A Book Review by Mike Shaughnessy
www.Educationnews.org

“Bill Page has written a wonderfully challenging, humorous and helpful book about working with “at-risk students”. Providing insights into “those kids” who can’t, won’t, or don’t learn”, he has tried to do what ivory tower theorists have not done -- provide insight and understanding into the minds, souls, hearts and cognitive structure of students who struggle and fail.

This is the kind of book that really, really good teachers learn from, and that makes good teachers even better. This is the kind of book that principals should have in their office to hand to struggling teachers, and this is the kind of book that is truly helpful, and may I add, well written. In this interview, he responds to situations in the classroom with students who are labeled “at-risk” or who are “at-risk simply because of school policies.”

Testimonials
“The author is a passionate advocate for kids at-risk. He shows that student frustration related to their failure and shame requires at least as much attention as teacher frustration related to student misbehavior and apathy.” Scott Webb, Author, Humanitarian

“After hundreds of books on teaching strategies for students at-risk, finally one is written that is unique in its understanding, empathy, and action on behalf of beleaguered students’ distress and dismal future.” Patricia Hankins, Ninth Grade Science teacher.

“This book is challenging and provocative, because it presents seldom considered insights into the complex issues in classroom teachers’ number one problem – kids who don’t, won’t or can’t – even try.” Dr..John Abrams, Superintendent, nineteen years.

“Mr. Page, using a straight forward, engaging style, enables readers to feel the predicament of students who rarely have a good day at school, fail to learn the intended lessons, and frequently develop self-loathing with an attitude of retaliation by passive aggression, defiance, hostility, bullying and Rebellion.” Patti Inman, Assistant Principal, Kennedy Middle School.

“This book shows that teachers must solve the at-risk problem. At-risk students cannot possibly solve it!” Saundra Washington, Student teacher, California State University, Hayward

“Bill Page is a teacher, no more, no less, who speaks to fellow teachers heart to heart as he pleads for acceptance of hapless at-risk youngsters tormented by endless hopelessness, and repeated failure.” La Shanda Pringle, St. Louis Public Schools

Plus testimonials on the back of the book.

“At-Risk Students” by Bill Page is published by Educational Dynamics, 2006, 247 pages, 6 X 9, soft-cover and can be ordered on-line for, $19.95 including shipping : www.teacherteacher.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact information:

Bill Page
222 Wheeler Ave
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: 615.833.1086
billpage@teacherteacher.com

Looking beyond “at–risk” misbehavior

“At-Risk Students,” a groundbreaking book by teacher and popular motivational speaker Bill Page, reveals the underlying causes of classroom misbehavior.

Nashville, TN: Why do students behave badly? Often, says Bill Page in his groundbreaking new book, "At-Risk Students,” misbehavior stems from their defensive stratagems. “Being bad” is preferable to “being dumb”, clowning or sassing diverts attention, and defying authority earns respect from peers.

“At-Risk Students” does exactly what its subtitle promises – feel their pain, understand their plight, and accept their defensive ploys. “At-risk students, compelled to learn inappropriate lessons, live in constant fear—fear of failure, judgment and rejection. They fear being ridiculed and being labeled dumb. Most of all, they secretly fear the truth—that they may actually be dumb,” says Page.

“Very often, the misbehavior of students at-risk is interpreted as rebellious and disrespectful,” says Page. “But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that it is a cover-up. They are embarrassed, angry, bored and scared. Pretending that their failure doesn’t hurt, they hide behind bravado. No child abuse is more insidious and pervasive than the daily suffering imposed by well-meaning teachers on millions of students who are shamed and scarred by repeated failure.”
Page himself has spent more than 30 years “removing the risk” from students labeled “At-Risk.” The solution, he reveals, is to enter into a democratic relationship, where the students assume responsibility for their own learning. Through 33 vignettes, the reader sees the hapless students from the eyes of a teacher whose success with those very students made him a premier speaker in school districts across America.

“It sounds arrogant, but it’s true. I have never met a student I couldn’t teach, and that includes troublemakers, who can’t, won’t, don’t or haven’t yet learned,” says Page. “That’s a lesson that educators need to learn, and with my new book, they can do that and improve the diminished lives and dismal futures of millions of abused students languishing in America’s classrooms.”

Press Release

Bill Page, a Nashville educator, one of America's most popular motivational speakers, is the author of a groundbreaking book, "At-Risk Students." Unlike any other book on the subject, Bill Page explores the outlook of the thousands of students in our schools who every day are humiliated, flunked, retained and "forced out" creating an achievement crisis in America. Bill recreates in the reader the feelings of powerlessness, shame, embarrassment, anger, frustration and simmering hostility toward the "normal" classroom, the "mandatory" school environment, the "distant" powers-that-be, and the "stuff" that is being "poured down your throat." Bill, whom some have called "America's Super Teacher," is NOT a doomsayer. Far from it. Bill has spent more than 30 years removing the "risk" from often-discarded "At Risk Students." According to Bill, "the secret is to enter honestly into a democratic relationship in the classroom where responsibility for learning is returned to the learner and that shift includes all the power of decision-making normally held fast by teachers, administrators, specialists and various "experts" who use statistics rather than authentic relationships in their efforts to effect change."

"It may sound arrogant," Bill Page warns, "however it is true; I HAVE NEVER MET A STUDENT I COULDN'T TEACH and that includes non-achievers, troublemakers, and chronic failures." The new book, "At Risk Students" is not your run-of-the-mill diatribe against our schools and their failings. The book is a view school through the eyes of the very students who are responsible for the lowest end of the "achievement gap" which historically has been unaffected and "knowing how the kids are experiencing failure unveils startling, power-full ways to get them to see things differently, act differently, and prosper in the very settings where they have been so out-of-it for so long."

Be prepared to be emotionally involved with At Risk Students. Look forward to learning exactly how new teacher-student relationships lead to renewed learning and refreshed attitude. Get excited about the possibilities that students with multiple "at risk factors" in their backgrounds can become highly motivated, self-directed, achievement-oriented learners. Let Bill Page become your personal guide, your coach, your colleague as he offers insight into the plight of "at risk" students, and shows you, not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel, there are proven paths for taking your students through the darkness they experience toward that light, which is true self-fulfillment.