The Art of Teaching Children: All I Learned from a Lifetime in the Classroom

by Phillip Done

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

This is an extraordinary collection of wisdom, inspiration, and best practices about the art and skill of educating children from one of the best teachers around.

An essential guide for teachers and parents that’s destined to become a classic, The Art of Teaching Children is one of those rare and masterful books that not only defines a craft but offers a magical reading experience.

After more than thirty years in the classroom, award-winning teacher Phillip Done decided that it was time to retire. But a teacher’s job is never truly finished, and he set out to write the greatest lesson of his career: a book for educators and parents that would pass along everything he learned about working with kids. From the first-day-of-school jitters to the last day’s tears, Done writes about the teacher’s craft, classrooms and curriculums, the challenges of the profession, and the reason all teachers do it—the children.

Drawing upon decades of experience, Done shares time-tested tips and sage advice: Real learning is messy, not linear. Greeting kids in the morning as they enter the classroom is an important part of the school day. If a student is having trouble, look at what you can do differently before pointing the finger at the child. Ask yourself: Would I want to be a student in my class? When children watch you, they are learning how to be people, and one of the most important things we can do for our students is to model the kind of people we would like them to be. Done tackles topics you won’t find in any other teaching book, including Back to School Night nerves, teacher pride, the Sunday Blues, Pinterest envy, teacher guilt, and the things they never warn you about in “teacher school” but should, like how to survive recess duty, field trips, and lunch supervision. Done also addresses some of the most important issues schools face today: bullying, excessive screen time, the system’s obsession with testing, teacher burnout, and the ever-increasing demands of meeting the diverse learning needs of students.

But The Art of Teaching Children is more than a guide to educating today’s young learners. These pages are alive with inspiration, humor, and tales of humanity. Done welcomes us like visitors at Open House Night to the world of elementary school, where we witness lessons that go well and others that flop, periods that run smoothly and ones that go haywire when a bee flies into the room. We meet master teachers and new ones, librarians and lunch supervisors, principals and parents (some with too much time on their hands). We get to know kids who want to hold a ball and those who’d rather hold a marker, students with difficult home lives and children with disabilities, youngsters who need drawing out and those who happily announce (in the middle of a math lesson) that they have a loose tooth.

With great wit and wisdom, irresistible storytelling, and boundless compassion, The Art of Teaching Children is the new educator’s bible for teachers, parents, and all who work with kids and care about their learning and success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982165673
Publisher:	Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	07/18/2023
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	289,313
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Phillip Done taught elementary school for thirty-three years and was the recipient of the prestigious Charles Schwab Distinguished Teacher Award, a Teacher of the Year in California, and a nominee for Disney’s American Teacher Award. He has taught in public and private schools in the United States and internationally. He has also served as an educational consultant around the world. Additionally, Done has worked as an on-set teacher for child actors in television and film. Done’s writing about education has appeared in Real Simple, Instructor, Parent, NEA Today, and Reader’s Digest. He lives in Europe with his family.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

The Children

Children 9

Love 14

The Cute Factor 20

The Fourth R 24

Melt 32

Recess and Lunchtime and Field Trips, Oh My! 36

The Hat 42

The Classroom

The Only Perfect Moment 47

The Classroom Home 50

The First Day of School 58

Door Time 70

The Box 74

Pinterest Perfect 78

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Reading Rugs, and Show-and-Tell 81

Gone with the Overhead Projector 84

The Curriculum

Smart 91

Words 96

A Word About Reading 108

Reading Aloud to Children 120

My Favorite Reading Strategy 128

Writing Time 132

A Word About Math 148

Talking to Learn 161

Grammar Lessons 172

A Word About Geography 175

The Case for Cursive 187

Singing with Children 190

Art Lessons 195

Indent Your Teaching 207

Putting On a Play 215

Enrichment 217

The Craft

Teachers as Artists 223

Teachable Moments 227

Teacher Shoppers 231

Personal Teaching 238

Laughter and Learning 243

Teacher Says 249

Teacher Mode 255

Thank You 258

Creativity 261

Fun 267

Frosting 278

The Superpower 281

Whoa! 284

Engineer the Unexpected 289

Hands 295

The Steinway of Strategies 298

Teaching Truths 304

Polish 307

Colleagues, Parents, and Mentors

Parents 315

Principals and Principles 324

New Teacher 331

1,001 Back to School Nights 344

Influence 347

The Challenges

The Back-to-School Blues 355

Teacher Heart 358

The November Wall 364

Beating the Bullies 367

'Twas the Week Before Winter Break 374

Teacher Tired 377

Popsicle Tulips 382

The Testing Speech 386

Screening the Screens 389

Teacher Tears 395

Smondays 397

Frozen 401

Spark 405

Closing Thoughts

The Last Day 417

Afterword 421

Acknowledgments 423

Index 425

Editorial Reviews

04/04/2022

Elementary school teacher Done (Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind) mines his 33 years of experience for colorful stories and sound advice in this spirited teacher’s survival guide. He focuses on integrating spontaneity and fun into the classroom as a way to foster passion and creativity, and lays out a wealth of “teachers truths” to do so, among them putting stuffed animals near books to make reading areas more enticing for younger students; making writing practice an “every day routine,” which can be made more enjoyable by playing soft music in the background; and making geography lessons more personal by using such questions as “Where on the map have you been?” He offers wisdom on how to set up a classroom (making it comfy is key, so bring in a couch), and, for dealing with parents, establishing email boundaries is a good idea. Done emphasizes that the most important part of teaching is establishing a connection with students; instead of teaching a grade level, he writes, “eventually you realize that what you really teach is children.” Well-crafted examples and pithy prose drive his points home. Done’s experience will hearten those in the trenches and be a tonic for young teachers. Agent: Janis A. Donnaud, Janis A. Donnaud & Assoc. (July)

Publishers Weekly

I fell in love. . . . There is so much amazing advice in Mr. Done's book, but the biggest takeaway is how much he loved his kids.”
—Jenna Bush Hager, Today

“You will smile the entire time you read this book. The reflections are priceless.”
—Harry K. Wong, author of The First Days of School

“I hope [this book] will spark some rethinking of certain attitudes and assumptions in the classroom. Done writes about his decades in the classroom, working with children, and challenges of the field. He discusses the obsession with testing, how some teachers kill the joy of learning and reading, and how ‘smart’ can look different in different people. Perhaps most importantly, if something’s not working, he writes about teachers looking at themselves before assuming it’s the student. This is a book about learning, not about school. About relationship and connection. At times, that feels downright revolutionary in education.”
—Jaime Herndon, Book Riot

“Done mines his 33 years of experience for colorful stories and sound advice in this spirited teacher’s survival guide. . . . Well-crafted examples and pithy prose drive his points home. Done’s experience will hearten those in the trenches and be a tonic for young teachers.”
—Publishers Weekly

“After three decades teaching elementary school, Done has amassed hundreds of interesting stories about his students, and he demonstrates a strong grasp of what works (and doesn’t) in the classroom. . . . Given the author’s highly successful career, it’s clear that his methods are proven to work. For teachers seeking inspiration, Done provides numerous stimulating concepts that can be incorporated into any lesson plan; for prospective or aspiring teachers, the author has plenty of insights into the ups and downs of teaching young children. All readers will have no doubt that Done chose the right profession. . . . A well-rounded, satisfying look at the daily life of a teacher.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“At no time in our history have kids and teachers had a greater need for what this book provides. It’s a recipe for love, comfort, and routine in the classroom, providing a true foundation for the love of learning.”
—Jim Fay, author of Teaching with Love and Logic

“Anyone who has ever considered taking on the challenge of teaching this current generation of children will find a rare and rich resource in The Art of Teaching Children. This is the book you’ll be reaching for again and again as you struggle to become the kind of inspirational teacher you’ve always dreamed of being.”
—Adele Faber, author of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

“With humor, warmth, practical tips, and cherished memories, Phillip Done offers the next generation of teachers a treasury of insights into the teaching profession. Part memoir, part practical guide, The Art of Teaching Children reminds educators that the spark that led them to choose teaching as their life’s work will ignite their imaginations and optimism even when faced with day-to-day challenges. This book is a love letter to teachers at any stage in the journey, written by a seasoned veteran who spent thirty-three years in a classroom. ‘Be committed, compassionate, and creative,’ writes Done. This book is rich with all three.”
—Julie Bogart, author of Raising Critical Thinkers

“Phillip Done has done it again! Done has become a go-to author for an authentic window into the classroom, his writing perpetually infused with the combination of gentle humor, kindness and pragmatism that is so needed today.”
—Esmé Raji Codell, author of Educating Esmé

From the Publisher

At no time in our history have kids and teachers had a greater need for what this book provides. It’s a recipe for love, comfort, and routine in the classroom, providing a true foundation for the love of learning.

author of Teaching with Love and Logic Jim Fay

With humor, warmth, practical tips, and cherished memories, Phillip Done offers the next generation of teachers a treasury of insights into the teaching profession. Part memoir, part practical guide, The Art of Teaching Children reminds educators that the spark that led them to choose teaching as their life’s work will ignite their imaginations and optimism even when faced with day-to-day challenges. This book is a love letter to teachers at any stage in the journey, written by a seasoned veteran who spent thirty-three years in a classroom. ‘Be committed, compassionate, and creative,’ writes Done. This book is rich with all three.

author of Raising Critical Thinkers Julie Bogart

Praise for The Art of Teaching Children

“You will smile the entire time you read this book. The reflections are priceless.

author of The First Days of School Harry K. Wong

Anyone who has ever considered taking on the challenge of teaching this current generation of children will find a rare and rich resource in The Art of Teaching Children. This is the book you’ll be reaching for again and again as you struggle to become the kind of inspirational teacher you’ve always dreamed of being.

author of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen Adele Faber

11/01/2022

Done, a veteran elementary teacher with 33 years in the classroom, shares his journey through the decades and explores the realities of what it means to teach from the heart. Each chapter focuses on a different teaching perspective: children, classroom, curriculum, craft, people, and challenges. Part memoir and part handbook, Done's work seamlessly blends tips and strategies with stories that will tug at readers' heartstrings. Though the title might remind readers of numerous introductory education books, this one is a treasure. Done is honest and raw and shares his successes and failures. He doesn't sugarcoat teaching. But somehow, he manages to highlight the most important part of the job: connecting with students. In his chapter about children, Done states, "And yet teachers know that love is a vital part of education. Good teaching is infused with it. The most successful classrooms are brimming with it. Love is the reason people go into teaching—love for a subject and love for children." VERDICT Whether readers are considering teaching as a profession, are mid-career, or are looking toward retirement, this book will inspire and remind many why teaching is still a fulfilling and rewarding profession.—Corey Hall

School Library Journal

2022-04-13
An award-winning teacher shares tips and stories from his 33 years in the classroom.

After three decades teaching elementary school, Done has amassed hundreds of interesting stories about his students, and he demonstrates a strong grasp of what works (and doesn’t) in the classroom. His goal for readers, especially new teachers, is “to encourage, enlighten, and empower—to offer advice, guidance, and maybe even a little wisdom from the perspective of an experienced teacher.” The author shares amusing snippets of his interactions with students that show his deep compassion and consideration for each child. The only drawback is there are so many children that readers won’t feel deeply connected to any child in particular—unlike Done, who obviously remembers each individual he taught with great affection. Interspersed with his recollections, the author offers practical tips on the art of teaching. These include getting to know your students by asking about their pets; how to handle recess, lunch duty, and show-and-tell presentations; and the importance of greeting children each day at the door. Done explains how to make a classroom warm and welcoming through furniture choices, lighting, and indoor plants, and he evenhandedly discusses the complex mechanics of working with parents. He also shares ample advice on lesson plans on a variety of subjects, including reading, writing, math, art, singing, and geography. Given the author’s highly successful career, it’s clear that his methods are proven to work. For teachers seeking inspiration, Done provides numerous stimulating concepts that can be incorporated into any lesson plan; for prospective or aspiring teachers, the author has plenty of insights into the ups and downs of teaching young children. All readers will have no doubt that Done chose the right profession. “If you are a teacher, or learning to become one,” he writes, “my wish is that you also will have a rich and rewarding career.”

A well-rounded, satisfying look at the daily life of a teacher.

Kirkus Reviews