Among Schoolchildren (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

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Summary: a Mrs. Zajac student
Review: I was inspired to write this review not because I loved Among Schoolchildren-of course I did; I had Mrs. Zajac for a teacher. I was in the 6th grade when Mr. Kidder spent a year at The Kelly School. My motivation was from reading another review-someone questioned if Mrs. Zajac really had a LASTING impression on these students. I would compare myself to Alice-I had a loving family, intelligence, motivation. . .whether or not I had Mrs. Zajac for the 5th grade I would have attended college. But a lasting impression. . .to this day she remains one of my top three teachers-including college. She is unique-and maybe from reading the book the reader doesn't see that, but she is not the average teacher. And I think parents would feel the same way. She is a very wonderful teacher and a true friend. Please, don't read this book and think her students "forgot 5th grade" it's scarey how much I remember of 5th grade. Her mix of humor, toughness and compassion make her a great role model; and now that I too am in education I hope my students remember me as fondly as I remember her.

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Summary: Great book for anyone who wants a real view into our schools
Review: As a graduate education student, I read this book for a class and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in education or just wanting to know more about our schools. Kidder has a way of telling of the ordinary and extraordinary details of real life in such a way that they read like a drama. This book is wonderfully written and easily readable - seeming more like an engrossing story than a documentary.

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Summary: Mrs. Zajac is not all that
Review: I recently read "Among Schoolchildren" for an assignment at grad school. I have to admit I have never read a book like this. I enjoyed the book itself, but I could not stand Chris Zajac. I found her self-righteous, condescending, and annoying. She claims she has great control over her students, but I thought they "walked all over her" mostly because she didn't have much control. She also amazed me by what she did during the science fair.First, she was annoyed at Ashley's mother because she wouldn't by Ashley a pair of jeans. It was as if she never took into consideration that maybe Ashley's mom couldn't afford to purchase a pair of jeans! Secondly, there was another student at the science fair who was sitting in the classroom, and this was where Chris found him. She immediately reprimands the kid and sends him to the office so she can get back to the fair. She spoke too soon! The student was sitting in the classroom because his project broke. Instead of Chris trying to help the student fix his project, she "rids herself" of him. I think one odf the reasons I liked this book so much was because I wanted to see what Chris would do next to annoy me. I did not find Chris to be the great teacher that Tracy Kidder wanted her to be. My bottom line...Chris Zajac was not all that.

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Summary: Among Schoolchildren
Review: I am a college student at Macon State College. I was given an assignment in my education class to read a book. I chose Among Schoolchildren by Tracy Kidder. I enjoyed this book because it gave a great example of what it is like to be a teacher. I believe Tracy Kidder did a good job of showing how Mrs. Zajak got through her problems and how she dealt with parents, misbehaving students and the everyday problems of the classroom. I would recommend this book to anyone who is going to teach or wants to teach in elementary school.

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Summary: An Eye Opener
Review: As an education major at Macon State College, I read Among Schoolchildren for an assignment for my education in a diverse society class. This book really opened my eyes to what teaching is like in the "real world." Tracy Kidder supplied very detailed information about each student in Mrs. Zajac's class and about Mrs. Zajac herself. I took note of many excellent teaching strategies used by Mrs. Zajac, and I hope to be able to apply them when I myself am teaching. Kidder's awesome description and remarkable ability to recreate various events in the book made me feel as though I were right there in the classroom. At times this was scary, seeing as how the students misbehaved quite often, but at least I now know what to expect from my own students. Hopefully I can become a wonderful teacher as Mrs. Zajac is. If you are at all uncertain about what it is like to be a teacher read Among Schoolchildren! You will never look at teaching the same way again!

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Summary: Education As A Value
Review: I was required to pick a book to read and present it to my Education class as an assignment. I chose "Among Schoolchildren." Overall, the book wasn't quite what I thought it would be but some parts were very interesting. I would recommend it but not strongly. The book lacks certain qualities needed to make reading go smoothly. Since it is in parts, its harder to 'roll' with the flow of things since it jumps from subject to subject. It seems the only reoccuring idea throughout the book was Clarence. Mrs. Zajac always seemed more concerned than she should have been with him. That definitely has to be a strong will on her part because you are taught that the children come and go and not to get too involved with them. You are also taught that you should take each child into consideration and handle each one individually. Who knows, maybe this is a lesson to be learned on my part.

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Summary: Among Scoolchildren by Tracy Kidder
Review: Hello, I am an Education major at Macon State College and I read Among Schoolchildren as an outside reading assignment. Among Schoolchildren is an excellent book for beginning early childhood teachers. Tracy Kidder done an excellent job of portraying teacher and students in the everyday classroom setting. This book tells the true story of how one teacher deals with the trials and triumphs of being a teacher. Chris Zajac is what I consider a wonderful teacher. She is one who truly cares for her students and about their education. The backgrounds of these children are typical of most any place one can travel in the United States. I think this book shows just how unequal the living standards and educational oppurtunities are for some children. I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted a real life account of what it is like to be a teacher.

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Summary: A Teachers Heart
Review: The author really portrayed a poverty stricken school, where there are little funds & and little recognition. Tracy Kidder could have picked a top notch prestigous school to continue to pull the wool over americas eyes, but instead he gave us reality, which we needed as a wake up call. I enjoyed the way Chris handled her students. I felt like Chris did an awesome job in the ways she dealt with her students. I feel like every teacher could learn from her examples. She tried so hard to reach all of her students with positive attitudes, and hoped that she did her best in all that she did for them.

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Summary: What Among Schoolchildren Taught Me As I Read It
Review: I am a college student who is majoring in education. This was the book I chose to read out of six for my education class. Among Schoolchildren was a great book for anyone who is considering the teaching profession. I recommend all future teachers to read it, as well as anyone who is already teaching. I really liked Tracy Kidder's research on each of the characters. He did not stop at what the children told him, but tried to gather information from their family members as well. He was not bias at all in writing this book. He told the truth just like it happened no matter how bad it was. I am glad he picked Chris Zajak to do his story on. She is truly a special teacher that all should try to follow. I feel as if Tracy Kidder became close to the whole class during his study of them. After being in the class for so long and watching Mrs. Zajac in action, he probably felt he could teach the class by what he learned from her. Tracy Kidder became a part of that classroom and gave his view of everything that went on. Read this book and learn what having a heart for teaching is all about.

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Summary: Trial of teaching elementry school
Review: I really enjoyed reading "Among Schoolchildren" it really opened my eyes to the reallity of teaching elementry school. The way Chris, the teacher strived to really teach her students was uplifting. I am now starting to realize how important teacher interaction with students are. Chris thrived on finding every students good points and treated every student with respect. She had high expectations for every student as well as for her self. I was impressed to see how she intergrated strategies she learned into her classroom. I think Chris did a fantastic job considering the obstacles she faced daily. Despite some her students bad behavior she still cared about each childs future.