better: A Teacher's Journey: Project 180 Book One

by Monte Syrie, Rick Wormeli (Foreword)

The teacher’s journey. The ever and every journey. It is ever without end. It is within every each. It’s our journey, where somewhere along the way we discover it’s not about being great or even good, it’s about becoming better. From our day one to our next period to our year twenty and beyond, our work simply centers on our next better. And our journey continues, one better at a time.

Indeed, we become better teachers, not better than him, her, or them–not better than anyone. We are just better than we were. Good and great tend to become only and empty ends. So, instead, we chase our next better around the bend.

Of course, I didn’t fully understand this in the fall of 2016 when I began what would become a five-year journey into the blogosphere, believing I could change education with Project 180. I thought if I could turn education upside down, I could return it right side up. But what turned up instead was in front of me all along. Better.

This is a book about better.

Genres: Education

Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2022

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and inspiring book. I'm blessed to continue to learn from Mr. Syrie now as a school psychologist, nearly 25 years since being in his middle school ELA class. Though he has continued to strive for better and works to fine tune his practices to match his 'why,' he has always been "Super Syrie" to his students, even now- maybe especially now, that he has hung up that persona. Focusing instead on his and his students' humanness and the opportunities that our imperfections and failiures provide for true learning and growth- not simply a grade. Mr. Syrie has always been about genuine connection and his lessons as a coach and educator frequently went beyond that of content. His focus on connection, trust, empathy, and compassion as well as flexibility in order to meet students exactly where and as they are is the change agent education needs. Moreover, it is what ALL students need and deserve.

I believe all educators will benefit from this book no matter your position, grade, or content. A challenge to not recreate his journey or practices but to find our own path in creating our better for ourselves and our students and in doing so improving the education system as well.

A book that is truly beyond its title. Let's all "Do. Reflect. Do better." I can't wait for book two!

[Neil Krasnoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a shame this book had to be written. One would think that by now the US education system would be on a more enlightened trajectory. Rather than stressing out high school students over grades and emphasizing arbitrary performance standards we could focus on promoting love of learning and learning how to learn, we would focus on students and helping them find their voice and way through the real world. This book is for those of us who work in the education system, but feel helpless in changing an inflexible and inhumane system, but who wish to do our part to humanize it. It's a story of a personal journey of a veteran teacher as he navigated the path of going gradeless and building accountability and motivation via relationships and a functioning classroom community. It's emotional and full of practical suggestions. Highly readable and recommended.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I wish I would have read it before I began this journey of going "gradeless," but it did offer some good ideas and plenty of inspiration even while I am in year two.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message: Do.Reflect.Do better. Is such an important one for a teacher anywhere in their career. Loved his honesty and struggles that happened during his own reflection.

[Christine Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really compelling read that will make you re-think the purpose of grades.