Written by a recipient of a MacArthur award, gained for her pioneering work on the storytelling technique and its use in the classroom, this book focuses on the challenge posed by the isolated child to teachers and classmates alike in the community of the classroom. It is the story of Jason - the loner and outsider - and his ultimate triumph and homecoming into the society of his classmates. As the reader follows Jason's struggle, it can be seen how the classroom is a crucible within which the young discover themselves and learn to confront new problems in their daily experience. The book is an essay on the practice of teaching young children and the author uses children's stories as a vehicle of instruction.
THE BOY WHO WOULD BE A HELICOPTER
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The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter is, among other things, an original essay on the practice of teaching young children...Vivian Paley's innovation is her use of children's stories as a vehicle of instruction...Paley is an artist whose medium is children in the classroom. The end product of her year's work is a group of children who can live comfortably with themselves and with one another. This group of children will soon scatter. But each child will always carry a bit of Vivian Paley along with him or her, and that is the way in which a gifted teacher's art lives on. -- David Elkind New York Times Book Review For those interested in...the education of the spirit, this is finally a heartening and challenging book. -- Geoff Fox Times Educational Supplement A tour de force...Years from now we may know the fruit of the trees Vivian Paley and her associates have planted. It will be easy, then, to recognize her former students. When asked to recall their kindergarten experiences, they surely will begin with the words, "Once upon a time..." -- Thomas J. Cottle Chicago Tribune There are many funny moments...[and] an attractive humility in Paley's work...Anyone who was once a child, and especially those who were once helicopters, will enjoy it. -- David Perkins Kansas City Star Humanity, wisdom, and understanding are the words that come to mind when reading Paley's latest book. She offers a view into the world of children that is respectful of their strengths and complexity...This book shines with an authenticity that comes from the voice of the teacher, not the observer...[It] should be required reading for all those working with children of any age. They and other readers will find it an absorbing and enlightening experience. -- S. Sugarman Choice
About the Author
Vivian Gussin Paley, a former kindergarten teacher, is the winner of a MacArthur Award and of the 1998 American Book Award for Lifetime Achievement given by the Before Columbus Foundation.
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First Sentence
"Who are you, Lilly?" I bend low to ask the bonneted figure pulling a straw purse over my feet. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
"Who are you, Lilly?" I bend low to ask the bonneted figure pulling a straw purse over my feet. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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4.0 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute must read for anyone who loves young children!
25 Sep 1998
By MelloTempl@aol.com
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This book reaffirmed my faith in the education of young children. I had no idea there were teachers like Ms. Paley.Ms. Paley paints a portrait of a kindergarten classroom where each child is valued for his or her own unique self. Her students are story tellers and thus are "not slow or fast" but evolve at their own speed. Paley shares her own learning through the telling of this wonderful year in her classroom. I will make it required reading for all of my child care staff.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review of the boy who would be a helicopter
18 Dec 2002
By jeff wagner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
After reading, Vivian Gussin Paley's book, the boy who would be a helicopter, I found it to be a very interesting account of her experiences in teaching young children. In particular, I was really impressed by the way she engaged the children in telling their stories through acting them out, since this not only allowed the children to learn, but also Paley had the chance to learn more about the children through their stories. Of all the children, Paley was primarily focused on a boy named Jason because he was so different than the rest of her children. For example, Jason refused to play with the other children and when Paley tried to get him to join the group his typical response was his helicopter is broken at which point he would rush off to "supposedly' fix it.
What amazed me throughout the book was how Paley continued to encourage Jason to join them in their storytelling and refused to give up on him. In addition, despite Jason's differences Paley never labeled him. Quite honestly, I know teachers who would have labeled or viewed Jason as being a special needs child and wanted him out of their classroom. Yet, Paley was driven to help Jason and he eventually does make tremendous progress in her classroom. Of course, Jason's level of progress would not have occurred without Paley's patience and determination along with a positive learning environment, which sends an important message to teachers. Even at the end of the book, Paley never reveals what Jason's problem is or whether she feels he is in need of some special services. To me, I definitely recommend this book to any educator especially those who work with young children, since I think Paley has a real unique way of working with children and teachers could greatly benefit from reading about her classroom experiences.
Jeff Wagner
December 18, 2002
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Master Teacher
27 Jan 2008
By shariana
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I believe the story relayed in this book is truly what the concept of 'no child left behind' could mean with a teacher and wisdom that honors each child for who he/she is, and meets them where they are to invite them into a larger "education". If more of our young children with different abilities could be allowed to live into their stories we might evoke happier endings for them. Vivian Paley;s insight, wisdom and ability to educe young stories has deeply inspired the foundation of my teaching.
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