Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, about a 5th grade teacher (Rafe Esquith) at a public school in Los Angeles and his selfless, limitless devotion to the future of his students, is a very inspiring book. Although I know it is difficult to find (and much less become) someone like Rafe Esquith, who devotes all his time and money to teaching, he has many  tips and anecdotes to help us all become better teachers, parents and educators. This is a book that should be a “must-read” for teachers of all grades and a great resource for parents alike.

I’m not sure how I ended up reading this book, but since then, it has become somewhat of a reference book for me.  I have given it to my children’s teachers as a gift and have recommended it to anyone who will listen!

Be sure to look at Rafe Esquith and the Hobart Shakespeareans official site and you may be inclined to support his cause. Also, here is a YouTube video of a speech he made that gives you a great idea of the way he educates his students and the effect he has on their futures.

Happy reading!