Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire

Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire – Rafe Esquith

For many years, Rafe Esquith taught fifth grade in Room 56 at Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles, a large inner-city school where most students came from low-income, immigrant families. His students, known as the Hobart Shakespeareans, became famous for performing full productions of Shakespeare plays, achieving high test scores and going on to college and successful careers.

In Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56, Esquith shares the philosophy and practical techniques behind his remarkable classroom. At the heart of his approach is the creation of a classroom based on trust rather than fear, where students are motivated not by rewards or punishments but by a desire to do their best and be good people.

Esquith describes how he teaches reading, writing, math, science, history, art and music, and how he extends learning beyond school hours with activities such as Shakespeare productions, rock music, sports and trips across the country. He also discusses how he helps students develop character, discipline, kindness and a love of learning, often working long hours and giving up weekends and vacations to do so.

The book is filled with specific lesson ideas, classroom stories and honest reflections on the challenges and rewards of teaching.

Inspiring and practical, Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire is a valuable read for teachers, school leaders and parents who want ideas for helping children reach their full potential.