CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

A BOOK REVIEW

SUBMITTED TO:
MILAGROS AUREA A. SABIDALAS, EdD.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

COURSE REQUIREMENT IN
EDM 300

SUBMITTED BY:
REGIE M. BANGOY
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

INTRODUCTION

The Professor of Literacy and reading specialist in Minnesota, Andrew Johnson

(2015) wrote in his article, “teaching is a science, an art, and a craft”. Yes, it is true. It is a
science wherein it develops various methods and strategies that could be useful in
enhancing learning. Teachers not just depend on what they think is effective, rather they
use research to improve the quality of teaching. They were collecting data by observing
the behavior of the students and try to incorporate certain methods or strategies and adjust
in order for learning to happen. Additionally, it is also an art where teachers not just
putting themselves in a situation, but all its heart and soul. Since no single best method is
effective for all types of learners, teachers are not using standardized products, rather
they are innovating and adapt itself in the teaching situation. Teachers are carving their
own teaching philosophy and strategy in order to discover the talents and creativity of
each learner. Also, it is a craft or skill that is learned through experience. Since teaching
is a complex and multi-dimensional task it requires heavy study and preparation for
teachers.
These various statements lead me to read the book entitled “How to Teach”
written by two great intelligent writers, George Drayton Strayer and Naomi Norsworthy
which is available in iBooks and Amazon. George Drayton Strayer was an American
author who produced 224 works in 579 publications in 2 languages (English and
Chinese) and 8,268 library holdings. He is also known for his books, “The Classroom
Teacher at Work in American Schools” with 14 editions held by 398 WorldCat member
libraries worldwide and “A Brief Course in the Teaching Process” with 22 editions. On
the other hand, Naomi Norsworthy was an American psychologist who served as the first
female faculty member at Colombia University Teacher`s College. She is notable for her
works. “The psychology of mentally deficient children” in 1904 which also her doctoral
thesis and “The psychology of childhood” in 1908.
The book was published by HardPress Publishing in 2012 that talks about the
methods of teaching and assessments, ways to measure pupils’ achievements, the
relationship of teaching and psychology, appropriate activities for the learners and ways
to develop the memory of the learners. Authors were obviously well equipped in their
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

fields which lead them to produce a book worth reading especially for teachers. Naomi
Norsworthy, for example, is a known psychologist whose influence and the experience
was greatly demonstrated in the book because it attempts to understand teaching by using
psychology. Additionally, she was a teacher who dedicated her life to teaching despite
her illness. Furthermore, George Drayton Strayer also worked with a very known
educational theorist Edward Lee Thorndike in publishing a book entitled, “Educational
Administration: Quantitative Studies” that discusses the field of education in general. His
background and ability make him more credible in writing the book.
In a 754 page-book (based on iBooks), the line that truly marks in my heart and
mind is, “We must seek to develop the type of pupil who knows the meaning of duty and
who gladly recognizes his obligations to social group which is growing larger with each
new experience and each new opportunity.” Such a statement makes me realize what kind
of teacher am I, what am I doing to ensure that I am producing students who are well-
rounded and responsible, and what should I do to make sure that I will implement the
vision in the book. The book is strong with its progressive principle in teaching which I
aggressively recommend to all teachers and soon to be teachers. The book will inspire
readers to be a teacher who doesn`t just teach from the mind, but from the heart, develop
the inquiry and investigative thinking of the children and value the cooperation and its
contribution to the common good.
Although I am not really familiar with the writers, George Drayton Strayer and
Naomi Norsworthy, who wrote the book “How to Teach”, I would say that I really
appreciate and love their work. As I read the book, I learned three important things that I
am applying now on my teaching which are to be innovative in teaching by developing
the inquiry and investigative thinking of the children, discover the innate talent of each
child and develop it for them to contribute meaningfully in the nation-building and most
important is consideration of individual differences of children by which they have stated
that people differ in kind of memory or imagination, ability to appreciate and their habits,
thus teachers need to be mindful with these factors.
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

SUMMARY OF CONTENT

The book contains 15 chapters that elaborate on the art of teaching which is based
primarily upon the science of psychology. In this book, the authors have shown the strong
connection of the principle of psychology in teaching and explain its definite application
in the classroom. Additionally, the book was written in a language free from technical
terms.
The book also discussed the methods of teaching by giving examples, considers
its ends or aims, the process and application. In one of the 15 chapters, the authors have
discussed how teachers should work on the aims of education. Teachers should help
children become productive citizens that use their intellectual prowess, talents, potentials,
and learned skills to sustain themselves and help society promote equality, equity, and
harmony. Moreover, the book also includes a chapter that discussed the measurement of
the achievement of the children since it is also one of the responsibilities of the teachers.
The success or failure of a teacher lies in the changes in the behavior, ability, and skills.
Throughout the book, the discussion about the art of teaching was modified based on the
social purpose of the education in which education is for the society and of society. The
function of education is for the welfare of the state and the state will make the individual
as it desires. It prepares the individual to play different roles in society. Thus, they have
encouraged teachers to rather than pouring the learners with all the knowledge they need
in the society, they encouraged teachers to involved learners in problem-solving, and in
the acquisition of knowledge through progressive methods of teaching like inquiry and
investigation. Each topic found in the book was treated based upon the investigations,
studies in the field of psychology and education.
For the sake of certainty and clearness, authors of the book provided a different
type of mental activity and various types of classroom exercise with respect to the unity
and diversity of mental life and development of children. Furthermore, as the book
provides various methods in teaching the children, they also took into consideration the
differences in the mental development of the children. They make it clear that a certain
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

method of teaching is interdependent on the diversity of the learners, thus they encourage
teachers to be considerate and respect their differences.
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE BOOK
Teaching is one of the most demanding professions in this world. It requires
continuous training, learning and a formal qualification. In order for teachers to do well
in this field, they should require themselves for a broad understanding of the science of
learning. Considerably, teaching is the mother of all professions or occupations which is
delivered by the strongest pillar of the society, the teachers. They are like potters who
carefully shape the minds of the children and mold it into a human with a great
disposition, perception, thinking, and ambition. The book “How to Teach” proves this
statement and truly it is worth to read especially to those teachers who were courageous
and aims to contribute a lot in the development of the children.
One of the most amazing features of the book is its relatable examples that
exemplify the necessity for teachers to change the traditional concept of the teaching
world. It provides examples on how teachers can utilize various methods in teaching,
develop the habits of the learners, train learners to be responsible in their learning, ways
in order for the teachers to gain the attention and interest of learners on different subject
matter, demonstrates the different types of classroom exercises, measure the achievement
of the learners and techniques for teachers to be effective in dealing with different type of
learners. The book is considered the one that I can recommend to my fellow teachers
because the topics and ideas were presented with respect to the different studies
conducted and theories in psychology which further explains the situations and
truthfulness of the ideas.
“A fact that is often overlooked by teachers is that these inborn tendencies to
connections of various kinds exist in the intellectual and emotional fields just as truly as
in the field of action or motor response.” This statement really struck me because even in
my personal experiences I failed to consider the inborn tendencies of my children. I failed
to reflect on the personal experiences of my children as well as to their opinion because I
tend to focus mostly on the curriculum on how can I teach it and finish it at the end of the
school year. Upon reading the book I realized that teaching is not just about me, about
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

what I can teach, about how I teach, about the content of the curriculum, but the most
important thing is that it is about my learners. I have to be considerate of their personal
experiences, with their preparedness, with their talents, abilities, and potential and with
their differences. Another thing that satisfies me in the book is it seems to support Albert
Einstein’s famous quotation which is “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” It
was started in Chapter V of the book that children may be lacking knowledge but their
imagination never runs out, thus teaches can use this to improve the teaching-learning
process. Children`s idealistic imagination has full of motives that make them strive to be
better, more efficient-other than what they are. Maybe they are not intelligent enough to
impress us, but they have an imagination that makes them unique, teachable and amazing,
therefore, we should not stop believing in them and help them to become successful
learners.
Lastly, this book is a masterpiece and I would love to encourage my fellow
teachers to read this amazing work for them to get inspired, harvest new ideas and work
with skill, competence, and passion. Surely, they will never get tired of reading the book,
it may belong but the book is too powerful which influences me to become a better
teacher. Just get a cup of coffee and sip every knowledge that the book contains.
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

CONCLUSION
1. Teachers need to step up in their game by engaging learners in investigative and
inquiry-based learning. It is common for teachers to struggle with the challenge of
keeping the interest of the learners and engage in the teaching-learning process,
but embracing the inquiry and investigative based learning will help them
stimulate their intellect, keep their attention and allow them to become the center
of learning. Inquiry and investigative based learning is a teaching approach by
which teachers and learners become responsible for learning. Instead of that
teachers are in charge of telling them what they need to know, it places them to
formulate questions, ideas, and observations and requires them to engage in
evidence-based reasoning and creative problem-solving.
2. Some of the children may not be intelligent but in reality, they are full of
imagination and creativity, thus we can utilize in improving the experience of the
teaching-learning process. Imagination is something that cannot be taught, but
then we can model it to them. All we have to do is to give them a lot of
opportunities to use their imaginations in learning activities that challenge their
imagination and creativity. We can guide them through various exercises, but
their own skills will serve them.
3. It is also stated in the book that play is an essential part of education. It
contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children
and youth. By play, they can interact with the world and create experiences to
understand society and human interaction. It can also be a tool to conquer their
fears, become self-sufficient in problem-solving and strengthen their skills needed
for adult life.
4. Attention and interest of children are a very important component for effective
learning, because of its presence they are more engaged in the teaching-learning
activity and eager to discover something. In today’s generation of 21st-century
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

learners, teachers are truly struggling because they have a very short attention
span and their interests are sometimes unattainable, but then the book
recommends important things in order to capture these factors. First, teachers
need to relate the lesson to the daily life of the learners for them to see
connections. Second, by allowing them to participate from the very beginning of
the tasks. We can ask them for input and evaluation. Third, by setting an
achievable goal for the class. Let us not guide them to think about pressures but
rather help them to step up and feel that they can learn the material. Lastly, by
understanding the interest of the learners. We have to bear in mind that they have
their individual differences and we need to cope with these.
5. Developing critical thinking of our children is one of the most important tasks that
we need to remember. Though there is no single strategy to teach and improve the
critical thinking of our children, we can provide them with various activities. One
of the most common suggestions is by asking open-ended questions or divergent
questions that guide them on how to think rather than what to think. Additionally,
we can able to develop their critical thinking by enhancing their comprehension
skills and ability to distinguish between what they understand and what they do
not. Improving their metacognitive skills will also do. By having awareness and
knowledge of their own thoughts, it can help them understand the situation and
also improve their ability to ask questions.
6. Appreciation is an important element in education, thus we have to use teaching
strategies that will establish the essence of appreciation. Teaching them to be
appreciative of art, language, science, beauty, and etc. will help them focus and
work for their dreams and notice simple things in their life which will help them
to become enthusiastic and positive.
 CENTRAL PHILIPPINES STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

LIST OF CITATIONS/SOURCES

https://www.amazon.com/How-Teach-George-Drayton-Strayer/dp/1290727201
https://books.google.com.ph/books.about/How_to_Teach.html?
id=hkvleqk_n3kC&source=kp_book_decription&redir_esc=y

http://worldcat.org/identifies/lccn-n99046842
https://www.nytimes.com/1962/10/01/archives/george-strayer-educator-dies-at-teachers-
college-38-years.htm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org.wiki/Naomi_Norsworthy
https://www.feministvoices.com/naomi-norsworthy