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Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom
Are you ready for a change?
You know potential exists for innovative, engaging, revolutionary education if you get the right ideas, right tools, and right people, all in the right order.
If that sounds like you, then you're ready to DITCH old mindsets and methods and replace them with empowering, liberating ones. Author and teacher, Matt Miller shows you how to choose and incorporate teaching practices that are:
Different from what students see daily. Innovative, drawing on new ideas or modifying others' ideas. Tech-laden with the use of digital sites, tools and devices. Creative, tapping into students' original ideas as well as your own. Hands-on, encouraging students to make and try things on their own. Packed with practical advice, specific recommendations for tools, and the encouragement you need to revolutionize your classes, Ditch That Textbook will inspire you to create relevant teaching that gets student buy-in so they'l enjoy learning.
What people are saying about Ditch That Textbook:
"Matt Miller's Ditch That Textbook is a book that delivers sound advice, relatable anecdotes and an actionable roadmap for educators." -- Adam Bellow, 2011 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator of the Year
"In an age where many schools are still training students to work in a factory, Matt Miller moves past sweeping rhetoric and shows teachers how to move their classes into the future. This is a quick, energetic read that will leave you inspired to take the next step in your classroom!" -- Don Wettrick, Innovation Specialist and Author, Pure Genius
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2015
154 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Matt Miller
6 books4 followersMatt Miller is the author of four books. He has spent more than a decade teaching technology-infused lessons in public schools. As an author, blogger and education speaker, he encourages teachers to free their teaching and revolutionize their classrooms with mindset, techniques and curriculum to serve today's learners. With thousands of subscribers and visitors from more than 100 countries, Matt's blog, DitchThatTextbook.com, is a well-respected source of ideas and insights about educational technology and creative teaching.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 11, 2018
Fijn pleidooi om voorbij de methode te kijken, met aardige en praktische ideeën. Bijbehorende website en nieuwsbrief leveren inspiratie online.
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December 2, 2016Summary
Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom was written by Matt Miller, a former reporter turned Spanish teacher who sought to revolutionize his teaching practice from traditional by-the-book instruction, to an innovative learning environment with technology at the center of the learning process. The author’s goal with this book is to have teachers examine their practices, and DITCH the methods that are inefficient or downright boring.
The author begins Ditch by lamenting on a moment in his teaching practice when he realized the disconnect he had with his students. After a class period filled with lecture and worksheets, Matt was amazed at the speed at which his students ran out of the door, so quickly “it might as well have been a fire alarm” (Miller, 2015). This moment marked a paradigm shift for Miller in which he realized that he expected to do what he had experienced as a student himself, and was faced with the realization that those methods are no longer relevant for 21st-Century learners (Miller, 2015). Miller’s paradigm shift is what lead him to create the DITCH model, an acronym that stands for Different, Innovative, Tech-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On.
In Ditch, Matt Miller is careful to clarify that in many cases, teachers do not have the option to literally ditch their textbooks because of district mandates, but that should not stop teachers from ditching the practices they implement that do not fit the DITCH model. As a way to help teachers make the steps necessary to implement the DITCH model, Miller divided his book into four sections. Section 1: Why Go Digital, focuses on why it is important for teachers to use technology in the classroom. Section: Ditch That Mindset deals with moving beyond the antiquated teaching practices that have been historically present in the classroom, and trade those practices for ideas that work within the context of students’ current environment. Section 3: Ditch That Textbook, gives teachers solid examples of ways to go paperless in the classroom by incorporating web-based tools to enhance the learning environment. Section 4: Ditch That Curriculum takes the teacher from the paperless classroom, and provides methodology for restructuring curriculum that will reflect your philosophy as a teacher, and bring out the best in your students.
Evaluation
First and foremost, Ditch That Textbook is not a revolution against textbooks themselves, but rather the mentality that surrounds the standardization of education that is exempllfied by text-book teaching: teaching that focuses on reading, worksheets, rote memorization, and little meaningful learning. For this reason, the title of the book is a bit misleading, however, the content of the book backs up the idea that it is important to DITCH the methods and ideology that has caused education to stagnate the past few decades. Miller argues that in order to successfully implement the DITCH method, teachers have to be comfortable integrating technology into the classroom in a real and meaningful way. “If our job is to prepare students for the real world, the question isn’t if we should go digital, but how to go digital--starting now” (Miller, 2015).
Miller continues unraveling the DITCH method in section 2, by shifting the focus to changing our mentality. In order to make the mindshift, the author contends that the most important aspect of “Ditching That Mindset” is to focus on making learning personal. Standardization and textbook-driven learning is cold and impersonal, and students know that, which leads to the lack of engagement seen in so many schools across the country. Miller asserts that “if we can ditch our textbooks, at least momentarily, and connect to our students’ lives through our content, we can help them answer those big questions...then they’ll see themselves in what they’re learning” (Miller, 2015).
Ultimately, the DITCH methodology must be a holistic approach to revamping the classroom. The changes that Miller suggest for teachers that are willing to create a paradigm shift in their own classrooms have gained widespread support by other writers and educators. Dave Burgess’, Teach Like a PIRATE and George Couros’ Innovator’s Mindset both echo the importance of building relationships with students to understand how to craft lessons that will benefit the unique needs each one of them brings to the table. While all three of these books share a common vision of the future of education, DITCH gives practical insights to help teachers formulate a concrete plan to transform their learning environments. It’s the practicality of DITCH that makes it attractive to anyone who is seeking to overhaul their current classroom model into something that provides students with the opportunities to exercise the skills they will need beyond their formal education.
Conclusion
Ditch That Textbook is an important read for anyone seeking to modernize their learning environments. Not only does it provide helpful insight and anecdotal experiences from the authors, but it gives a practical framework for educators to implement real change in their classrooms. By ditching the textbook, teachers leave behind the rote, standardized methods of teaching, and improve on those lessons by taking into account the individuality that exists within their classrooms. It is when teachers are willing to implement the DITCH method, that students will truly become active in acquiring the skills necessary to approach their future with confidence.
This book was published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. and is available in both paperback and Kindle formats ranging in price from $9.97 to $21.11. Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9861554-0-6. Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9861554-1-3.
Miller, M. (2015). Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom. Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom was written by Matt Miller, a former reporter turned Spanish teacher who sought to revolutionize his teaching practice from traditional by-the-book instruction, to an innovative learning environment with technology at the center of the learning process. The author’s goal with this book is to have teachers examine their practices, and DITCH the methods that are inefficient or downright boring.
The author begins Ditch by lamenting on a moment in his teaching practice when he realized the disconnect he had with his students. After a class period filled with lecture and worksheets, Matt was amazed at the speed at which his students ran out of the door, so quickly “it might as well have been a fire alarm” (Miller, 2015). This moment marked a paradigm shift for Miller in which he realized that he expected to do what he had experienced as a student himself, and was faced with the realization that those methods are no longer relevant for 21st-Century learners (Miller, 2015). Miller’s paradigm shift is what lead him to create the DITCH model, an acronym that stands for Different, Innovative, Tech-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On.
In Ditch, Matt Miller is careful to clarify that in many cases, teachers do not have the option to literally ditch their textbooks because of district mandates, but that should not stop teachers from ditching the practices they implement that do not fit the DITCH model. As a way to help teachers make the steps necessary to implement the DITCH model, Miller divided his book into four sections. Section 1: Why Go Digital, focuses on why it is important for teachers to use technology in the classroom. Section: Ditch That Mindset deals with moving beyond the antiquated teaching practices that have been historically present in the classroom, and trade those practices for ideas that work within the context of students’ current environment. Section 3: Ditch That Textbook, gives teachers solid examples of ways to go paperless in the classroom by incorporating web-based tools to enhance the learning environment. Section 4: Ditch That Curriculum takes the teacher from the paperless classroom, and provides methodology for restructuring curriculum that will reflect your philosophy as a teacher, and bring out the best in your students.
Evaluation
First and foremost, Ditch That Textbook is not a revolution against textbooks themselves, but rather the mentality that surrounds the standardization of education that is exempllfied by text-book teaching: teaching that focuses on reading, worksheets, rote memorization, and little meaningful learning. For this reason, the title of the book is a bit misleading, however, the content of the book backs up the idea that it is important to DITCH the methods and ideology that has caused education to stagnate the past few decades. Miller argues that in order to successfully implement the DITCH method, teachers have to be comfortable integrating technology into the classroom in a real and meaningful way. “If our job is to prepare students for the real world, the question isn’t if we should go digital, but how to go digital--starting now” (Miller, 2015).
Miller continues unraveling the DITCH method in section 2, by shifting the focus to changing our mentality. In order to make the mindshift, the author contends that the most important aspect of “Ditching That Mindset” is to focus on making learning personal. Standardization and textbook-driven learning is cold and impersonal, and students know that, which leads to the lack of engagement seen in so many schools across the country. Miller asserts that “if we can ditch our textbooks, at least momentarily, and connect to our students’ lives through our content, we can help them answer those big questions...then they’ll see themselves in what they’re learning” (Miller, 2015).
Ultimately, the DITCH methodology must be a holistic approach to revamping the classroom. The changes that Miller suggest for teachers that are willing to create a paradigm shift in their own classrooms have gained widespread support by other writers and educators. Dave Burgess’, Teach Like a PIRATE and George Couros’ Innovator’s Mindset both echo the importance of building relationships with students to understand how to craft lessons that will benefit the unique needs each one of them brings to the table. While all three of these books share a common vision of the future of education, DITCH gives practical insights to help teachers formulate a concrete plan to transform their learning environments. It’s the practicality of DITCH that makes it attractive to anyone who is seeking to overhaul their current classroom model into something that provides students with the opportunities to exercise the skills they will need beyond their formal education.
Conclusion
Ditch That Textbook is an important read for anyone seeking to modernize their learning environments. Not only does it provide helpful insight and anecdotal experiences from the authors, but it gives a practical framework for educators to implement real change in their classrooms. By ditching the textbook, teachers leave behind the rote, standardized methods of teaching, and improve on those lessons by taking into account the individuality that exists within their classrooms. It is when teachers are willing to implement the DITCH method, that students will truly become active in acquiring the skills necessary to approach their future with confidence.
This book was published by Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. and is available in both paperback and Kindle formats ranging in price from $9.97 to $21.11. Paperback ISBN: 978-0-9861554-0-6. Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9861554-1-3.
Miller, M. (2015). Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom. Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2017
Great ideas! Can't wait to hear him in person!
April 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! I found it to be a relaxing, refreshing read that fit well into my brief reading opportunities. Even though some of the subject matter was not new to me, it was still valuable to hear Matt’s take on it. 👍
March 3, 2018
Matt Miller’s “Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom”, is an impassioned, thoughtful discussion about the need for teachers to make pedagogical changes to meet the needs of 21st-century learners. Miller uses his phrase “Ditch That” as his battle cry to educators to step out of traditional teaching roles and embrace the technological world in which today's digital natives live.
Matt Miller is a classroom Teacher with more than 10 years experience teaching High School Spanish. Miller is also a Google Certified innovator, a PBS Learning Media Digital Innovator, and was named one of the top 10 influencers of educational technology by Onalytica, a Bammy! Awards nominee, and blogger.
Matt Miller’s “Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom” has four themes. Those themes are as titled: Why go digital? Ditch that mindset, Ditch that textbook, and Ditch that curriculum. Each theme provides an explanation of each proclamation or question and is followed by practical classroom examples or theories either provided from his own teaching practice or from the practice of a colleague.
The first section, “Why go Digital?” discusses the technological advancements in our world and culture and explores reasons why some instructors are reluctant to adopt new technologies into their teaching practice. Miller specifically stated that “Education today is driven by methods effective for producing good little factory workers, but the kind of work people do in today's workforce is non-routine, interpersonal, and analytical. Call me crazy, but something doesn't add up. These practices that persist in classrooms today certainly helped workers thrive during the Industrial Revolution, but the Industrial Revolution is over! The digital revolution is here. It's time our classrooms address the needs of the current and future marketplace.”
In the first section of his book, it seems as if Miller is speaking directly to educators who are struggling with evolving and using technology to deliver instruction. The first chapter of the book informs the reader of some of the technological advantages that 21st-century teachers have over teachers from any other time in history. 21st-century teachers can access information, images, and video from all over the world. Miller discusses these advantages and offers some specific apps and websites for teachers to use the start moving forward in their practice as a teacher. The writer also states and understanding for the anxiety caused by introducing new ideas and new technology into their teaching practice. However, he believes that the benefits far outweigh the risks involved when teachers ditch their textbooks.
There is a multitude of teacher/education/tech books, webinars, and professional development opportunities that laud using technology for increasing efficiency, however, Miller’s perspective differs from many others. Miller discusses taking advantage of the efficiency that using technology offers to provide greater life balance for teachers. Many teachers spend more of their discretionary time than they would like grading papers, planning lessons, and tweaking assignments. Miller claims that utilizing the efficiency that technology affords, teachers can increase their discretionary time for personal pursuits. The author also claims that a teacher with a good balance of work and personal life pursuits helps create a better instructor.
The next theme, “Ditch that Mindset” examines the thought processes of teachers in regard to the adoption of technology to increase academic outcomes. Miller explores the idea of using technology to personalize instruction to increase student performance. One example from the book tells about a social studies teacher that created a music playlist that correlated with the academic content and how the titles and lyrics of the songs were intertwined with the lesson. The section is concluded with a discussion about how at the end of the day, sound teaching should be prioritized above all else, including technology. In the chapter “Choose Task Over Tool”, Miller writes “the bottom line is that pedagogy must drive technology. The mindset that fuels digital learning is: Good teaching trumps good tools.” The focus of this section is to prepare educators to begin utilizing the combination of smart tech and teaching.
Miller addresses the title of his book in the following section “Ditch That Textbook” and offers practical advice to those looking to create a paperless learning environment and/or incorporate more technology into their teaching practice. The first practical advice the author provides is to create a website/home/base for students to find, create, and upload information. Next, he gives real common and original ideas to help teachers reach that ideal. Miller concludes this theme with a conversation with the reader imploring them to see their students for who they are and to instruct them in their world. In the book Miller states “the changing marketplace and continually advancing technology require us to reevaluate the way we educate”. It is Miller’s opinion that too many times educators are asking digital natives to learn utilizing analog methods.
The book is concluded asking educators to “Ditch That Curriculum” within the confines of the expectations of their employer to increase student outcomes. Educators are then asked to perform some self-reflection to determine a foundation or philosophy of teaching from which to build upon. Miller then asks teachers to build upon this foundation with a mission or end goal in mind, and then begin to plan backwards from that point. He also helps educators “Ditch That Curiculum” with practical advice to utilize flexible thinking, and gradually add tech to their practice.
Matt Miller’s “Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom” is a call to arms for 21st century educators to revitalize their teaching practice and engage learners. Although it might seem as if Miller might be asking teachers to throw their textbooks into the trash, Miller is trying to encourage instructors to be Different, Innovative, Teach-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On.
Matt Miller is a classroom Teacher with more than 10 years experience teaching High School Spanish. Miller is also a Google Certified innovator, a PBS Learning Media Digital Innovator, and was named one of the top 10 influencers of educational technology by Onalytica, a Bammy! Awards nominee, and blogger.
Matt Miller’s “Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom” has four themes. Those themes are as titled: Why go digital? Ditch that mindset, Ditch that textbook, and Ditch that curriculum. Each theme provides an explanation of each proclamation or question and is followed by practical classroom examples or theories either provided from his own teaching practice or from the practice of a colleague.
The first section, “Why go Digital?” discusses the technological advancements in our world and culture and explores reasons why some instructors are reluctant to adopt new technologies into their teaching practice. Miller specifically stated that “Education today is driven by methods effective for producing good little factory workers, but the kind of work people do in today's workforce is non-routine, interpersonal, and analytical. Call me crazy, but something doesn't add up. These practices that persist in classrooms today certainly helped workers thrive during the Industrial Revolution, but the Industrial Revolution is over! The digital revolution is here. It's time our classrooms address the needs of the current and future marketplace.”
In the first section of his book, it seems as if Miller is speaking directly to educators who are struggling with evolving and using technology to deliver instruction. The first chapter of the book informs the reader of some of the technological advantages that 21st-century teachers have over teachers from any other time in history. 21st-century teachers can access information, images, and video from all over the world. Miller discusses these advantages and offers some specific apps and websites for teachers to use the start moving forward in their practice as a teacher. The writer also states and understanding for the anxiety caused by introducing new ideas and new technology into their teaching practice. However, he believes that the benefits far outweigh the risks involved when teachers ditch their textbooks.
There is a multitude of teacher/education/tech books, webinars, and professional development opportunities that laud using technology for increasing efficiency, however, Miller’s perspective differs from many others. Miller discusses taking advantage of the efficiency that using technology offers to provide greater life balance for teachers. Many teachers spend more of their discretionary time than they would like grading papers, planning lessons, and tweaking assignments. Miller claims that utilizing the efficiency that technology affords, teachers can increase their discretionary time for personal pursuits. The author also claims that a teacher with a good balance of work and personal life pursuits helps create a better instructor.
The next theme, “Ditch that Mindset” examines the thought processes of teachers in regard to the adoption of technology to increase academic outcomes. Miller explores the idea of using technology to personalize instruction to increase student performance. One example from the book tells about a social studies teacher that created a music playlist that correlated with the academic content and how the titles and lyrics of the songs were intertwined with the lesson. The section is concluded with a discussion about how at the end of the day, sound teaching should be prioritized above all else, including technology. In the chapter “Choose Task Over Tool”, Miller writes “the bottom line is that pedagogy must drive technology. The mindset that fuels digital learning is: Good teaching trumps good tools.” The focus of this section is to prepare educators to begin utilizing the combination of smart tech and teaching.
Miller addresses the title of his book in the following section “Ditch That Textbook” and offers practical advice to those looking to create a paperless learning environment and/or incorporate more technology into their teaching practice. The first practical advice the author provides is to create a website/home/base for students to find, create, and upload information. Next, he gives real common and original ideas to help teachers reach that ideal. Miller concludes this theme with a conversation with the reader imploring them to see their students for who they are and to instruct them in their world. In the book Miller states “the changing marketplace and continually advancing technology require us to reevaluate the way we educate”. It is Miller’s opinion that too many times educators are asking digital natives to learn utilizing analog methods.
The book is concluded asking educators to “Ditch That Curriculum” within the confines of the expectations of their employer to increase student outcomes. Educators are then asked to perform some self-reflection to determine a foundation or philosophy of teaching from which to build upon. Miller then asks teachers to build upon this foundation with a mission or end goal in mind, and then begin to plan backwards from that point. He also helps educators “Ditch That Curiculum” with practical advice to utilize flexible thinking, and gradually add tech to their practice.
Matt Miller’s “Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom” is a call to arms for 21st century educators to revitalize their teaching practice and engage learners. Although it might seem as if Miller might be asking teachers to throw their textbooks into the trash, Miller is trying to encourage instructors to be Different, Innovative, Teach-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On.
August 6, 2015
Excellent! A lot of info but a good balance of general and specific treatment of topics. Not a guilt trip but motivational. I was encouraged through parts because of practices I already use but also given so many ideas for ways and areas in which to improve as well. I also personally really appreciated that the author is also a Spanish teacher because there was more credibility and were more examples I could relate to as I read. Definitely glad I bumped this one up on my to-read priority list!!!
June 27, 2021
The book that I read was titled, Ditch that Textbook by Matt Miller. The book was published in 2015 by Dave Burgess Consulting Inc. In the introduction to his book, Miller claims "...this book is about evolving and finding better ways to teach” and Miller does exactly that (Miller, 2015, p.2). Throughout the book he offers many hands-on ideas that incorporate technology to globally connect students to the world. He states, “Technology provides unbridled access to our students” (Miller, 2015, p. 11). Additionally, this book focuses on helping teachers reflect on their current practice and highlights Matt Miller’s journey in creating a classroom where great learning experiences happen for students. In the book Matt Miller provides educators a roadmap for how to break free from “textbook mentality” and start innovating with technology in their classrooms. It is full of specific strategies for how to use education technology. Its primary purpose is to awaken educators out of a fixed mindset about what it means to teach, a mindset, he argues, exemplified by the outdated relic of the classroom textbook. He implores educators to “ditch” stodgy textbook teaching strategies (boring lectures, quiet reading in rows, mindless worksheets) and embrace a messier, less structured, more authentic, and more engaging approach to educating students. The shift Miller advocates involves using a lot of new technology in place of textbooks, but he also compels teachers to consider whether or not the majority of traditional structures and practices in public education should be tossed out along with the old textbooks. The chapters are brief, to the point, and filled with stories, advice and tips based on Miller's classroom experiences, so it's an effortless and fun read. The book is written in short, concise chapters with lots of QR codes that link to additional lists, resources, supports, and even an ebook. On page 5, Miller states, "Ditch That Textbook is designed to be a support system, toolbox, and manifesto. It's a collection of ideas, considerations, and suggestions to help you free yourself as an educator to create the classroom and the teaching style you want" (Miller, 2015, p. 5). Furthermore, on page 3, Miller (2015) states, “DITCH became my model for deciding what and how to teach:
• DIFFERENT: Using teaching methods that differ from what students see day after day, class after class.
• INNOVATIVE: Inventing digital sites, tools, and devices to learn more efficiently or in new and different ways.
• TECH-LADEN: Incorporating digital sites, tools, and devices to learn more efficiently or in new and different ways.
• CREATIVE: Tapping into students’ original ideas as well as creating and producing meaningful work. (After all, creative has the word create in it!)
• HANDS-ON: Letting students make and try things on their own.
In the Ditch that Mindset section of the book Miller states that effective teaching emerges when we personalize the learning; make it relevant, fun and engaging; and work to build relationships with our students. Miller suggests that we think outside the text and the curriculum (using tech to transform our teaching) to help our students take ownership of their learning. He further notes that the greatest student motivation comes from autonomy, mastery and purpose. Matt states we must “punch fear in the face” when ditching our “textbook ways of teaching” (Miller, 2015, p. 217). In addition, Miller states that change scared him when he first revamped his teaching practices and that it still scares him, but “in the end we have to decide whether we’ll let fear make the decisions or if we’ll make decisions and take action” (Miller, 2015, p. 217).
Miller concludes his book with suggestions on how to get started and states, “You were inspired to teach because you wanted to make a difference. Yes, making a difference is messy and complicated. Do it anyway. Embrace the messy and the complicated. Go out on a limb because that’s where the fruit is. Embrace the uncomfortable and discover what’s really possible.” (Miller, 2015, p.218-219). These are very inspiring words to get us started on DITCHing the current status quo of education and do what we always intended to do: Make a difference! The book is divided into four sections: (1) Why Go Digital?; (2) Ditch That Mindset; (3) Ditch That Textbook; and (4) Ditch That Curriculum. Throughout the sections, Matt shows us how using the DITCH model can help us free our teaching and revolutionize our classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned about the benefits of going digital and ways technology can help me improve my teaching by DITCHing outdated mindsets, methods, and curriculum plans. It gave me ideas on how to use tech to transform my teaching to help students take ownership of their learning. The entire book reinforced my mindset of not teaching a one-size-fits all curriculum because that doesn’t tailor to the individual academic and social emotional needs of our diverse student populations. So, if you are still unsure whether to teach a prescribed curriculum or are ready to start teaching outside the text and the curriculum prescribed and don’t know how to get started, please read this book!
• DIFFERENT: Using teaching methods that differ from what students see day after day, class after class.
• INNOVATIVE: Inventing digital sites, tools, and devices to learn more efficiently or in new and different ways.
• TECH-LADEN: Incorporating digital sites, tools, and devices to learn more efficiently or in new and different ways.
• CREATIVE: Tapping into students’ original ideas as well as creating and producing meaningful work. (After all, creative has the word create in it!)
• HANDS-ON: Letting students make and try things on their own.
In the Ditch that Mindset section of the book Miller states that effective teaching emerges when we personalize the learning; make it relevant, fun and engaging; and work to build relationships with our students. Miller suggests that we think outside the text and the curriculum (using tech to transform our teaching) to help our students take ownership of their learning. He further notes that the greatest student motivation comes from autonomy, mastery and purpose. Matt states we must “punch fear in the face” when ditching our “textbook ways of teaching” (Miller, 2015, p. 217). In addition, Miller states that change scared him when he first revamped his teaching practices and that it still scares him, but “in the end we have to decide whether we’ll let fear make the decisions or if we’ll make decisions and take action” (Miller, 2015, p. 217).
Miller concludes his book with suggestions on how to get started and states, “You were inspired to teach because you wanted to make a difference. Yes, making a difference is messy and complicated. Do it anyway. Embrace the messy and the complicated. Go out on a limb because that’s where the fruit is. Embrace the uncomfortable and discover what’s really possible.” (Miller, 2015, p.218-219). These are very inspiring words to get us started on DITCHing the current status quo of education and do what we always intended to do: Make a difference! The book is divided into four sections: (1) Why Go Digital?; (2) Ditch That Mindset; (3) Ditch That Textbook; and (4) Ditch That Curriculum. Throughout the sections, Matt shows us how using the DITCH model can help us free our teaching and revolutionize our classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned about the benefits of going digital and ways technology can help me improve my teaching by DITCHing outdated mindsets, methods, and curriculum plans. It gave me ideas on how to use tech to transform my teaching to help students take ownership of their learning. The entire book reinforced my mindset of not teaching a one-size-fits all curriculum because that doesn’t tailor to the individual academic and social emotional needs of our diverse student populations. So, if you are still unsure whether to teach a prescribed curriculum or are ready to start teaching outside the text and the curriculum prescribed and don’t know how to get started, please read this book!
July 18, 2022
Thoroughly unimpressed with this book. Even thought it was written in 2015 it’s very outdated. The author kept saying he didn’t want to confine teachers to a box within his book, therefore; nothing new is given to the reader who is seeking out new ideas.
August 8, 2015
Confirmed a lot of things I already do, but lacked specific examples for how to implement new ideas. Had some good elements to use in my classroom.
December 15, 2021
Ditch that Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom is a book written by Matt Miller in 2015. Although it is going on 7 years old, the ideas and message presented in this book are still just as relevant for current 21st century educators. In this book, Miller provides real-world advice to educators for stepping away from the scripted, tedious, and often boring ‘textbook’ model, and stepping into a more technology inclusive, student centered type of classroom teaching. He stresses the importance of “changing your mindset and methods so you can create great learning experiences for your students.” (p. 12) He reflects on a time where he felt bored with the material and could sense the boredom in his students. He had an idea of what he wanted in his classroom; authentic learning experiences, and innovative and creative opportunities for his students to thrive. Thus the moto DITCH was born, a mission statement so to speak. DITCH is an acronym that stands for Different, Innovative, Tech-laden, Creative and Hands-on.
Throughout the book, a theme of productive change can be felt. Miller is almost challenging educators to examine their current practices and determine if there is a more efficient, or more effective way to reach our students. One way to become more efficient is the purposeful integration of technology, or switching to digital. Multiple times in the book, Miller states the simple fact that our students are already using technology… and this is even more true today than seven years ago. Because we know this to be true, we, as educators, need to embrace that and use it to our advantage. Designing projects around using their technology to research a topic, or learning to do something is powerful. Also mentioned in the text is the obvious challenges that come with this type of readily available technology. “If technology is misused or, worse, omitted from the classroom, students will miss out on opportunities to develop important skills they’ll need to keep up with a constantly changing marketplace. If our job is to prepare students for the real world, the question isn’t if we should go digital, but how to go digital.” (p. 14) We must teach how to use technology in a safe, and reliable way, and how to determine credible and not credible information.
Another major topic Miller discussed was our mindset as a determining factor of our success as educators, and the success of our students. (p. 40) When our mindset is closed off, or focused solely on the content that needs to be taught, we are missing out on opportunities to form genuine connections with our students. Content is important, but if we cannot make it relevant for our students, and make connections to their lives, it is really hard to make it stick. Miller challenged himself to step out of that mindset and explore the possibilities of connections, fun, and realness with his teaching. This includes the integration of technology! Something extremely relevant to our students' lives.
Overall, I think this is an excellent read for educators at any grade level. Matt Miller does a great job presenting ideas, and suggestions in a non overwhelming way. You immediately feel like you have something you can implement with your own students or a self reflection you can do with your own teaching. By DITCHing the textbook, you are opening your classroom to the innovative teaching that 21st century students need in order to be successful in our rapidly changing world. This book is a great eye opener for the possibilities that come with being a 21st century educator and utilizing technology as a tool to move our students in the right direction. I can’t wait to continue my reflection on my current practices and apply the DITCH moto to my own teaching.
Throughout the book, a theme of productive change can be felt. Miller is almost challenging educators to examine their current practices and determine if there is a more efficient, or more effective way to reach our students. One way to become more efficient is the purposeful integration of technology, or switching to digital. Multiple times in the book, Miller states the simple fact that our students are already using technology… and this is even more true today than seven years ago. Because we know this to be true, we, as educators, need to embrace that and use it to our advantage. Designing projects around using their technology to research a topic, or learning to do something is powerful. Also mentioned in the text is the obvious challenges that come with this type of readily available technology. “If technology is misused or, worse, omitted from the classroom, students will miss out on opportunities to develop important skills they’ll need to keep up with a constantly changing marketplace. If our job is to prepare students for the real world, the question isn’t if we should go digital, but how to go digital.” (p. 14) We must teach how to use technology in a safe, and reliable way, and how to determine credible and not credible information.
Another major topic Miller discussed was our mindset as a determining factor of our success as educators, and the success of our students. (p. 40) When our mindset is closed off, or focused solely on the content that needs to be taught, we are missing out on opportunities to form genuine connections with our students. Content is important, but if we cannot make it relevant for our students, and make connections to their lives, it is really hard to make it stick. Miller challenged himself to step out of that mindset and explore the possibilities of connections, fun, and realness with his teaching. This includes the integration of technology! Something extremely relevant to our students' lives.
Overall, I think this is an excellent read for educators at any grade level. Matt Miller does a great job presenting ideas, and suggestions in a non overwhelming way. You immediately feel like you have something you can implement with your own students or a self reflection you can do with your own teaching. By DITCHing the textbook, you are opening your classroom to the innovative teaching that 21st century students need in order to be successful in our rapidly changing world. This book is a great eye opener for the possibilities that come with being a 21st century educator and utilizing technology as a tool to move our students in the right direction. I can’t wait to continue my reflection on my current practices and apply the DITCH moto to my own teaching.
March 2, 2018
Matt Miller is a great author. I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised to discover that DITCH was an acronym, but I liked it once he explained it. He did not overwhelm us in this book, which because of the title, you could easily think it would be very overwhelming. Matt is realistic about education, and is constantly saying in the book to take our time. Do not try it all at the once, make a plan and test it out. Then make adjustments as we go, but whatever we do, "start," don't just "do nothing!"
I loved that the chapters were all short and extremely easy to read. He breaks down the book into 4 sections: Why go Digital, Ditch the Mindset (which is the longest section probably because teachers sometimes have a hard time changing our original mindset), Ditch that Textbook, and finally Ditch that Curriculum. In each section he gives very easy to follow steps on how you would go about "ditching" in each of those areas. Because the chapters are so short, it doesn't feel overwhelming. Also his light humor dispersed though out the pages makes it follow along through the book easily.
Matt is not a demanding author, so I found myself willingly taking notes on a few things that I could begin making changes to in my classroom. He often mentions himself and explains many of his failures in the book, which I think he did to make us feel at ease while we are reading. Plus it gives us a area of connection to him as an educator.
I purchased the ebook, so I loved the hyper links to his blog, and articles that he refers to (very 21st Century learner). This book provided resources, questions, and effective ways to rethink my mindset as a teacher and new a perspective to going paperless. I do think that this book could stand to be updated with some of the newer tech that is available today, like Google Suite, Remind, and Edmodo. His confidence in us as being our own best professional development was very encouraging. I've been teaching my self a lot of the new apps and programs lately, so being a forever learner is such a true statement. I will definitely be rereading this book over the summer to get fired up for next school year.
I loved that the chapters were all short and extremely easy to read. He breaks down the book into 4 sections: Why go Digital, Ditch the Mindset (which is the longest section probably because teachers sometimes have a hard time changing our original mindset), Ditch that Textbook, and finally Ditch that Curriculum. In each section he gives very easy to follow steps on how you would go about "ditching" in each of those areas. Because the chapters are so short, it doesn't feel overwhelming. Also his light humor dispersed though out the pages makes it follow along through the book easily.
Matt is not a demanding author, so I found myself willingly taking notes on a few things that I could begin making changes to in my classroom. He often mentions himself and explains many of his failures in the book, which I think he did to make us feel at ease while we are reading. Plus it gives us a area of connection to him as an educator.
I purchased the ebook, so I loved the hyper links to his blog, and articles that he refers to (very 21st Century learner). This book provided resources, questions, and effective ways to rethink my mindset as a teacher and new a perspective to going paperless. I do think that this book could stand to be updated with some of the newer tech that is available today, like Google Suite, Remind, and Edmodo. His confidence in us as being our own best professional development was very encouraging. I've been teaching my self a lot of the new apps and programs lately, so being a forever learner is such a true statement. I will definitely be rereading this book over the summer to get fired up for next school year.
June 25, 2020
Ditching the textbook is something I have been gradually doing over the last five years because, quite frankly, I'm bored to death. I picked up this book hoping to find both validation and inspiration to continue in the process of creating my own curriculum for freshmen English.
Broken up into four sections, this book begins by telling us about why he was inspired to write this book. Like all of us, it came out of a desire to see his students become more interested in his class, rather than eager to race out of the room at the bell. And, like all good teachers, Miller developed an acronym to outline the reasons for this big switch in his pedgaogy. DITCH (different, innovate, tech-laden, creative, hands-on) became the model for deciding what and how to teach.
While several of the chapters seem quite obvious to me (real world skills, choose task over tool) as a Master's candidate in an Ed Tech program, I found several valuable ideas within the third section regarding the HOW to ditch your textbook. The organization of your own website, and the management of a digital classroom sections were particularly useful as all of this will be new to me next semester.
Miller's casual tone and personal recollections of students' successes or personal failures was also interesting as I could really relate to the experiences as a teach, myself.
My only qualm about the book, if any, is that there was no real data presented regarding the success of such practices. All of the references were to blogs and other educelebrities and their personal experiences. Again, while I can relate to many of these, I feel that I would have garnered all of the information provided to me had it been supported with a statistic or two along the way.
Broken up into four sections, this book begins by telling us about why he was inspired to write this book. Like all of us, it came out of a desire to see his students become more interested in his class, rather than eager to race out of the room at the bell. And, like all good teachers, Miller developed an acronym to outline the reasons for this big switch in his pedgaogy. DITCH (different, innovate, tech-laden, creative, hands-on) became the model for deciding what and how to teach.
While several of the chapters seem quite obvious to me (real world skills, choose task over tool) as a Master's candidate in an Ed Tech program, I found several valuable ideas within the third section regarding the HOW to ditch your textbook. The organization of your own website, and the management of a digital classroom sections were particularly useful as all of this will be new to me next semester.
Miller's casual tone and personal recollections of students' successes or personal failures was also interesting as I could really relate to the experiences as a teach, myself.
My only qualm about the book, if any, is that there was no real data presented regarding the success of such practices. All of the references were to blogs and other educelebrities and their personal experiences. Again, while I can relate to many of these, I feel that I would have garnered all of the information provided to me had it been supported with a statistic or two along the way.
October 10, 2020
This report is based upon the book Ditch That Textbook, written by Matt Miller (2015). Miller challenges his readers to find better ways of teaching, rather than the typical “textbook-style” way of conforming to standardize practices in order to revolutionize the modern classroom. Through the process of transforming his own classroom to leverage the use of technology to engage his students, he was able to develop the DITCH model for deciding what and how to teach: Different, Innovative, Tech-Laden, Creative, and Hands-On. The book is divided into four sections, Why Go Digital?, Ditch That Mindset, Ditch That Textbook, and Ditch That Curriculum. There were several key points that really stuck out to me which I believe is Miller’s aim and intent for writing this book. He mentioned, “The world continues to change. To keep up with it, our students desperately need us to ditch our textbook ways of looking at education” (p. 30). Our times of the industrial revolution is over, and our previous thinking of the traditional classroom environment is not conducive nor engaging for our current and future marketplace – if our goal is to develop 21st Century learners and to prepare them for the real-world. I would say that he was very thoughtful in approaching this topic of integrating technology and the new learning strategies because he was realistic about describing the anxiety and potential failures that can accompany trying out these new and innovative practices. I will end with an excerpt from Miller’s book, “We want it all. We want to integrate all the new tools and ideas into our classes, and we want to do it now. But we have to be selective and purposeful about the resources we introduce to our student” (p. 134).
December 21, 2022
This is an outstanding book by Matt Miller. When Matt Miller says, Ditch that Textbook, he means, DITCH means or stands for, Different, Innovative, Tech-laden, Creative, and Hands-on curriculum. I enjoyed reading Matt's book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in going beyond their textbook and their curriculum. Matt Miller has many suggestions and some of those that stood out to me, where to take it slowly, don't try to do it all at once, overcome your fears and try something new. There are many more very practical thing that Matt Miller suggests that teachers should do in order to keep our students actively engaged in their learning process. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in revamping and recreating their classrooms. I am going to try some of Matt Miller's suggestions starting in the coming school year, starting in January 2023! I can't wait to get started. Matt Miller also said don't worry if you try something new and you fail. We know that we all grow and learn when we fail and so again I'm ready to get started learning and growing! How about you? Are you ready to take the plunge and try something new in your classroom? Go for it! As Mitch writes, "Go ahead. You know you want to. Ditch that textbook!"
June 7, 2023
I love everything that comes out of this publishing house, these teachers are all rock stars to me. I got some helpful ideas especially from the beginning of the book, but unfortunately this book’s relevance has suffered from the passing of time and COVID when many teachers were forced into making their classrooms digital. The whole middle of the book was a little slow for me, and the author talked about god a little more often than what I’m comfortable with. There are a few websites that I will research, but this book was published in 2015 so who knows if those resources still exist almost ten years later. I also am not able to ditch my curriculum or fully ditch my textbooks because of school and district policies, so there were large portions that I felt did not apply to me.
December 21, 2023
More than a toolbox, this book is a valuable resource for university professors. Many of the links and other resources will be out of date very soon, if not they already are. The ideas that the author contributes are extremely valuable, especially the thinking outside the box. In my particular case, I don't have much feedback from colleagues, and obtaining it is very difficult. Matt lets you know that you are not alone but that many resources on the internet are at your fingertips. Anyway, in addition to the excellent ideas, this is an inspiring book for anyone who teaches and who never stops learning.
June 12, 2025
This guide invites educators to break free from traditional, text-focused methods and embrace innovative, hands-on teaching. It offers practical strategies for integrating digital tools, fostering student creativity, and designing projects that spark genuine engagement. Packed with real-world examples and clear recommendations, it shows how to replace compliance-driven lessons with activities that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Energetic and actionable, this book provides the roadmap teachers need to revolutionize their classrooms and inspire lifelong learners.
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November 12, 2019Miller's work is a quick read and has many insightful ideas on using technology in the classroom. Miller inspires educators to break the mode and adapt their curriculum in order for their students to develop important 21st century skills needed in the world today. DITCH THAT TEXTBOOK references a number of other great educator books which I was quick to add to my "to-read" list. It also inspire me to reach out to other educators through social media. Best quote from the book; "...students live in a digital world, but we force them to learn through analog means..."
May 8, 2017
Following the main idea of this text would be difficult since I work in a big district with lots of guidelines. However, as we embark on a one-to-one program in the fall, implementing some of the supporting ideas would be helpful. Regardless, it's practical and helpful advice in (and out of) the classroom to "[e]mbrace the messy and the complicated. Go out on a limb because that's where the fruit is. Embrace the uncomfortable and discover what's really possible."
June 25, 2019
Published in 2015, some of the information is already dated. (Vine is dead. RIP) Also, the explanation of what a "re-tweet" is made me laugh. :)
However, there are several really great points that Dr. Miller makes about moving away from "traditional" teaching and embracing technology, student interest, and more progressive thought about the state of education and how classrooms could and should operate in this century and beyond.
However, there are several really great points that Dr. Miller makes about moving away from "traditional" teaching and embracing technology, student interest, and more progressive thought about the state of education and how classrooms could and should operate in this century and beyond.
October 4, 2025
Matt Milker is one of my favorite education bloggers and he brings his same voice to this book. In fact, each chapter ends with a QR code for more reading on his blog.
My one knock against the book is that some of the tech talk stuff is already outdated. And there is new tech that he blogs about. And a couple of the blog links have expired.
But don’t let that stop you from reading this book. A lot of good stuff for teachers in all fields.
My one knock against the book is that some of the tech talk stuff is already outdated. And there is new tech that he blogs about. And a couple of the blog links have expired.
But don’t let that stop you from reading this book. A lot of good stuff for teachers in all fields.
June 8, 2018
Great book. Don't be confused by the title. It is not just about getting rid of your textbooks. It is more about making your teaching better and more relevant for your students than an outdated textbook, paired with outdated worksheets. A great read. Plus, if you are not listening to Matt Miller and Kasey Bell's Google Tribe podcast, you should.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
November 8, 2019
Very applicable for teachers who are used to traditional paper and pencil teaching styles. Young, new-grad teachers, who are already fully prepared and comfortable using technology to engage students may still benefit by skimming this book.
January 5, 2020
Looking for direction on ways to incorporate instructional technology into your classroom? This well written and insightful text provides you with the thoughts and skills to pursue transformative instructional practices that will engage and benefit your students. This book is one of the best!
April 28, 2020
This book was part of my graduate texts. I know it is not feasible for many teachers to throw out the basals, but Miller has some excellent ideas for building up your own curriculum. I will use this book as a stepping stone towards restructuring my teaching practices.
June 13, 2020
A quick and easy read. Miller offers a lot of ideas some specific example but it's general enough that teachers come away many great ideas. Even the websites that are no longer around the ideas are still valid.
May 31, 2021
I really wish I had read this book when it first came out. A little dated now but has great ideas. I was never a big textbook person to begin with but this book validated some things I have been doing but it has also motivated me to really get things to an even better place in my classroom.
July 15, 2024
This is a good book, even if some of the content/websites are dated. Look at it as a place to start if you don't lean heavily on tech in your classroom already or as a place for some new ideas. I also subscribe to his emails, which have so many great ideas for adding tech in the classroom.
May 31, 2017
Amazing, inspiring book every educator should pick and and read more than once!
June 8, 2017
So many great ideas for a new, tech based classroom. I can't wait to get started on planning. A must read for educators who want to change the way education has always been viewed.
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