Literary Critique of “Teach Like your Hair’s on Fire”

Literary Critique of “Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire” by Rafe Esquith

This is a must read for educators of all ages. Rafe Esquith teaches 5th grade in a Los Angeles neighborhood where guns, gangs and drugs are part of everyday life. Most of his students are first general immigrants who live in poverty and few speak English well. But, Esquith’s students score in the top 1 percent on standardized tests and they go on to attend some of the nation’s best colleges and universities. Esquith details his teaching methods in this book, explaining how he teaches Vivaldi, Shakespeare, algebra and much more to his students. But, this book is more than a book about teaching. It is a story of courage, commitment, innovation, and opportunity. While written and marketed as a book about teaching, Esquith’s story is one of overcoming discrimination and his approach is one that everyone can learn from, whether they teach or not.

By Cathy Sheafor