All Teachers Great and Small

All Teachers #1

by Andy Seed

A warmly nostalgic and humorous memoir telling the story of Andy Seed's first year as a primary school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales. .

A memoir of lessons and life in the Yorkshire Dales...


Warm, touching and very funny, All Teacher's Great and Small transports you to a time that may be gone but has never been forgotten. Andy Seed's memoir is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn's nostalgic style.

'Heart-warming and hilarious' - Daily Mail

Dear Mr Seed,
I am sorry that are Jack was not at school yesterday. He put on such a groth spurt in the night that nun of his clowthes fitted im next morning so I had to take him to the shops.
Mrs R.

Twenty-five years ago, newly qualified teacher Andy Seed moved to a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales with his wife Barbara, anticipating breath-taking views and the gentle simplicity of the countryside.

The picturesque scenery did not disappoint. But life as a primary school teacher was anything but simple. With a classroom full of colourful characters whose capacity for misunderstanding was exceeded only by their enthusiasm and their ability to leave him incredulous, Andy fell in love with teaching and with village life.

All Teachers Great and Small tells the true story of Andy's first year at Cragthwaite Primary School - how he bravely negotiated the vagaries of the local dialect, made disastrous bids to provide a family home, naively and hilariously tried out new-fangled ideas in a school stuck in a 1950s time warp, and ultimately discovered a little part of England he was proud to call home.


What readers are saying about All Teachers Great and Small :

'I
howled with laughter on many occasions reading this book -
it's a treasure! '

'
Andy Seed brings the Dales to life with his
memorable stories about rural school life in the 1980s
.

Genres: Nonfiction, Teachers, Memoir

369 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

Writer of a multiplicity of things including humour, fun non-fiction for kids, memoirs for adults, education and wacky poetry.
Most recent book: ALL TEACHERS GREAT AND SMALL, a memoir about the tribulations of a young teacher in the Yorkshire Dales, described by the Daily Mail as "...heartwarming, hilarious...an enchanting memoir."

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

thought this is the better of the 3 books in the series so far of a newish teacher in the dales as in the mode of Sheffield and phinn

[Sara Eames · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book - amusing in parts but not laugh-out-loud. I think the problem for me is that it just doesn't ring true and it lacks emotion. I couldn't really get engaged with any of the characters, although some were quite likable. just not really my cup of tea.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just about to embark on my own journey into primary teaching this book made me laugh so much I couldn't wait to begin my own adventure and meet a group of children as fabulous and individual as those I was reading about. I would definitely recommend!

[Rachel Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-warming & funny tales - a most enjoyable read.

[Malcolm Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and enjoyable read but I now find there are too many Yorkshire teachers telling their stories.

The structure of this book was a series of chapters each devoted to a different pupil in year 3 of Andy Seed's class. Whilst it was fascinating and at times amusing to read these tales, although a little tongue in cheek about the real veracity of the details, I felt that by the time I had read 400 pages and over 20 chapters the tales were becoming a little tedious.

Worth reading if you enjoy this genre.

[Mandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was brilliant,loved it,it was a happy,funny cosy read! Andy sounds like a great teacher and his enjoyment of teaching and the children shines through. I love the sound of the dales,what a beautiful place to live. Children are so funny and the stories were heartwarming and hilarious,need to read the next one and find out how baby Tom is doing!

[Robert Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher, I could relate - some quite funny moments which I really laughed at. Not the most exciting plot - not sure a non teacher would enjoy the book but a nice light read with humorous moments to make you giggle.

[Janet C. Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gervais Phinn has nothing to worry about with this author. Having said that it wasn’t a bad read, but I found it boring in parts and there’re really wasn’t much depth to the characters. Being it was a first novel I will read number 2 and if I find the same I’ll move on.

[Carol Nightingill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off promising. Became progressively dull, mixed up & hard work. Dissapointed!

[Carla Rees · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely little insight into life as a teacher in the Dales. Heart warming and full of giggle worthy anecdotes

[Judi Fruen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about the life of a village teacher. Makes me sad for how many rules and regs teachers have to follow now.

[Alison Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. As a retired teacher, it’s easy to recognise the different characters. Much chuckling ensued.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a secondary school teacher couldn't quite relate but some of the characters, parents and Andy's personal view did ring true!

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trouble with most books in this school memoirs genre is that they are either too smooth and polished a la Gervase Phinn or too twee, step forward Miss Reed Andy freely admits being a teacher is not easy, often frustrating and chronically under paid But Great fun!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually came across this series in Tewkesbury Academy school library where there is an adult section for staff. I retired from the NHS and now semi retired do cover Learning Advisor work and am the Lead Invigilator for the sixth form. I love being in the school.
I reviewed Jack Sheffield teacher series from the old Tesco book club as ARC and Gervaise Phinn school Inspector series.
As it was half term and away in a cottage, I settled into reading this book, loved the characters, nostalgia of 40 years ago, wished I had gone into teaching then. Andy writes so well, and the humour comes through with the pupils whom I know all too well today from cover work, trying it on, gaining trust to shouting hi miss when out, and some of their many antics.
Love the Yorkshire setting. I spent a lot of my time in West Yorks, where I lived but not in North Yorkshire, where I will visit on one of my many school holidays.
I am now about to start on book 2.
Recommended read and great for Sheffield and Phinn book lovers.

[Beth Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially a nostalgic read, this was perfect summer holiday fare. As a teacher, I had tremendous sympathy for Seed's tales of juggling new government edicts with the demands of the actual classroom, and enjoyed his depictions of parents' evenings, school trips and attempts to modernise the curriculum. He perfectly captures the clash between the old and new, in the rural community and in education more broadly, without being excessively sentimental and without a trace of cynicism. This is not at all a book that is specifically or exclusively for teachers, however, and the child characters will engage any reader, I've no doubt. The adult characters that populate Seed's version of the Dales are also rounded, quirky and entertaining characters who enrich the story immensely. As the blurb indicates, this is by no means only about Seed's classroom experiences, or the learning curve of the probationary teaching year, but deals with the whole deal of moving into a new area.

What I particularly appreciated about the book was its structure and organisation. It is exceptionally well-planned. Each chapter is titled by a child's name and includes an episode starring that child. Our knowledge of the children from Seed's first class therefore grows with each chapter, and he is careful only to include children who have already had 'their' chapter. This feat of planning ensures that although the book by necessity has a large cast of characters, we are never confused.

I enjoyed reading this and will look out for further books, as it is mentioned on Seed's website that this is the first in a series. Review copy kindly provided by Headline.

[Anne Smithers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a gentle easy read. Andy Seed takes us through his first year as a primary school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales. Although it isn't hugely thought-provoking, readers who can remember what education was like in the mid 1980s will find this an enjoyable and amusing book.
I was disappointed, though, when, after finishing it, I read the paragraph at the beginning which states that the " characters are based on amalgamations of real people rather than particular individuals". For me this took away some of the authenticity of the memoir.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Funny and heart warming. Andy Seed's first year of teaching is in a Yorkshire Dales Primary School. He brings all the characters to life, the children in his class, the teachers and the villagers. The kids are hilarious (but he is never cruel in the telling of these tales). You can just tell that he loves all of these kids and he would have been a fantastic teacher.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice and sweet book. Almost makes you want to take up teaching in a tranquil spot in the country side. Nahhhhh.
A enjoyable read. I may try track down the following books, but I am not in a rush to do so

[Jenny Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. If you like Gervase Phinn, you will like this too. I will never tire of reading good memoirs, especially with humour in. It was easy to recognise the characters he portrayed, we have all met them! Anyone who is, or was a teacher thoroughly recommend.

[Carole O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good, so good in fact that I reading the second book. This man was a teacher and he talks about his life as a primary school teacher, very insightful.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me miss teaching so much and all the daft things that happen that get you through the tough days

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. Funny, honest and delightfully written, Andy Seed is a joy to read.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - even spurred me on with my own report writing!

[Fionnuala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very entertaining read!

[Stephen Rodwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book during my first term as teaching assistant - hearty throughout, and inspiring in parts. Also comforting to go through similar experiences at the 'same time'.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable warm read, Yorkshire dales and junior school tales

[Iona Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, light reading but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Jo Kitchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved this book which gave me tge travel bug to get to the dales soon for a holuday as well as en joying the delights of being a teacher.

[Ineke]

As a retired teacher, I could relate to this book. It is an easy, light-hearted read. I could see in my mind's eye how Andy struggled as a new teacher. His descriptions of the different children in his class are also well written. I can most certainly recommend it to other readers.