Blog Post 14

Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire, The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56
By Rafe Esquith

The author of this book is a veteran teacher who teaches in a Los Angeles public school. He states that he is no different than any other dedicated teacher. However, once his book is read, his statement shows his humble disposition regarding his success. Although he is modest about his success, he is extremely proud and pleased by his student’s achievements. The majority of his students are from low income families or families of immigrants. Most of his students do not have the advantages that many students from our country are fortunate to have.

Mr. Esquith, like many teachers in the profession, at a point in his career felt frustration and questioned his teaching profession. Then, one day an event happened to change his attitude. He was intensely focused while teaching a Chemistry lesson , and did not notice that his hair was on fire! That is right, his hair was really on fire. His students began screaming and pointing, but he was so engrossed in his lesson that he did not realize that his hair was on fire. His students began hitting him on top of his head to put the fire out. From this event, his way of thinking about teaching changed and that has been his driving force for many years. He thought, if he was so tuned into teaching that he did not know that his hair was on fire, he was where he needs to be, teaching.

Mr. Esquith refers to his classroom as The Methods of Madness Inside Room 56, due in part to his unique style of teaching and his outstanding sense of humor. He is unbelievably passionate about teaching and his students. His passion shows by his tremendous dedication and commitment to teaching. He puts an extraordinary amount of personal time into making great things happen in room 56. He normally begins his day at 6:30 A.M. and ends his day around 6:00 P.M. He spends his lunch break every day of the week, as well as his weekends, providing extra teaching opportunities for his students.

Teach Like Your Hair Is On Fire, is a wonderful book that all teachers should read, and re-read. It is a great motivational book for experienced teachers who are tired and fatigued from this demanding profession. It is also a great “how to” book for teachers with little or no teaching experience. The ideas and concrete examples that Mr. Esquith provides are valuable resources for all teachers that emphasize quality teaching practices. I really like the way Mr. Esquith evaluated each subject area including art, music, and physical education.

In addition to his high standards for quality content, he places high expectations for his students while promoting character, hard work, respect for everyone, humility, and unconditional support for others. It is easy for educators to lose focus of these life long essential qualities when so many other demands are emphasized. That does not happen in Mr. Esquith’s room, or as he refers to it, room 56. This is just an example of how Mr. Esquith always puts the focus on his classroom and his students by referring to classroom 56 not by Mr. Esquith’s classroom.

The Hobart Shakespearean drama is one of Rafe Esquith’s notable accomplishments for his students. At the end of every school year his students put on a Shakespearean play that the students rehearse all year. This production has gained national praise and attention. His fifth grade students perform historical plays that are enhanced by rock and roll music. This is just one “method of madness” that room 56 creates. Room 56 also rehearses Christmas Carols from the beginning of school until December 24th when they perform at a local homeless shelter during the holidays. This community service project is so special that older students from Hobart and Hobart Alumni return to participate in.

Teach Like Your Hair Is On Fire, Methods Of Madness In Room 56 is a phenomenal book that all teachers should read and refer to time after time. This book is a great tool to motivate anyone educating children. I believe that most teachers become teachers because they are passionate about teaching children, but it is easy to get tired and frustrated with the educational system. In my opinion, teachers must keep finding excitement and zeal in their chosen profession. I will conclude with a profound statement from Rafe Esquith, he says, “Teaching takes sacrifice, mistakes, and enormous amounts of effort, after all, there are no shortcuts.