The Skillful Teacher: On Technique, Trust, and Responsiveness in the Classroom

by Stephen D. Brookfield, Jack De Golia (Narrator)

The widely-renowned adult educator Stephen Brookfield explains how teachers in settings as diverse as college, adult education, and secondary school can resolve common teaching dilemmas by becoming more responsive to the emotions, tensions, and pace of student learning in order to build trust and overcome students' resistance to learning.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction, Leadership, Professional Development, Audiobook, Academia

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Cathal Ó · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book full of strategies and methodologies for becoming a better teacher at third-level. If you don't have time to read it, here are the cliff notes: Being a better teacher comes down to working harder and being better prepared. What a bummer. I was hoping there was some kind of magic spell or something that he would share with us. Anyway, good book. I did think that some of the strategies for teaching students of different races and cultures using different techniques falls into stereotyping and some dangerous racial territory that I'd rather avoid. It's like trying to accommodate for racial differences so much that you end up literally treating people differently based on their race. And that sounds bad. I choose not to do that in my classroom. I skipped most of those bits.

[Leslie Jensen-Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tone and voice of this book. It was easy to read. It's also easy to relate to the author and his classroom experiences.

This book would be a good read for someone just getting into teaching higher education or for someone who wants to learn about what is and isn't working in her classroom and why.

Big takeaway: "Skillful teaching is whatever helps students learn. Skillful teachers adopt a critically reflective stance towards their practice. The most important knowledge skillful teachers need to do good work is a constant awareness of how students are experiencing their learning and perceiving teacher's actions."

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brookfield covers all the bases, with helpful chapters on what students value, the emotions of learning, discussion, diversity, and politics (classroom, institutional, and societal). This is the book where he says, "It seems to me that classrooms can be thought of as arenas of confusion where teachers are struggling gladiators of ambiguity" (p. 9).

Now that I'm sufficiently skillful, I'm going to read Brookfield's other books so I can become critical, powerful, and reflective as well.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too enamored with his writing style but did pick up a few tips I'll use in consulting. Did think his examples from the UK were valuable to points he was attempting to make. When reading with the knowledge of his British upbringing his perspective was more to the left than would have liked. He was unabashed to promote the higher ed, more liberal positions on most topics. If you are in academia, you'll likely appreciate his work.

[Kaustubh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently completed two years as a faculty in a university. As a new faculty I could relate to the author's observations about teaching. I was surprised by the similarities given that I teach in India and not in United States. I am presently incorporating several of the author's suggestions in my course. The writing style is simple and easy to understand to a young faculty who might be reading this at the end of a stressful day containing teaching, writing papers/grants, attending meetings, etc.

I strongly recommend this book to any teacher who is beginning her career. The reader can better appreciate the contents if she has spent at least one semester teaching a course.

[Aldon Hynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a seminary course in Christ Education. I greatly appreciated Brookfield's approach to education. I am unlikely to become a classroom teacher, so I may never get a chance to test out some of the approaches he presents. However, the underlying considerations will be very important to me as I think about how I teach in less formal ways.

[خديــجة · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teacher is a helper of learning 🌸
"Teaching is an art but to create a good piece it needs hard work". Most people think that teaching is an easy task, but it is not! And it needs patience, creativity, new skills that will cover all students .
I really enjoyed reading such a book, i learned a lot since am a teacher ans still learning 💜
Teaching is amaizing though it is really tiring 💜

[Liz Norell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is MUCH positive in this book, starting with how willing Brookfield is to highlight his own foibles and struggles honestly. I appreciate his transparency and humor and accessible writing tremendously.
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My primary critique is the endless chatter about learning styles, which is a major pet peeve of mine. I'd appreciate an updated edition with this thoroughly debunked theory stripped out.

[Mandy Havert · Rating 4 out of 5]

20 chapters of advice that one is encourage to consult as needed and enter into use with a critical eye. Not one size fits all for solutions and definitely much experience on the part of the author, Brookfield, went into this edition of the book. I learned somethings and had some things affirmed.

[Luana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was equal parts affirming, inspiring, and challenging - much like what good teaching ought to be. I admire Brookfield's strong sense of social justice, and I hope to implement much of what I've read here.

[Davida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soothing and subversive — simply outstanding!

[Mariah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lof of great suggestions for teaching adults. Read this for my master's program.

[Jennifer C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information for college educators.

[LG]

dnf @ 33%

[Jessica Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

After teaching my first college course (a seminar) my mom, a seasoned college professor, gave me this book. I come from a family of professors; I cannot imagine why she or anyone else in my family did not give me this book BEFORE I stepped into the class room, but that's a story for another day.

While my first semester was generally successful, I finished the seminar feeling just "okay"; Kind of underwhelmed; So were some of my students: I had several reviews that suggested the seminar was too discussion heavy, without enough group activity and that we generally plowed too fast through the material.

Enter: The Skillful Teacher.

So far, a completely different teaching experience: this book is indispensable for new college instructors-- particularly those who are (1) adjunct and (2) teaching seminars and (3) have no formal training as instructors.

While it unpacks the politics of the classroom on a theoretical level (apparently students AND teachers suffer from Imposter Syndrome!), it also provides practical group activities, lecture strategies and communication tips.

Specifically, it gives great insights into the mechanics of teaching undergrads-- this is particularly valuable information to those of us for whom our most recent seminar experiences were in graduate school-- kind of a different animal (and the author will tell you why).

Two weeks into my second semester, I am already more confident, engaged and excited about teaching.

Love. this. book.

-jessica

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, found it easy to read with lots of useful and practical information.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I scanned this book months ago, but didn't pick it up to seriously read until the weekend before last. My loss, but now corrected. A must read for any educator, but equally useful for any parent of children in high school or college, and any leader who develops his subordinates through presentations and discussions. Stephen, a master in his trade of many decades, shares his insights into the elements and obstacles of learning and skillful teaching. Extremely well written, documented, and supported by examples that anyone can immediately relate to. It is part of our college's basic faculty development program and now I understand why. I know I will use the principles and maxims contained for years to come. By the way for your college-bound kids or those in college, I highly recommend chapters 7-9. It will arm them well to understand better how they learn and how they might learn better.

[C.H.E. Sadaphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bottom line: A comprehensive guide that reveals how to navigate the complex modern classroom and provides strategies for effective teaching.

The Skillful Teacher is a wide-ranging book written by a seasoned educator that details valuable advice to both new and experienced teachers. Brookfield draws upon years of experience and trial-and-error to give both very personal and practical advice on how to excel in not only teaching, but also in maximizing the environment for learning and identifying the roadblocks that serve to deter proper education. Overall, he repeatedly emphasizes ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/the-skillf...

[Angela Hathikhanavala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was surprisingly pragmatic and had a few immediate practical applications -- pretty rare in the books-for-folks-who-teach-college genre, which tends toward either pure theory or "quick tips." Even now that I'm relatively seasoned teacher (what a weird thing to think - gettin' old), there were some useful reminders of good practice and all that. He's definitely a university guy, though, and clearly accustomed to upper-level students...I'm more on the other end. Still, helpful stuff, and worth the read -- which was for a book group at HFCC.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to overstate the utility of this book. Brookfield is generous, articulate, and crystal clear in his descriptions and explanations of the importance of skillful teaching. Some of what he writes may strike the reader as obvious; some as arcane or impractical; but there is no one who cannot learn something of value from The Skillful Teacher. Highly recommended for anyone in the higher ed classroom.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good guide for inexperienced teachers. Less helpful for those with some experience. A little preachy and touchy-feely, but Brookfield gives some helpful suggestions about the role of discussion in college classes among other things. There are probably better guides out there, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this one.

[Jess C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful book for creating, conducting, and evaluating a class. The author is relatable. The most helpful chapters deal with discussions and evaluation. Brookfield provides many examples of activities, as well as problems and solutions. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the student learning process, and how to deal with student frustration and resistance.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book but difficult to read. I had to make up a schedule because it took a week to get through the first chapter. I learned a lot and I go back to reference this book while planning lessons. It is worth a read, even if it is hard to focus on because it is so dense.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and practical for anyone who teaches adults.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, thoughtful guide to teaching adult learners. Question and assess everything.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read selections for Baylor seminar (EDA 6302) with Dr. Laine Scales.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a "teaching literature" class that I'm taking.