Growing Minds: On Becoming a Teacher

by Herbert R. Kohl

Herbert Kohl, one of America's most influential and provocative educators, believes that the only way to persist and to grow as a teacher is to commit oneself to the development of the child rather than to the regimented training of the pupil. His book is a lively, personal testament of one teacher's efforts to cultivate the natural vitality of the learning process; it is also a wonderfully concrete and practical guide full of stories of individual students and how they were helped to grow through learning.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Educator best known for his advocacy of progressive alternative education and as the author of more than thirty books on education. He founded the 1960s Open School movement and is credited with coining the term "open classroom."

Reviews

[Camille Dent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely beautiful. As a future teacher, I found it very inspiring and got a more accurate sense of what to expect my first few years teaching. I really appreciated how Kohl is very honest about the mistakes he made throughout his own teaching career and how he corrected his behavior rather than jumping straight to the conclusion. The prose is almost poetic while also informative, which is my favorite style to read! Everything in Growing Minds is still applicable today whether you teach/want to teach elementary, middle school, high school, or even if you are a parent, tutor, or anyone else who works with kids of any age. It addresses the big issue of teaching children how to learn and enjoy learning rather than simply making them learn facts through the smaller aspects of teaching that lead to that ultimate goal.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the Menlo Park library in July of 2008 and didn't make it home before I had read it cover to cover. The next day I brushed up my resume and started looking for jobs in teaching. I'm a fan of Herbert Kohl, he is refreshingly direct...too many books on teaching get muddy in the details, but not Mr. Kohl.

[Zip · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oldie but a goodie for those looking to become teachers.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book!

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christy recommended - would be worthwhile for a teacher.