Kindergarten: A Teacher, Her Students, and a Year of Learning - Softcover

Diamond, Julie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1595583483 ISBN 13: 9781595583482

Publisher: The New Press, 2011

Synopsis

Hailed by renowned educator Deborah Meier as a rare and special pleasure to read,” Kindergarten explores a year in the life of a kindergarten classroom through the eyes of the gifted veteran teacher and author Julie Diamond. In this lyrical, beautifully written first-person account, Diamond explains the logic behind the routines and rituals children need to thrive. As she guides us through all aspects of classroom life the organization, curriculum, and relationships that create a unique class environment we begin to understand what kindergarten can and should be: a culture that builds children’s desire to understand the world and lays the foundation for lifelong learning.

Kindergarten makes a compelling case for an expansive definition of teaching and learning, one that supports academic achievement without sacrificing students’ curiosity, creativity, or development of social values. Diamond’s celebration of the possibilities of classroom life is a welcome antidote to today’s test-driven climate. Written for parents and teachers alike, Kindergarten offers a rare glimpse into what’s really going on behind the apparent chaos of a busy kindergarten classroom, sharing much-needed insights into how our children can have the best possible early school experiences.

About this title

About the Author:

Julie Diamond has taught young children for over twenty-five years in a variety of settings, most recently in the New York City public schools. She has taught curriculum to graduate students at Bank Street College of Education and the City College of New York. She currently supervises student teachers for New York University and City College. Diamond’s published work includes book reviews, short stories, and a critical analysis of education in Pakistan.

From Publishers Weekly:

Educator Diamond has worked with the younger set for 25 years. Most recently, she taught kindergarten at New York City's P.S. 87, the setting for this memoir and sourcebook for current or aspiring teachers and parents. In the foreword, artist and writer Feiffer reminisces about his own school days, reveals that Diamond taught one of his daughters and offers words of praise for the book, citing its rich sense of inquiry, observation, mission and self-examination. Indeed, Diamonds passion for her work, affection for the kids and her dedication to their improvement is evident throughout the book. Even as she describes her experiences with her pupils, she details the times she questioned her own judgment. She is also frank about how to engage a child and when to involve his or her parents: for example, she describes a student named Henry (whose Welcome to the Aquarium sign inspired the books title), who is initially reluctant to participate in artistic projects, and decides to call in his parents to talk about her concerns. Diamond's honesty makes for a highly informative if overlong narrative. (Dec.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: The New Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1595583483
• ISBN 13: 9781595583482
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272