# Book recommendations please for a prospective teacher **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-recommendations-please-for-a-prospective-teacher/680119 "2014-01-30T08:15:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-recommendations-please-for-a-prospective-teacher/680119/1 "2014-01-30T08:15:59Z")
I am thinking of doing a course to be a teacher of primary school kids- kids from 5 to 11 years old. I have studied before - I have a BA degree in Anthropology. I have a Grad Diploma in Philosophy. I taught English for 3 years in Japan. I do not really want the textbooks for an Education course - they can be hard to get if you are not currently enrolled. But something like that would be fine. A little help please. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-recommendations-please-for-a-prospective-teacher/680119/2 "2014-01-30T15:10:27Z")
Hmm, well, can’t help you much for classroom teaching. But for reading about the kind of education and issues I care about, try… [_Beyond Ecophobia_](http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Ecophobia-Reclaiming-Education-Literacy/dp/1935713043/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391092331&sr=1-1&keywords=beyond+ecophobia) - the importance of nature to child development and learning. If I had to have all teachers read one thing, it would be this. [_Free at Last_](http://www.amazon.com/Free-Last-Sudbury-Valley-School/dp/1888947004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391092417&sr=1-1&keywords=sudbury+valley+school) - radical unschooling’s development at Sudbury school. Sometimes looking at a system’s failure is the best way of understanding it. _[Disrupting Class](http://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Class-Expanded-Disruptive-Innovation-ebook/dp/B00422LBY6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391092494&sr=1-1&keywords=disrupting+class)_ - a business guy’s ideas on school reform (in the US but applicable elsewhere). [_Finnish Lessons_](http://www.amazon.com/Finnish-Lessons-Educational-Change-Finland-ebook/dp/B00CDSTBG6/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391092812&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=finland+school+equality) - how school reform in Finland, with a focus on equality, has succeeded marvelously. OK, so maybe I do have a tip for classroom teaching too… [_Kagan Cooperative Learning_](http://www.kaganonline.com/catalog/product_reviews/BKCL_reviews.php) gives great rationale and strategies for implementing small-group work. Highly recommended for ELL and mixed ability classes. Hope these help! ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-recommendations-please-for-a-prospective-teacher/680119/3 "2014-01-30T15:29:55Z")
I recommend **Among Schoolchildren** , by Tracy Kidder. [http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86700.Among\_Schoolchildren](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/86700.Among_Schoolchildren)