Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring and Nostalgic
Review: The inspirations he gives to his students are amazing, he brings out the best from each and every one of them. Although I was not fortunate enough to be part of his everyday class, I was invited to participate in his Math Team and was allowed to sit in his class during my vacation to experience his magic. I've had many great and inspirational teachers since '92, but Rafe was the one who made me realize that living in poverty does not mean I am doomed to never get out. Mr. Esquith in my opinion single handedly changed my life. This book takes you through a full year in the life of being a student in Rafe's class. Rafe is a rarity among teachers. Those who read his book should realize that the author does not expect every teacher to teach the way he does. But by taking some his ideas and implementing them in their curriculum, it may inspire the students to want to become better citizens and teachers to want to become better teachers. Teaching in a class of 40-50 students in two different grades (in 1992 when I was in his class he taught 5th and 6th grade) in a low income neighborhood where every student of his spoke English as a second language is daunting enough regardless whether they were in GATE or not. Rafe is an incredible individual with tremendous heart. Teachers, students, and parents should read this book and know that there are teachers out there that believe in the future of their students regardless of the bureaucracy they may face.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for educators
Review: The middle school where I am the principal has adopted many of Mr. Esquith's methods, about which I first learned by watching him teach. Not only are his methods extraordinarily effective, but they translate into outstanding results in terms of academics and character - for all kids on all levels. This book will be required reading for my teachers next year. The main "method" that Mr. Esquith employs, however, is clear throughout this book: heart. This is both a how-to book and an inspiration for those who have the stomach for the battles that are fought in the war on educational inequity, and the heart to fight them to win. Most importantly, this book is a very real look at the problems that face education, and an honest depiction of one great teacher's successes and failures. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An honest look into the teaching field!
Review: The title says it all...there are no shortcuts to success.
Rafe is a living definition of a great teacher. He inspires and
plants hope to students and teachers alike. A must read for all teachers.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: There Are No Shortcuts is one of those rare books that both encompasses and transcends its subject. Those who are directly involved in education will find guidance, solace, and encouragement in this epic from a dedicated and wildly successful teacher.
Readers who have only a peripheral interest will find themselves reading an entertaining and compelling story of the 'can't put it down' genre.
Rating:
Summary: Great book--In Spite of What Some May Say...
Review: This book is an excellent read! I read Mr. Esquith's book in one weekend and, despite what others have said here, I found it to be very true to life and inspirational. Try walking through some of the urban schools for awhile, you will see what he means. I have had close relatives leave school positions after 25+ years in education because of some of the very things Mr. Esquith discusses in this book. I have had contact with the most inane administrators and teachers...He isn't full of himself. What's wrong with helping children in your care to the best of your ability? He doesn't hold a grudge. He's telling it like it is, and I am so happy that finally someone has had the guts to talk about what it's really like dealing with the public schools. If we only had more teachers like him, public education would be in much better shape. This book should be mandatory reading for all teachers!!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-READ FOR PARENTS!!!
Review: This book should be required reading for anyone with a child in school or considering a school for their child. If you have a child, you're a teacher! It's a quick read, packed with useful information. I wish I had read this when my oldest child was starting school - I would have known what questions to ask and how to know if she was getting a good education - and what I could do if she wasn't. If has helped me change how I'll educate my younger children. We send our kids off to school each day, but have no clue what really goes on in the system. It's a closed society to most parents, and Rafe not only explains it, he gives parents tools to deal with it effectively, on behalf of their children. Don't be put off by the fact that Rafe is a workaholic. He's filling in the gaps for children who don't have the basics that most middle-class parents automatically provide (books, extracurricular activities, etc). He proves that one person can make a difference, regardless of circumstances. He also gives excellent examples of how you can work within the system and still accomplish your goals for your child. I'm already making a list of people I want to give this book to. I can't wait for his next book, which will show some of the methods he has used so effectively.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and moving.
Review: This is a fascinating and moving book by an extraordinary teacher. You will be amazed by what Esquith and his students achieve in his inner city classroom. If you think that our educational system is a hopeless muddle, you will be stunned by what his students learn and by how much his teaching methods are derived from inspired common sense. Although most of us could probably not take a class of fifth graders from homes where English is the second language and hope to have them perform an unabridged Shakespeare play by the end of the year as Esquith does, many of the ideas he uses can be easily duplicated. He points out that if we want our children to learn more, they should spend more time in school, as his students do. If we want them to succeed they need to understand the nexus between work and success, as the title of the book suggests. Whether you are a parent, or a teacher or just someone who cares about the struggle for excellence, this is a compelling read that will give you new insights into a great many issues that trouble all of us. Esquith is not only a great teacher, but also an acute observer who, fortunately for the reader, has retained a great sense of humor.
Rating:
Summary: setting high standards
Review: This is a refreshing text from a passionate and dedicated teacher. It is a no holds barred account and gives many refreshing ideas about teaching and raising expectations. He is a workaholic who discusses his weaknesses and strenghts to get his points across. Any teacher will benefit from reading this text. His students are a sucess because of him and they are the reason for his sucess. His discussion on learning throughout and before tropis hits home to me as a baseball fan. This is a five start text from a teacher in Brooklyn NY.
Rating:
Summary: Work Ethic First
Review: This is a remarkable call to action. Action meaning the most literal sense of the word. The author writes with so much conviction and passion the book goes quickly. The book is half memoir, half self help/inspirational but even if some passages are somewhat preachy the guy undeniably knows what he is talking about and gives numerous examples from his experiences to prove his points. I have seen a growth in the expectation of "something for nothing" over the years and this remarkably disciplined teacher demonstrates that entitlement is not the key to success. The key to success aaccording to Esquith is encouragement, effort, commitment and hard work. No excuses. To be an educated, respected person you have to put your all into it and take no prisoners when it comes to accomplishing a goal. Competition can be tough and a kid has to have strong support from role-model adults. Esquith is an inspiration and he is regarded as strict but never cruel by his students - a remarkable teacher. This book demonstrates that with adult guidance; perserverance and consistency is the best way for students to achieve and his success rate is irrefutable.
He made me believe that if every teen had someone like him in his or her life that reaching exceptional academic and personal goals would be more of a standard in our urban culture.
A great read.
Rating:
Summary: Work Ethic First
Review: This is a remarkable call to action. Action meaning the most literal sense of the word. The author writes with so much conviction and passion the book goes quickly. The book is half memoir, half self help/inspirational but even if some passages are somewhat preachy the guy undeniably knows what he is talking about and gives numerous examples from his experiences to prove his points. I have seen a growth in the expectation of "something for nothing" over the years and this remarkably disciplined teacher demonstrates that entitlement is not the key to success. The key to success aaccording to Esquith is encouragement, effort, commitment and hard work. No excuses. To be an educated, respected person you have to put your all into it and take no prisoners when it comes to accomplishing a goal. Competition can be tough and a kid has to have strong support from role-model adults. Esquith is an inspiration and he is regarded as strict but never cruel by his students - a remarkable teacher. This book demonstrates that with adult guidance; perserverance and consistency is the best way for students to achieve and his success rate is irrefutable.
He made me believe that if every teen had someone like him in his or her life that reaching exceptional academic and personal goals would be more of a standard in our urban culture.
A great read.
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