written an awesomely heart-warming memoir about his years as a teacher.  

Within the first thirty pages I had two thoughts "... career change?"  and "I would give or pay anything to ensure that my son has 12 years of teachers who are THIS dedicated, THIS connected and THIS devoted to children."  Phillip Done is a funny man.  He is the teacher we all loved, the teacher we all remember forever, ...the teacher who made us believe in ourselves. 

Phillip Done paints a sarcastically humble and adoring portrait of his time in the classroom with children.  Many of us would not look back on the day a child released a bag of ladybugs into the classroom with humor, however, Done keeps tracks of the best Shareday (Show-and-Tell) stories, often relating them to his friends for extra humor value.  By embracing the utterly unpredictable nature of children, he allows each child the space they need to discover who they are as individuals, imagine within their world and grow into thoughtful people. He challenges, he engages and most of all he just ... loves what he does and it shows. He doesn't let a little spilled glue or glitter get in his way.  He teaches by practice that life is about the journey and that learning is fun.

At a time when all we seem to hear on the news is that another budget is being cut and class sizes are increasing, Done makes it clear that he adores teaching and makes efforts to think about how the children he teaches view him. He cherishes the childlike moments in life and speaks to kids in ways they understand.  

This is a great book for teachers, for one, but as a parent I think it is good to understand the way teachers think, especially the good ones.  I am more encouraged now to be involved and active in my kid's school, when my children go to school.

Phillip Done is to teaching what George Washington was to the Presidency.  The first; a model to which all who follow should aspire to emulate.

You can read more about Phillip Done on his website.

PURCHASE LINK: AMAZON

Comments

[carma]

Excellent review. It is career teachers like Mr. Done who can inspire kids to do great things. Very admirable.

[Hilary]

Wow, nice review! I will definitely check this book out.