Even on Your Worst Day, You Can Be a Student’s Best Hope

by Manny Scott

As Manny Scott travels the world speaking to students and educators, he meets young people whose stories sound a lot like his own—a childhood that was marked by poverty, instability, violence, and despair until a few caring educators showed him how to find meaning in the classroom and gave him a glimpse of his own possibilities. So many kids he meets today need this kind of hope and practical assistance. But with all that is already on educators’ plates, what can an individual teacher do to help traumatized children believe in themselves, succeed in school, and graduate prepared for work and life? Here, you’ll find answers. With the same passion that inspires so many who hear him speak, Scott presents an approach informed by the teachers who helped him and honed through years of connecting with kids who desperately need someone to show them a path to a more positive future. He shares the little things you can do to prepare yourself for the hard work of making a difference and offers advice for bridging cultural divides, earning students’ trust, and equipping them to take responsibility for their own success. This book is a reminder of the incredible power every teacher has to help young people rewrite their destinies—and it’s a call to action for all who read it.

Genres: Education

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2017

Reviews

[Nicole Means · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for any teacher who wants to reflect on his/her practice. Scott offers ample opportunities for inner-reflection while implementing practical strategies.

[Lorra Metko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book, Manny Scott, was one of Erin Gruwell’s students from The Freedom Writers. It’s a quick read and inspiring to teachers. I wasn’t able to afford attendance at an ASCD conference to hear him speak, so through his book I could attend vicariously.

[Christine Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great inspirational fast read for any teacher young or old. I would love to hear Manny speak, his message is powerful and timely. Teachers tend to forget what our job is and the real reason we teach. manny does a nice job of reminding us compassionately.

[Jeremiah Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started and finished this book a while ago. It is nice when you read a book, and ideas from the author resonate days or weeks later. This text is for an audience of school employees who work with children. However, it would be a great read for anyone who is involved with children of all ages.

The thing that has resonated with me most is the idea of self-concept. How many times have we seen adults with self-concept issues that were never dealt with. Children who go through trauma are likely to experience these factors. Once these factors say, "You're not important, you're a failure, etc." so often, people start to believe that about themselves. Not only do we need to help others silence those voices, we need help the children replace those voices with , "You are valuable, you are not you're mistakes, I see your successes..." Not only for children, we need to help everyone else with that pesky negative voice.

[annmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR CULTURAL UNIVERSE IS NOT CULTURALLY UNIVERSAL."

I had the chance to hear Manny Scott speak at the Empower18 ASCD Conference in March and it was a powerful experience. I watched the movie "Freedom Writers" the night before in preparation. If you ever get the chance to hear him speak take it. His public speaking is somehow more powerful than the book itself was, but if you don't think you'll get to see him in person the book is definitely worth a read.

"Right now, with whatever limitations you have, you have the power to change someone's life."

"What you focus on determine how you feel at any given moment."

"Poverty is more than the lack of money; poverty is also the lack of access to people who can help you flourish in life."

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, this inspirational book motivated me in new ways. I was required to read it for my Mentor/Mentee program and came away with a lot of new information I can use in a classroom. While most of my students are not like the author's, in that they have it a little better, there are still many connections I can make. I wonder how his story would have turned out had he not been one of the Freedom Writer students of Erin Gruwell? At least he is paying it forward.

[Tiffany Wittmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great opening to the book that had me hopefully for some specific advice to help reach the struggling students. However, I felt that this book was really nothing terribly new in regards to pedagogy. Where I teach we do not have much of a diverse population and many of his suggestions are already being done in my district. Good read to remind you that every kiddo has a different situation and we need to respect that.

[Bente Kleven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had very little to say except that teachers need to relate to students by getting to know them and by using relevant teaching examples within the curriculum. The author credits much of his success to quality teachers who believed in him so knowing that some of our students will become successful because of our persistence is motivating in some discouraging moments.

[Evonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything he said is true. 100% It's an easy read and his message is one I believe. There were a few places where I had to pause to reflect: am I doing this right in this class or for that student? Nothing complicated, but true, and therefore powerful.

[Ashley Scherbenske · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this for a teacher book club this semester. Was a great quick read about Manny Scott, and how his teachers pushed him to believe in himself & strive for better things in his life, even when he didn’t think he could.

[Jennifer Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little book about teacher mindset and belief in ourselves and our students. Written from the heart.

[Katarina Pantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving. Motivational. Quickread.

[Amanda Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the hardest year of my educational career, this book was exactly what I needed to help ignite my passion for teaching again. ❤

[Beth Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and a great reminder of the power of teachers

[Lauren Snelgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

love manny scott 👑

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely amazing book! Whether you're a teacher, special educator, coach, someone who works with students in any way or whether you work with people in general, this is a more than worthwhile read!

"I hope you see that who you are, right now, is enough -- enough to change a life, enough to give someone hope, and enough to give someone help. On your worst day, you might be a student's best hope. On your worst day, you might be a kid's last chance" (116).

[Sarah Steinbrenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, like so many others about how teachers can make a difference, is wonderful in theory, but extremely difficult to put into practice. Was looking for more practical information. Not something that would perpetuate the ideal of good teachers = selflessness.