The Art of Teaching Children

THE ART OF TEACHING CHILDREN by Phillip Done is subtitled “All I Learned from a Lifetime in the Classroom” and Done deftly share thirty-three years of experience. He mainly taught third and fourth graders (roughly 8 to 10 year-olds) and therefore brought back many happy memories of my time with students in that age category. While many of his examples (learning to read, to develop social skills, etc.), apply best to that cohort, he also shares universal truths like “Real learning is messy, not linear.” His love for his students (and theirs for him) is evident in the many anecdotes and that affection will buoy readers who “need a quick pick-me-up, a long heart-to-heart, or just a reminder that you’re not alone.” This is the kind of text which may appeal most to newer teachers -- it is full of general ideas like his emphasis on taking advantage of Teachable Moments, reinforced with colorful examples like the Sunflower lesson or Restaurant Day. Although it focuses primarily on pre-Covid times, THE ART OF TEACHING CHILDREN could easily be a “one book, one school” choice to prompt teacher discussion. For example, Done believes "the use of tech in schools is industry driven, not pedagogically driven. ... Connect your kids to the people in their classroom, not the pixels."