Reaching & Teaching Them All: Making Quick and Lasting Connections With Every Student in Your Classroom

The reality for many new teachers today is the experience of being employed as an occasional teacher and/or in a long-term appointment. In this type of employment, educators may be faced with a number of students in different grades and at various stages of development. As I began reading this book, I reflected on how useful this book would have been for me as I embarked on my teaching career. Similarly, experienced educators can also benefit from the comprehensive list of strategies and scenarios for the diverse groups of learners we encounter in our ever-changing society. As educators, we know that relationship building is the cornerstone to teaching. One of my favourite passages in the “Introduction” of the book is, “But there is that student who is perhaps more difficult to connect with. Or that one situation. You’ve tried everything you know and still it’s difficult.” I am sure that his statement will resonate with all educators.

Along with an informative introduction about the intent of the book, the content is laid out in three comprehensive chapters; each centred on a specific theme. For example, Chapter One is entitled, “The First Meeting” and focuses on teaching strategies that will assist any teacher to make a positive and lasting first impression. Yuill does a wonderful job of including strategies such as: gross facts, scary stories, magic tricks. In this chapter, she also reflects on the importance of body language, humour, and an exciting curriculum for teachers. Moreover, in her explanation of an exciting curriculum, Yuill provides concrete and practical examples for a number of curricular areas. Additionally, checklists are provided at the end of each chapter to assist with planning and preparation.

In Chapter Two, “Connecting When”, teaching strategies focus on connecting with students when there is trouble at school and/or trouble at home. As discussed by Yuill, many of these possible situations are not covered during pre-service education, and many are left to figure out how to navigate these sensitive and difficult situations by themselves. In Chapter Three, “Connecting With”, she explores a number of circumstances that might make our students a little more difficult to connect with, and she offers useful tips and tools to overcome these potential barriers.

Reaching & Teaching Them All is a wonderful resource for both beginning and experienced teachers. The content is current and includes a comprehensive review of student traits and situations that may challenge today’s educators to connect with all students in their classroom. While reading this book, I reflected on similar experiences during my teaching career and would have enjoyed having this resource to refer to.