Real Talk for Real Teachers: Advice for Teachers from Rookies to Veterans: "No Retreat, No Surrender!"

by Rafe Esquith

The New York Times–bestselling author and world-renown teacher offers no-nonsense wisdom for teachers of all ages

There’s no one teachers trust more to give them classroom advice than Rafe Esquith. After more than thirty years on the job, Esquith still puts in the countless classroom hours familiar to every dedicated educator. But where his New York Times bestseller Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire was food for a teacher’s mind, Real Talk for Real Teachers is food for a teacher’s soul.

Esquith candidly tackles the three stages of life for the career teacher and offers encouragement to see them through the difficult early years, advice on mid-career classroom building, and novel ideas for longtime educators. With his trademark mix of humor, practicality, and boundless compassion, Esquith proves the perfect companion for teachers who need a quick pick-me-up, a long heart-to-heart, or just a momentary reminder that they’re not alone.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Professional Development, School, Teachers, Self Help

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2013

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It would be an especially good book for any teacher who is feeling burned out and is looking for new inspiration and a reason to stay in the education business.

Not all teachers can be like Rafe Esqueth, but he is a good example of the wonderful things that CAN happen in a classroom with a dedicated teacher. I especially like his motto "There are no shortcuts," and "No retreat, no surrender."

The way I would summarize Mr. Esqueth's message is this: stop worrying about keeping everyone happy, just do what you know to be the right thing for your students. That may be an over simplification but it cuts to the heart of the matter. He also makes it plain that a teacher won't be able to reach every student every year, and that's okay.

Rafe Esqueth obviously has an extreme degree of dedication to both his profession and his students. Much of his teaching technique is based on leading by example and being a "professional" in all situations. I wish more educators took this view of things. Teachers sometimes don't realize exactly how much of what they teach is what the students observe about them. Model the characteristics you wish to impart to your students, because they are watching you more than you realize.

[David Orphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Fantastically inspirational. Rafe lets the super-teacher myth fall away and shares many stories about his bad days. We all have them. Times when we mis-plan or mismanage our classes. We also have those times when we do everything right and it is still not enough.

Rafe shares how he navigates these tricky waters and keeps his calm. While not encouraging anyone to become a Rafe acolyte, I encourage every teacher to search for the things that Rafe has sought.

Find your voice and your style. Find on big project that lights you up inside and share it with your students. Show them your smile and let them know that failures and questions are an important part of the learning process.

Teach the children that playin the game well opens doors-no matter how crazy those exams are. But don't let playing the game get in the way of real learning.

As our country continues to devalue teachers and blame us for all of societies ills, reading some practical advice and frankly humorous stories from a classy teacher-vet is just the kick in the pants I need to get back to polishing my curriculum this summer.

[gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok - I wanted to get my batteries charged before school started and this did the trick. Esquith walks the walk and, despite his stated aversion to "inspirational" teacher stories, his book is pretty inspirational. I can't even put together a field trip to the museum around the block without getting in over my head, and this guy takes his kids all over the country & the world. And he gets a bunch of 5th graders to perform a complete Shakespeare play every year - a play with dancing and music and fully realized acting. Reading this makes me realize just how much is possible in a public school classroom if you just give yourself permission to do things the way you KNOW they need to be done. Time well spent if you're a teacher feeling a little burned out.

Good advice

[Sean Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful and encouraging book for educators. Especially those in general education classrooms. However, there are things to take note of that would make sense in any educational or training setting

[Nan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate to say this, but when you've read one book by Rafe Esquith you've read 'em all. Although I have great respect for what this dedicated educator does with his students, I grew tired of the author's egotism and judgment about what other teachers, equally devoted, may do.

[Gala]

I love this book. I am a better teacher because of this book. I keep it with me so I can reference it from time to time. I hope that teachers would read this real talk and get inspired. I was on an interview with about six people asking me questions. Most of my answeres came from this book.

[Darien Tebbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty amazing book for someone like me. I'm not sure I could read a better book about the real ins and outs of teaching. He does a great job breaking it down into three parts, rookie teaching, the crossroads of comfortable versus pursuit of more, and becoming a master at the craft. Yet he never drifts far from his main threads of effective teaching.

Definitely a book I'll buy to have as a reference.

[Caleb Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me out of my teaching slump when all else made me feel helpless. I had just gotten out of a three-year stint as an English debate coach with a school that I had grown to love. I was let go when the upper management of the school deemed my coaching services were no longer useful. I went through a lot of emotional struggles and my body was weakening. Reading this reminded me about why I teach or mentor, and deal with the bullshit some students will inevitably throw at me in the coming years. Mr. Esquith puts out examples of his teaching experience from the talented to the abandoned and definitely makes me understand the trade better than before. I thank him for saving me and encouraging me to continue.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book revitalized me in my tenth year of teaching. I am working this year at a brand new/start up charter school. The struggles of being a brand new school with kids who have not “made it” at other schools had me feeling pretty tired and wondering why I teach. This book helped remind me why I do what I do and even allowed me to breath new life into my classroom behavior plan. His code for Hobart Shakespearians coupled with our school’s Capturing Kids’ Hearts really works! This book is inspirational and funny! I truly recommend it to anyone!

[Kaleb Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this!

This book is a game changer (plus a fun and enjoyable read). I have taken to heart many of the concepts in this work and found myself saying “YES!” to many of the points Rafe made throughout the book. I would hands down recommend this book especially if you are a teacher, counselor, or just anyone who works with kids; you won’t regret it.

[My · Rating 4 out of 5]

hi guys !!! i am going to write some that's what i thought about the book from 1 to 44 pages. it is about the teachers want their children to listen to them. also, they give them the consideration that they want them to do. i like this book so far. you guys should read this book :)

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rafe's books are good for teachers needing a 'reboot' or searching for new ideas. I find his stories to be a nice read, but for me they were very repetitious in nature.

[LHN · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 sao cho tính thực tế của nghề giáo, còn nhiều phần viết dài dòng khiến mình hơi mất kiên nhẫn.

Các vấn đề mà 1 giáo viên gặp phải: mới ra trường chưa vững chuyên môn, quản lý lớp, áp lực từ phòng, sở, ban giám hiệu, từ phụ huynh, từ những đồng nghiệp đố kỵ, và nhất là những thất vọng khi dồn toàn tâm trí vào một học trò nhưng sản phẩm tạo ra đầy lỗi, vô ơn (theo mình, chắc là điều đau đớn nhất khi vì yêu nghề, muốn thay đổi thế giới bằng cách tạo ra những thế hệ mới nhân văn tử tế hơn mà lại nhìn thấy một phiên bản ngược lại).

Sách cũng nói đến vấn đề mà mình nhận thấy từ những năm đầu đi dạy: giáo viên chỉ là một thành tố trong quá trình lớn lên của trẻ, ko phải là tất cả, và ảnh hưởng từ gia đình mới là điều quan trọng nhất. (Nhưng khi những phụ huynh than phiền về giáo viên, chính họ cũng đang vật lộn với cuộc sống bấp bênh của họ - và điều đó ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến con họ, nhưng ngay cuộc sống của họ cũng đầy vật lộn, chới với, thì việc con họ mang các bấp bênh chới với do mất cân bằng ổn định về cảm xúc, xã hội đó đến lớp là điều ko tránh khỏi. Giáo dục ko phải chỉ về học thuật hay điểm số, mà còn bao gồm cả cảm xúc, xã hội - những mặt này ảnh hưởng lớn đến khả năng lĩnh hội, học tập của chúng. Nhưng có mấy giáo viên chú trọng mặt này, hay đủ vững vàng để đối diện với những tình huống như thế này mà thực hiện được lý tưởng của nghề? - Thực sự là mình mới suy nghĩ nhiều hơn khi đọc đến cuốn sách này, và mình cũng ko vững lắm về mặt này: những đứa trẻ ngỗ nghịch là cách chúng phản ứng lại những hỗn loạn quanh mình.)

Và rồi sau những vấp váp, tay nghề vững hơn, xử lý tình huống sư phạm dễ dàng hơn, họ lại đối diện với sự chán chường, mất phương hướng có thể dẫn đến bỏ nghề..
Sách của một giáo viên Mỹ 30 năm trong nghề, với các về đề về standardized test hay “No Child Left Behind” mấy thập kỷ qua, nhưng có nhiều nét tương đồng với nghề giáo ở nhiều nơi, ko chỉ Việt Nam.

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, a lot of thoughts about this.

For one, I have read a good number of teaching books (or at least segments) and this is one that I felt genuinely gave some good advice. Not just the run of the mill stuff that you can read in a textbook, but solid, actual impassioned advice. I bookmarked several pages I will refer to.

Rafe Esquith is obviously a passionate and gifted teacher. But.... he kind of spends a lot of the book (probably unintentionally) making you feel bad. Like, if you're not spending hours before and after school doing all this extra stuff, and if you're not giving all your money to kids for field trips... are you a good teacher? He makes it seem like not. For a lot of the book I felt as if he was rubbing in my face how fantastic he was. He did a lot of bragging and name dropping. I mean, what was the point in sharing his letter from Sir Ian McKellan and past students other than to brag? It gets kind of exhausting.

Then there's the matter of the sexual abuse allegations....oof. It kind of offsets the entire nature and trustworthiness of the book. Several times during reading, I debated quitting the book because it felt wrong to be taking advice from someone who is so obviously messed up and gross.

So, overall, there is definitely good advice in this book. And I enjoyed the way it was written. If Rafe wasn't such a terrible human, he would be a pretty exceptional teacher. But uh.... yeah he kind of ruined that. Read this if you can stomach knowing about his weird stuff.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 100 pages moved quickly, but I hit a lull once after that. Perhaps it is because a significant chunk of the text is geared toward new teachers, though the latter half does address those who have been in the field longer.

Much of what the author said rang true for me, but there were times where the delivery of stories made me think, "Wow. This guy has quite an ego." Ultimately, I think he means well and genuinely wants to help other teachers find their rhythm based on what he has learned over the years, but at times, his tone grated on me a bit. However, I particularly appreciated that some of what he had to say was unapologetically honest and did not try to turn this work into some "inspirational stereotypical teacher movie" - he does talk about the toxicity of bitter teachers and the idea of refocusing your energy away from students who may not be yours to reach, despite your best efforts, and instead redirecting it into 5 or 6 students who are quietly doing their best and who would absolutely thrive with a little bit more love/mentorship from a caring teacher.

I liked this book, but ultimately, it didn't rock my world. As one other reviewer has mentioned, the "for your consideration" bullets at the end of each chapter efficiently condense the gist of what was said in the chapter and make for easy finding if you want to go back and find or review something he has discussed.

[ahava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I have to admit it’s probably more directed towards new teachers or established teachers who need a reboot. I’m a reading tutor and it helped me understand, learn and realize some things. As a tutor I have rules for my students and I changed them because of this book. It helped simplify what I was asking of my students.

He takes on all ends of life in school including good students and bad, coworkers/teachers who may dislike you, what could happen if the school board steps in, improving each year, etc.

He included many letters from his previous students and I enjoyed reading that and how the older students come back to help the current students. That’s dedication and true repertoire. I think it helps prove what he is doing or had done is really working.

I read some of the other reviews and I definitely don’t think that he is trying to say he’s the best or everyone should be like him or even shoving this in one’s face. I think he was just simply sharing his experiences and wisdom to help the reader become the best… or just read it and take what you want out of it and go from there. I know I did.

[Evelyn Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how Rafe split this book into three sections: newer teachers, teachers with 5+ years of experience, and master/veteran teachers. As I’m entering my 3rd year of teaching, I found many of his methods and strategies great for implementation with my own students. I had a more difficult time connecting to the later sections because that’s not where my current mindset and focus are, but he gives great pieces of advice to strive towards during your teaching career.

There are some pieces, though, that I had a difficult time agreeing with. Maybe not the tactic of leaving some behind, but the language used around it. I agree that we can’t take away learning experiences from those who want to learn because of the disruptions of others, but I do believe that those disruptions are happening for a reason and those students need a champion teacher that believes in meeting their needs, too. I agree that this shouldn’t be done at the expense of the other students, but they shouldn’t just be “left behind”.

[Marta Pona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A down-to-earth advice kind of book.
With 30 years spent in teaching, Rafe shares his expertise on how to reach every kind of learner throughout the year, starting with the first day of school. Rafe’s ways of engaging reluctant kids in reading, writing and math activities surprised many visitors of his classroom, specifically since his school is considered to have a high needs student population. When asked how he does it, Rafe claims he is simply fulfilling his duties as a teacher, but provides lots of examples of his daily practice in the book.
Like any tenured teacher, Rafe admits to feeling unappreciated and mentally / physically exhausted by his career choice sometimes. Yet, it is easy to discern from his stories that teaching is a very rewarding profession if you only believe in the potential of your students. He also shares that many students have expressed gratitude for his commitment to their education long after they left his class. Many of Rafe’s students were the first in their families to have entered post-secondary education.
And that is what real teaching is about.

[John Schnable · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing nod to educational practices that truly center around the whole student, Esquith walks the reader through the ups and downs of being a teacher focused solely on student growth. While many of his anecdotes are brick houses made from the clay of the ivory tower of education, this book provides an inward look at how teachers can effectively navigate the day to day of education in the 21st century. I took many good pieces of counsel from his 30 years in education and find myself newly armed with strategies I look forward to employing in my own classroom. If you are a teacher needing a refresher on your craft or just need a cathartic walk through the trials of a fellow educator, this book delivers.

[Ellen Ingamells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed when I hit the emotional wall at the beginning of April. Rafe's classroom is not only inspiring in its depth and intensity, but also comforting, to hear the many times one of the world's most decorated teachers has been verbally abused, just like every other teacher out there. In the week when behaviors started slipping and parents started responding to pleas for support with "sorry, baseball", I needed to read that it wasn't just me. I wasn't personally doing anything to inspire these responses, but I could do other things to get the kids who want to try, to buy-in for the rest of the year.

[Mr. Derek Dietz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuffed with great advice for teachers of all experience levels, but also repetitive. Within the span of a chapter or two, the same story will be shared as if it were the first time being told. Additionally, the strategies mentioned throughout work well for the author, but they may not work for different personalities. We can't expect every teacher to carry the same personality. There's nothing particularly mind-blowing inside the pages, but it does contain a positive, reassuring voice that teaching can be the best job in the world.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. It was motivating! I enjoyed the classroom stories and practical ideas shared here. There were quite a few good things said about how to deal with burn out and other challenges that most teachers face some time or other. I'm really looking forward to reading more books written by Rafe Esquith!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it took me forever to read (I need a break from teaching most of the times I choose to read), the book is super inspirational and affirming. Chapters are a perfect length and full of wisdom. Rafe is definitely doing the most, so I did have to walk the line of being motivated while also not turning into a shame spiral.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some excellent suggestions for foundational principles that should undergird your classroom and some practical tips for dealing with difficult situations. The amount of stuff that he packs into a day will not be realistic for most teachers, nor is the alumni situation.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4/5

I read the first quarter of the book in detail and skimmed the rest of it. Each chapter has key takeaways and I went through them as most of the chapter deals with stories and incidents. A lot of the advice is motivational and inspiring. A lot of it did not apply to me.

[Kilynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! This book has so many great lessons for aspiring and new teachers!

[Abby Lourenco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and validating. No retreat, no surrender! Rafe seems like an incredible teacher and it is awe-inspiring (and exhausting) to think of all the time and work he puts into his craft. 4/5 stars.

[Hanako · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good practical information

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

No shortcuts, be nice, work hard! Great book for me as I start something new.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book; it was a very quick read. You could get a nice overview of the book by just reading the "For Your Consideration" section, which contained bullet points, at the end of each chapter!