Starting from Scratch:One Classroom Builds Its Own Curriculum

Rating: 4
Summary: Frustrated!
Comment: I respect the courage of the book's author, who went out of his way to provide challenges to his fourth grade students. As well written as the book was, I did not find the book useful to me, an urban teacher of a fourth grade class of lower income students. The book merely left me frustrated that people like Levy are taking their mostly priveledged students on educational journeys filled with enrichment, while many of us are dealing with poverty, racism, and illeteracy in our classrooms.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent, Excellent Book
Comment: An excellent and highly entertaining book. The classroom stories are wonderful: creative and humorous. I've had great success with several of Levy's ideas in my own classroom.
Rating: 5
Summary: refreshing, invigorating, one of the best books ever
Comment: Steven Levy paints a vivid picture of his magical classroom in all its glory. Wonderful stories, curriculum ideas, and a refreshing educational philosophy. This book is great reading for anyone, and a must have for teachers.