Battle Hymn of the Tiger Teachers: The Michaela Way Paperback – September 3, 2019

What an amazing book!! I’ve been teaching for almost 20 years and I was blown away by their discipline and consistency. The book left me wanting to travel to London to see it for myself!

The right attitude to have in education now more than ever.

So inspiring.

This inspirational book is the perfect Christmas present for parents, teachers and school governors.The staff of Michaela School present a potent mixture of radical educational manifesto, practical handbook for implementing change and an inspirational vision of what schools might be like if we shift from a child centered ethos to a teacher centered one.It's hard not to be impressed and difficult not to be converted. The future of our schools (and society) depends on recruiting and retaining teachers. The Michaela way reframes teaching as a rewarding and exciting career. It's not presented as rocket science. It's not difficult to understand. It seems a lot easier for teachers than progressive education. Significantly better for children, their parents and the communities around the school.The greatest strength of the book is that it isn't the beautiful dream of some educational psychologist or the theoretical credo of a child development guru in California; the writers of this book are ambitious, interested and have rolled their sleeves up and are doing it. Children and teachers benefit. But like all systemic change it does demand schools to go "all in". Do British teachers have the capacity for more radical change? I think you probably have to drink the whole bottle of Michaela cool-aide, not just sip it.TL:DR - if you can read this - thank a teacher by buying them a copy of this book.

Every teacher and parent needs to read this well written testimony of what all children are actually capable of achieving in the hands of skilled, truly compassionate educators who refuse to limit the potential of their students through unquestioning adherence to ideological orthodoxy. This return to common sense is long overdue in education, but not politically advantageous, so will be treated with skepticism and derision by those with their Progressive Feet firmly under the table - which is most people in the field of government funded education. They are not going to bite the hand that feeds them or the cherished notions in which their identities are so thoroughly invested. Politics aside - it is fascinating to read the journey of the Michaela teachers who came to work at the school struggling initially with the ethos, yet after comprehending its substance, rather than appearance, gained a thorough working understanding of the transformational impact on students at both the personal and academic levels. The research on pedagogy and methods presented counters many myths in Educational Philosophy which have stunted and corrupted the development of Public Education since the 1960s and traces the intellectual, social and political influences which informed Progressive Educational Ideology. Bravo to the pioneering Head Teacher and her team who established this school, it is a beacon. Huge respect to the staff team who are demonstrating exactly what can be done and giving their students the chance of their best possible future. There are many interesting videos and educational debates to watch on the school’s YouTube channel. If I was a young new teacher, this is the only school I’d want to work in. It’s the corrupted University Education Departments that need to be training future generations of teachers in the Michaela Philosophy & Methodology. This book is very well written, easy to digest quickly and packed with very useful information. Parents - demand to know why your children are not able to access education of this quality in your local school.

An excellent book of strategies for a whole school approach.

The picture painted of the Michaela Community School is awe inspiring. It is the kind of school that many teachers would like to work at or send their children to. The exceptionally high standards for children alongside methods that maintain work life balance for teachers, is something all schools should aspire to. Of course, the book wasn't about the Michaela Method but this is what I longed for when I read the text. I wanted examples of Knowledge Organisers, tips on how to create them as well as step by step instructions of the methods that are used to radically improve student's writings and reading ages. This was a great work that has left me wanting more.

This book is about the Michaela school in London. It has made headlines as being the "strictest school in britain". I was curious and so decided to read the book. It has changed my outlook and beliefs about effective teaching. I'm absolutely enthused and encouraged about the things they are doing. If the Michaela school was nearer, I would be doing what I can to work there. As it is, I am spending all my time thinking of ways to introduce the Michaela way to my own school and pupils.Some of their ways and beliefs are so different to my training that I really had to think about how I felt, but this book is so passionate and well explained that it's hard not to believe too. Amazing, I wish them all the luck in the world and desperately hope to be able to visit them to see the magic for myself.

This is a very interesting read, especially for teachers. It's also easy in that there is no need to read it cover to cover as each chapter is written by a different teacher at the Michaela school, and thus has its own focus. All parents of school aged children would also find it fascinating; it tends to point out the dangers of a classroom relying totally on laptops, not by preaching, but by just giving an account of lessons and procedures at Michaela. Michaela's success can not be denied and thus provides food for thought. I'd suggest that even without adhering to Michaela's principles, all teachers could absorb some aspect of its routine, assessment guidelines, or classroom manner into their own teaching practice. At the very least it provides food for thought and is a discussion starter!