Forget being the Favourite: 88 Ideas on Teaching Differently

This is GOOD. Really, really extraordinary stuff, Tim. I don't think I've ever seen a similar book on education.

- Seth Godin

Tim writes with flair. A book you can read, dip into, come back to, and I can imagine these pages appearing on a student or teachers desk to inspire, contemplate, or react to.

- John Hattie, Author of Visible Learning and Chair of ATSIL

I'll never forget my first day as a teacher...I hated it

A student, Beyonce Gaga (not her real name), was being naughty so I made her sit in the corner. Not great classroom management, but it was my first day.

Then...Beyonce started doing a handstand and the class erupted in laughter.

WTF!?! They didn't teach me how to deal with this in university.

"This is not the job for me" I thought.

13 years later and I'm incredibly grateful for one thing....my amazing colleagues that taught me how to teach.

In Forget being the Favourite I aim to share the knowledge I gained from the best teachers I have worked with, and I hope to help you avoid the many mistakes I have made.

It is the book I wish I had when I started out teaching.

It is an enjoyable read with amusing pictures...just check out the sample if you don't believe me.

But most importantly it will give you some different perspectives on teaching.

Unless you're a maverick already...then it'll just make you smile and say "Hell yeah!"

Here is a glimpse at what is inside.

• Hook 'em early


• Say "I don't know"


• You are a salesman


• Teach Sticky


• WIIFM


• Keep it real


• Win:Win


• Classroom Goals


• Give a dog a name


• You will feel like crap sometimes


• The Medici Effect


• You will make mistakes


• Let kids dislike you


• Who do you answer to?


• And many more...88 in total.

A message from the author

I'm a teacher...because I had nothing else on offer.

After three years studying to become an actor, and not becoming Hugh Jackman, my parents convinced/pushed me to study teaching. I didn't like studying teaching at uni. It seemed so dry and teaching rounds/ placements terrified me. The thought of having my own class...no thank you.

Then I began teaching, and I fell in love with it. I truly believe it is an amazing profession whereby you can change the world, learn how to be a better parent to your own kids (if you choose to be a parent), get paid and have awesome holidays.I've been fortunate enough to work at a variety of schools, teaching a variety of age groups and subjects. I've also worked in Hong Kong teaching in local and international schools. Teaching overseas is certainly an experience I would recommend to any teacher, especially young ones. I really learnt to teach when I was in-charge of a class of forty preps, that didn't speak my language.

In 2015 I've taken the year off to write this book and develop some educational software (http://www.classcreator.com.au/). The best thing about being out of the classroom for a year, apart from being with my family, has been realising how much I love it.

Thank you for checking out my book and good luck with all things education.

Cheers,

Tim Bowman

tim@classcreator.com.au