Teach With Your Heart

Teach With Your Heart was a fun, fast read--one that I got through much faster than I had anticipated. It read like a story, and in the end I think that was my biggest critique--it is a story.

Reading this made me feel like I was in a fantasy world. The feats that Erin Gruwell is able to accomplish are amazing-- and totally unrealistic. While I absolutely enjoyed reading the amazing tale of one teacher's successes (and failures, in my opinion, as well), it was a little disheartening to know that I could never attain to this level of success.

First of all, Erin Gruwell comes from a privileged background which allows her to give things to her students that almost any other teacher would find impossible. She buys them their own copies of books, takes them on countless national (and international) trips, and more. While reading about this was fabulous (and maybe, on a superficial level, "inspiring"), it was ultimately just a "fantasy read."

What I did like about the book were the moments we were truly connected with Gruwell's students. This books definitely emphasizes relationships with students and the importance of getting right in there with your students' interests, mannerisms, and issues that they may face. For this reason, I truly valued the book. By page 80 alone, I had cried 2 times-- that is how I know Gruwell is a genuine writer; I firmly believe you can't fake or forge those kind of connections with students.

I also liked the brief glimpses we got into Gruwell as an actual educator-- the Shakespeare lesson was a good example-- where we actually see the TEACHER in action; not the celebrity or the storyteller. I think this book could have benefited from more of those moments.

Overall, I had mixed feelings about the read. I would definitely assign portions of it to a 402 class, maybe even just the opening chapter where we see Gruwell at her "most real"-- she is in he first day of class, mortified-- just to use as a discussion piece. I probably would not assign the entire book though, because although I think the book means well, we really don't get much "reality."