Somebody Else's Kids

Rating:
Summary: Torey Hayden deserves an award!
Review: This is an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone. Teachers, especially those who work with children with disabilities should read this book. It is a very inspiring story of one teacher's dedication to a bunch of children.

Rating:
Summary: All Children are Special
Review: This is my second book of Torey Hayden's that I have read. While reading her books you can actually feel your emotions going out to all these children. Torey is an exceptional teacher. I only hope that I can be just that good in my work with children. The more I read her books the more I tend to want to work with Special Kids. My desire is to be a Middle Grades teacher, but I feel for Torey's kids and the desire to follow in her footsteps is really overpowering. All these children need is someone to give them a little special attention. I feel the same way Torey does, "that no child is a lost cause." No matter what problems a child has there is always a way of handling them. Too many people want to shut these Special Children out of society. You know the old saying, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." I feel that we need more people like Torey to see that all these children need is our time, patience, support and understanding. We can make a big difference in all our children's lives if we only take the opportunity to do so. All children are "Special" in their own way.

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC Reading!
Review: This is the first of Torey Hayden's books I read, and I doubt it will be the last! Her insights into the troubled minds of her students is nothing less than inspiring, and her ability to adapt to situations is equally so! I particularly enjoyed the flow of the story, as each child was entered into her class; the adaptations that she made, and the means that she used in spite of the "system", to bring each child in to the group. The only point that gives me pause, and makes me think, is the struggles she has when faced with problems. Any educator, no matter how outstanding, can only do so much. It is sad to see, and hard to realize for many, that there are just some children that we cannot "save" from society. My own hope: That when I begin teaching; that I can adapt as quickly, and reach the successes portrayed in this book. I recommend it to anyone; educator, parent, or anyone interested in children. It's a MUST read!

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Page Turner!
Review: This novel is a great novel for anyone interested in working with troubled children. Torey tells a story about her life as a resource teacher in one calender year. It is easy to read, written almost like a diary. It will captivate your interest and you will want to continue reading till the end. When I read this novel, I laughed and I cried. Each event that happens in this novel has you glued to your chair spellbound. Torey tells the story in such a realistic way that it will make you happy, sad, and sometimes angry. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has or is working with a troubled child.

Rating:
Summary: Great book for any age to read.
Review: This was a great book to read. I enjoyed knowing that there's someone out there that are concerned about the welfare of our children. A good teacher goes far beyound making sure the students memorize information for a test. The teacher in this story was aware of the different diversities she had in her class, and she was able to accomadate each ane according to their needs. I was over joyed by the patients she showed to each of her students. She put her own life on hold to make sure her students got the attention they needed and deserved. It's great to know that ther's someone out there who loves somebody else's kids.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This was the first of Hayden's books that I had the opportunity to read. I have since gone through all of them. Fascinating in her accounts of working with emotionally disturbed children, she writes for anyone with an interest in the profession, or the children in general. The only fault I find is that Hayden always seems to portray herself as a goddess who comes along and rescues these children from themselves and the ignorance around them.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, very enjoyable, easy to read
Review: Torey does it again in her book Somebody Else's Kids. this book is one of my favorite books she has written. It is not only enjoyable to ready but fairly easy to read also. Torey grabs you right from the beginning and emmerses you into her life and the lives of the children she teaches. From little Boo who you see a glimmer of hope, to Lori who trys so hard only to be set up for failure by her mean spirted full time teacher, (not Torey). Then there's Tomaso who has so much hurt and anger built up inside that you'll wonder how he can ever be a normal kid, and lastly there's little Claudia with nothing wrong except she made a little mistake and got pregnate at the age of 12. through the whole book you wonder and read in awe at how much energy Torey has with these children. and wonder on how she'll ever get through to all of them.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant teachings and toleration
Review: Torey Hayden had a brilliant way of teaching these children. I believe this book should be a handguide for teachers to help them in their classrooms. Torey had alot of patients and love for these kids. I don't know to many teachers who would put that much time and effort into children that other people didn't think would make it. I recommend this book to all teachers. I believe it could show some a better way of teaching.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative and entertaining.
Review: Torey Hayden has a way of telling a story that makes you feel a part of it. Her descriptions and stories are very entertaining and enlightening. I feel that she sells herself short when she feels inadequate to deal with difficult situations; however, she is very intuitive and knows just what to do and say at the right time.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating account of a master teacher at work!
Review: Torey Hayden's book is very interesting. Her book is written much like a journal, and contains many of her reactions to situations at work and the effect that they have on her personal life. The children with whom she works are of very different backgrounds and have a wide range of problems. She doesn't seem to have any magic answers for those who deal with troubled children.She does seem to stress acceptance of individual differences, and uses a loving yet firm approach with all of the children.She admits to not having any answers when it comes to dealing with some of the children who are so seriosly emotionally involved that they are unable to relate to those around them.Her classroom has a daily routine, she encourages thoughtfulness and kindness toward others, and she uses lots of cooperative learning techniques, while also individualizing instruction.Although her main focus in the classroom is educational, her conversations with the children are frequently very therapeutic because of the open relationship which she has with all of her students>P<Ms. Hayden's total involvement in the children's lives and the level of support which she offers their parents are truly amazing.Her teaching methods seem almost intuitive.As she tells one of her visiting supervisors, "I change what I surmise I have a chance at changing.The rest I accept, at least until I can figure out what to do about it."As I read her book, it seemed to me that Ms. Hayden was able to help those students who had been emotionally harmed by their past experiences precisely because they knew that she was accepting of them as people of worth.She offered the unconditional love of which they had been deprived, and which is vital to the emotional well-being of every individual.All educators could benefit from reading her book.Fortunately most of us don't have to deal with children for whom life is so difficult, but we all deal with children who are a product of their past experiences, both good and bad, and who need to know that we truly care.Shirley Branham