The One Minute Teacher: How to Teach Others to Teach Themselves

by Spencer Johnson, Constance Johnson

This invaluable book shows how teachers, despite the many difficulties they face in today's school systems, can make an important contribution to their students' lives and educations. Johnson and Johnson describe how the use of Goal Setting, Praising, and Recovery reinforces self-esteem and creates a new kind of learning process that will become life long.  The One Minute Teacher  reveals simple, positive ways to: Practical, wise, and useful in dozens of everyday situations,  The One Minute Teacher  is essential reading for anyone who teaches and anyone who learns. More than eleven million copies of Dr. Johnson's books are in use in twenty-four languages.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Self Help, Nonfiction, Business

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Patrick Spencer Johnson was an American writer. He was known for the ValueTales series of children's books, and for his 1998 self-help book Who Moved My Cheese?, which recurred on the New York Times Bestseller list, on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover nonfiction list. Johnson was the chairman of Spencer Johnson Partners.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had some amazing ideas that really make sense. I have so many quotes that I want to plaster all over my wall so I cam remember to stay focused on becoming who I want to be. The only way to reach goals is to continually remind yourself what your goal is and keep going on that path. This is a must read for anyone who wants to learn how to accomplish anything.

[Filipa Machado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro motivador e com uma estratégia para que tanto alunos como professores se foquem no que realmente importa a cada momento e em cada área da sua vida. Escrito em forma de história mas com exemplos muito interessantes. Recomendo a professores que se estejam a sentir desmotivados.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The primary element of "The One Minute Teacher" is achieving goals. The purpose of traveling life’s highway is fulfilling our mission. The destination we desire to reach gives both aim and impetus in our journey. The authors wrote, “Doing it is the key. It is only when we use One Minute Goals that we begin to learn what we want to teach ourselves. Then we start to feel a change and finally to see a change.” (p. 23)

Have you ever taken a wrong turn that dumped you into a dead-end, nose-to-nose with a tombstone inscribed with your name on it? That happened to me, literally. Though headed towards my goal, one mistake veered me off course where the foot-high letters of my surname loomed before me. It was almost mesmerizing. But I quickly retreated, got back on track, and shook off the surreal encounter. Far more difficult to shake off, however, are the episodes when such an experience happens figuratively. When a poor choice leads us astray, why linger on a wrong path for any longer than it takes to recognize the mistake? Why wallow in woe when one can take immediate corrective action?

When I first read Spencer and Constance Johnson’s "The One Minute Teacher," their rapid recovery concept appealed to me. At that time in my life, I often grew disheartened when I didn’t live up to my own expectations. My discouragement hindered me even more than my initial mistakes. The idea that I could take just a minute to recognize my error, feel remorse, then get back on course seemed impossibly simplistic. When I was later able to shake off self-doubt, I was ready to apply the “One Minute Recovery” (p. 45). Suddenly, my faults no longer consumed me. I broke free from my mental tombstone.

Along the same dead-end path as becoming immobilized by mistakes, is not acknowledging successes. Johnson and Johnson advocate a “One Minute Praising” whenever we catch ourselves doing something right (p. 26). Positive self-talk propels us in the right direction. It is energizing.

There are other steps to the one-minute teacher, but these are the ones that made a positive difference for me.

[Nikhilesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those self help books that, for me, feel really intense reading and studying it, and a year later leave zero impression whatsoever.

[Andrea M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite cheesy but underneath the cheese is a real idea that rings true. I took extensive notes and I'm trying it out right now to improve my overall daily attitude (which is usually negative). The One Minute Principles are 1. Setting One Minute Goals, 2. Giving One Minute Praisings and 3. Using One Minute Recoveries. An example from the book of a One Minute Goal is:

"On Friday I [earn] a B on the math test. I study my math and quiz myself every night. I listen in class and ask questions to be sure that I understand. I feel confident. I feel responsible. I feel proud of myself." page 21

So if that was your goal you would repeat it to yourself and imagine yourself achieving it. You would praise yourself every time you took a step towards reaching that goal like studying or quizzing yourself at night. You are essentially visualizing a successful outcome before it occurs. If indeed you mess up than you take a minute to do a One Minute Recovery. In this time you quietly feel bad but but remind yourself that you are a good person even if you messed up. You redirect your behavior by giving yourself something to do which becomes a new One Minute Goal.

Some quotes from the book are
"The more often we see what is good about us, the more we see the good in others."
"Children who grow up without warmth and praise become angry, critical adults." p 91
"One minute recoveries show us we are free to make mistakes, but is also shows us we are free to have negative feelings about our mistakes -- just not about ourselves. Feelings are important, so its of importance that we learn to deal with them. We are no less valued as people because we have negative feelings." p 101

[Surya Teja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps a lot to learn about achieving goals. Looks like we know a lot what is told in the book. We just ignore them without even knowing it. As it was told in a book "feeling good for no good reason" we become very good at having low self esteem that the negative feeling happen even without us knowing it.
The way the message was delivered was very simple and can be understood easily.
There are examples of people who want something and we find that most of us had the same goal at one point of time or the other.
We want to get good grades, good salary, recognition etc.
Everything we need to get ourselves to the goal is given in this book
I loved the part of One minute Praisings where we give ourselves recognition for what we have done.
DO we do this?
just this question can help us realizing that we don't. why do we expect praise from others when we ourselves can give it to us.
Knowing it can help us to become better at what we want to become

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains several good messages, expressed in very simple language. The font is large and the book is short, so you can absorb the key ideas quickly. For me they were:
* We are all students and teachers.
* We are our own best teachers, since we harness our own motivation.

The One-Minute method (in my words):
* Express goals as statements of desired reality, along with how it will make you feel. Keep it short.
Review this goal several times a day.
* Praise yourself as you make positive steps towards, or in alignment with, your goal.
* Notice when your behavior is not aligned with your goal. Feel the bad feelings. Decide on how to retarget your goal. (Behavior can be bad, but you as a person are good.)

I found this version more compelling than the very similar The One Minute Manager.

[Keryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been described as 'cheesy' but the messages are simple and powerful, as are the messages in most of the one-minute books, and 'Who moved my cheese?'. I found the three techniques to be valuable and practical, immediately implementable, easy to remember. Certainly I recommend this book to all educators, especially those seeking motivation. Readable in one sitting, it is well worth the time spent. The main flaw for me is the examples/anecdotes, which I found to be few and less relevant than I would have liked. Real teacher-driven success stories from the techniques (even if in an addendum or a weblink) would have added the extra touch to a life-changing little book.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as revolutionary as it seems to suggest. It was a good reminder however that written and often reviewed goals are more likely to be achieved; frequent positive praisings are more effective than negative critism; and lastly, when your behavior doesn't match your goals, stop and correct it immediately. The twist of this teaching book is that you can only work on yourself--by doing this, others will be influenced by you.

[Hany Mohamed Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

a self help book in a novel shape

the book is meant to the teachers in first place. but as the book said everyone of us is a student and teacher too and that's what makes the book helpful and incentive for all.

the book is about how to teach yourself to gain anything in life and learn other teach themselves as well through 3 steps

one minute goal
one minute praise
one minute recovery


the book is amazing and simple

[`Alia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I found this book useful but not always practical. I did pick up some helpful time management tactics from it for both my students and myself. Some parts I had to modify to comply with Islamic beliefs. For example one of the steps in the book is to follow a one-minute praise routine, of basically praising yourself before and after you do something. I modified it to praising Allah..

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This self-proclaimed "parable" is the quintessential book on self-affirmation. This is the first "one minute" book I've read and it is exactly what you' expect at a pep-talk type business seminar. I'm all for the idea of self-esteem and learning from mistakes so the message is good here, it's the delivery that isn't my style.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my husband when we went on a recent trip. We had a great discussion about it. Being home educators it was another great resource to pull from for us. We like the ideas of helping our children set goals, teaching them how to praise themselves and how to get back on course when they have veered off. Like I said, lots of great discussion.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book to give teaching a whole new way of thought. Instead of just teaching material it involved the importance of teaching a student to teach themselves. This book discusses one minute goals, one minute praisings and one minute recoveries.Principles taught through this book may be applied to all avenues of life. A good book to use to refocus when teaching gets discouraging.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I attended a teacher session based on this book at one of our workshops, but the presentation turned out to be much more enlightening than the book itself. Some good parts to be considered, and at least it was a short book.

[Celly]

buku yang amat - amat waw untuk menggurui diri sendiri.
benyak hal - hal poritif yang bisa kita lakukan dalam hidup kiita, memotivasi diri kita sendiri, one minute teacher yg amat sangat efektif untuk diterapkan dalam kehidupan sehari - hari dan merubah mindset kita menjadi lebih baik. Good Book :)

[Matthew Forzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book detailing tricks and techniques on training/teaching. Very similar to the other "one minute" series with the main difference being the story told from a teachers POV as opposed to a businessman.

[Andre Widiartanto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku yang praktis. Buku self-help yang dipaparkan dalam bentuk cerita, sehingga tidak ada kesan menggurui. Hanya mengajarkan "tiga rahasia/kunci belajar", namun dibahas secara cukup mendalam. Guru dan pelajar atau siapa pun, perlu membaca buku inspiratif ini.

[Carlashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book very easy to read and understand which I think makes it effective on its purpose of teaching an individual to be his or her best teacher to himself or herself. I believe I didn't waste my time reading it.

[Kylea Woodley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cool book. I enjoy vintage education pieces. Today, the book could have been condensed to one page in a best practices book. At the time though, it may have been groundbreaking. My favorite take away was to get a report card from students. Cute idea.

[Dominique Liongson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three one-minute techniques that help readers teach themselves almost anything. I read it, I love it!

This third week of October 2019, I finally wrote 7 goals based on the instructions of One Minute Goals in this book. Next application would either be One Minute Praisings or One Minute Recoveries.

[Oliev grovvy]

Bahwa ternyata kita bisa ko' belajar hanya dengan satu menit.... maksudnya satu menit untuk palnning, merubah dan merekomendai...baca deh..

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is deceptively simple idea but it really resonated with me. I'm trying the system out now and it's been good. I'll see how I feel about it after a few weeks of working at it.

[Tani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some great concepts that were new to me. Although, I didn't care for the way it was written.

[Misty Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple method for setting goals and changing your life. I loved this book! It was a great reminder of methods I have already discovered on my own but have not perfected by any means.

[Celeste Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short read, but a very good way to teach goal setting in a simple, concise way. I made several notes on this method of goal setting.

[Leesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cool and interesting techniques everyone should try.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaching is a little complicated than the process this book uses. Some teachers could definitely benefit from this book if they would use it.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I will admit that in the beginning this book irritated me. However, if you can get past the over simplistic way it is written, there are some real gems here.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for school and it was short and easy to read. It is about little tricks to teach ourselves. I probably won't read it again but it was alright.