A teacher's manual that reads like a memoir.This is how Mr. Jones describes his new book The Caring Teacher: Using compassion to connect with kids. After teaching children with special needs for nearly 30 years, Mr. Jones has concluded that the single greatest quality a successful and effective teacher needs is CARE! Students will simply not give you their best efforts if they believe their teacher does not GENUINELY CARE about them. This may be one of the most comprehensive books ever written for teachers about how to incorporate CARE in classrooms. Mr. Jones has thoroughly examined virtually every aspect of CARE relative to education. In Parts I and II, Mr. Jones discusses 26 relevant and critical topics all teachers confront every day in the classroom. The reader will have over 30 handouts that Mr. Jones has created over his 30 year career for all teachers to start using so that CARE is being immersed in their classroom. In Part I, Mr. Jones looks at such issues as HOMEWORK, REWARDS, GRADING, DISCIPLINE and STATE EXAMS. In Part II, he examines TEACHING KIDS TO CARE, BEING EVALUATED (BY YOUR STUDENTS), MAINSTREAMING, INCLUSION, how PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT should be utilized, the importance of PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, why PARENT CONFERENCES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT and finally, a test teachers can take to see if they are a PROFESSIONAL TEACHER. In Part III, Mr. Jones explores the Ten Qualities of a Caring Teacher. Examples include TREATING STUDENTS 'FAIR' NOT THE SAME (WHEN IT COMES TO DISCIPLINE), the importance of CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BEING KIND TO EVERYONE (NOT JUST TO YOUR STUDENTS), having HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES (AS WELL AS THEIR STUDENTS) and realizing that CARE AND COMPASSION ARE THE TWO GREATEST QUALITIES NECESSARY TO CONNECT WITH KIDS. The Caring Teacher concludes with an Appendix containing seven important addendums including Mr. Jones' 30 Acts of Kindness, a test and scoring rubric to determine if you are a Caring Teacher as well as a test and a scoring rubric to see if your students CARE (about their education). Next, is a list of ten movies about Caring Teachers. This is followed by the Six Great Books that show students of all ages the power and importance of compassion. The sixth supplement is the Four Great Speeches which Mr. Jones has his students memorize throughout the year to assess if his students CARE (about their education). It is so fitting and appropriate that the seventh and final document is an actual student's assignment which clearly proves that teachers do make a difference, although they may not know it at the time. What makes the Caring Teacher so enjoyable to read is how Mr. Jones weaves personal stories from both his students and his own life. Additionally, Mr. Jones references historical fictional characters including Jean Valjean ( Les Miserables) and Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird), as well as current political figures such as Donald Rumsfeld (former Secretary of Defense) and four former Presidents. Other newsmakers include Ron Clark (Teacher of the Year, 2000) Anderson Cooper of CNN and even Late Night Comedian, Jimmy Kimmel.
