BOOKS
I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids
One day, third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students to fill-in-the-blank in this sentence: "I wish my teacher
knew _____."
The results astounded her. Some answers were humorous, others were heartbreaking-all were profoundly moving and enlightening. The results opened her eyes to the need for educators to understand the unique realities their students face in order to create an open, safe and supportive place in the classroom. When Schwartz shared her experience online, #IWishMyTeacherKnew became an immediate worldwide viral phenomenon.
Schwartz's book tells the story of #IWishMyTeacherKnew, including many students' emotional and insightful responses, and ultimately provides an invaluable guide for teachers, parents, and communities.
"Kyle Schwartz has turned a viral classroom exercise into a powerful argument for what American students need: to be asked, heard, and finally answered. Packed with sharp insights and vivid classroom details, I Wish My Teacher Knew is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of education.”
Elizabeth Green,
CEO, and editor-in-chief
Chalkbeat
“I Wish My Teacher Knew is both inspiring and practical. With rich detail, it shows how, by beginning with building trust between a teacher and her students, magic can follow. Teachers will value the helpful to-do's, and all of us will value the account of life in the classroom. At a time when policymakers are obsessed with tests and accountability, I Wish My Teacher Knew delivers a powerful reminder that teaching isn't a matter of drill and kill, that the teacher's job is to develop children's excitement about learning as well as their character. For anyone who cares about teaching and learning—and that should be all of us—this book is indispensable.”
David L. Kirp
Professor University of California, Berkeley
author of Improbable Scholars
“Enlightening…An invaluable guide for teachers, parents and communities.”
Philadelphia Tribune
“Details how essential it is for teachers and families to be partners.”
New York Times
“Full of handwritten student notes as well as research on child poverty.”
Us Weekly
I Wish for Change: Unleashing the Power of Kids to Make a Difference
Third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz often tells her students: "You are not here so you can make money in a decade. You are here so you can make a difference now."
Young people are up for the task. In the face of school shootings, cyber bullying, and other challenges students face at school, there are students who are changing the world right now.
In I Wish for Change, teacher and author Kyle Schwartz equips both teachers and parents to help children stand up for what they believe is right and make value-driven decisions. She shows how children's adaptability, vulnerability, and empathy make them excellent agents for change, as well as how to teach children about the mechanics and structures of power so they can effectively change them.
Filled with inspiring stories from Kyle's students and educators around the nation, as well as practical, replicable strategies for the classroom, I Wish for Change is the guide for every teacher, educator, and parent to show kids that their voice matters.
“Not only does Schwartz share an abundance of inspiring stories from her own students (and other school-aged students around the world) doing incredible, impactful things, but she also is not afraid to share mistakes made and lessons learned throughout her years in the classroom.”
Christopher Kasper
High School Counselor,
THE BLUE-COLLAR COUNSELOR
“I work as an aide at a middle school and know how important it is to get to know my students. The author's idea of having them write "I wish my teacher knew _" was brilliant. Thankfully she wrote this book so that others can see the importance of understanding the differences in the classroom. I highly recommend this!
Cristie Underwood
Good Reads
“W O W. If you are a teacher, are going to be a teacher, are a parent, or care for children in any capacity, physically or mentally, you NEED to read this book.”
Kaitlin
Good Reads
“This is a highly readable book. Unlike "education books," you can sit and read this book straight through. It doesn't bog down because she's talking to you, not lecturing or teaching or bragging about her master teaching. And she's talking to you through his own experiences. But when you get to the end of the book, you realize that she's also given you the pathway and all the tools you need to make this happen in your home or classroom for your kids. Highly recommended for educators or parents. It will change how you view and talk with kids in profound ways.”
Julie
Amazon