This book gives hundreds of doable methods of interacting with students during a lesson. One of my favorites is called "speak-write". With this method the teacher reads or speaks a small amount of information. Then the speaker is silent for about a minute. Next, students write down anything they remember. A poster will help them jog their memory. The poster is a simple list: 1 summary 2 questions 3 reactions 4 anything else. This gets the students actively involved. It is also a precursor to teaching students how to take notes. Some middle-school teachers get angry when students are writing while they talk. I have the students' rapt attention while I speak. Then when I am quiet students get to interact with the knowledge. Such a simple idea. There are probably hundreds of common-sense ideas like this in Harmin's book. A real boon for NBPTS candidates.

In brief form, Merrill Harmin's book provides a plethera of great teaching strategies that revolve around a common philosophy of DESCA (Dignity, Energy, Self-Managing, Community, Awareness). This is a MUST read for all educators. It is as inspiring as it is helpful.

In all the categories teachers struggle with -- from giving grades to collaring class hoodlums -- Harmin gives practical, insightful suggestions. The focus is on strategies that work with today's students, who are more restless and resistant and often hard to get to do serious learning. All strategies have been tested and, I find, they work very well. Helped me become a much easier teacher, more satisfied and more effective. I wholeheartedly recommend it.