Middle Schoolin':
Comments
Thank
you readers,
for some of the comments below:
From Writer's Digest:
Frank and Paul, I really enjoyed reading the
anecdotes. They were well written and easily
digestible -- the perfect length for a
one-a-day meditation for teachers-- and each
gave a thoughtful, non judgmental insight
into life in a middle-school classroom. I
especially appreciated that you included
stories about mistakes you'd made and
lessons you'd learned!
Writer's Digest
From Amazon.de
(Text translated from the original text in
German, below)
The book Middle Schoolin' is for all
students, teachers, parents and all those
interested in this necessary subject, which
I recommend. These stories are based on true
events and written very honestly. There is
much to laugh and also to reflect. All of
you who read this book will have a lot of
fun. It's worth it.
Sabine T., Germany
Von Amazon.de
Das Buch Middle Schoolin' ist für alle
Schüler, Lehrer, Eltern und alle die sich
für dieses Thema interessieren unbedingt zu
empfehlen. Diese Stories sind nach wahren
begebenheiten und sehr ehrlich geschrieben.
Es gibt viel zum lachen und auch zum
nachdenken. Ich wünsche jedem der dieses
Buch liest viel Spaß dabei. Es lohnt sich.
Sabine T., Deutschland
A Book to Read Before You Die!
I got your book yesterday. It is finally in
my hand. I started reading it. You know, to
tell you the truth. I am not that fond of
reading but I do like your book very much.
It makes you wanna read another page again
and again. I will begin Part 2 soon. I like
the stories and moral so much! I am not just
telling you this to make you feel good. I'm
telling the truth! I finished reading your
book and I learned a lot. I just love your
book, especially for teachers and parents. I
think it should be on a list of "Books to
read before you die!" I wish there were more
pages when I finished the book and I wish I
was in one of your classes when I was a kid!
Congratulations, I will tell everyone I know
about your book!
A Fan from India
My 12 Year Old Daughter Loves This Book!
Middle Schoolin' is a book that I highly
recommend. My 12 year old daughter fell in
love with this book and so we had to play
"tug of war" before I could wrestle it away
to get a chance to read it! She would
disappear with this book and only her
occasional giggle would remind me that she
was still alive! The stories are well
written and they transported me back in time
to my own childhood. My how times have
changed! The authors have done a masterful
job of creating unforgettable characters who
will touch you and maybe even change you a
little. After reading this book, whenever I
pass by a school I think of the authors and
recall their stories. I also can't help but
wish that every child has at least one
caring teacher like the authors, Palacio and
Rallion. Congratulations and job well done!
Respiratory Therapist
Thank You for Writing This Book!
Finally finished my reading!! Thank you for
writing this book about our kids, lots of
valuable life lessons for families with
young kids. Will be mailing one for my
sister in Belize. As a single mother, she
could learn a lot on handling and
disciplining an 8 year old from your book.
Anonymous
As a new teacher...
As a new teacher at the middle school level,
I can relate to many of these stories. This
book is a great read for every teacher (new
or seasoned) and parent. This book is like
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Middle School
Life. Best Wishes Mr. Palacio and Mr.
Rallion.
Ms P.
I just finished reading Middle Schoolin'
I wanted to let you know that I thought it
was very heart warming and entertaining. I
found many of the stories funny,
fascinating, and in some cases very sad. I
never realized that as teachers you also
deal with the loss of such young lives. I
think you are two warm and caring
individuals with tremendous hearts. I think
your students are very lucky to have you. I
was specially impressed with the honesty and
openness with which you both share your
feeling and emotions with your readers. I
will cherish the book always.
Congratulations again! I wish you much
success.
Zulema T.
Choral Teacher Agrees
Middle Schoolin’ is an excellent human
interest book that will appeal to any
reader. As a former middle school choral
teacher, I found I can relate to the trials,
tribulations, and hilarious truths lurking
within the pages. Congratulations Mr.
Palacio and Mr. Rallion for writing a book
about your teaching experiences that will
make the reader alternatively laugh
hysterically, cry because of life’s
occasional unfairness. You can palpably feel
the authors’ pain when being challenged by
certain boorish behavior on the part of some
unruly students, but still sense the care
and love they have for the job, and of
course the students. All in all, this book
is about real life and is written with
simplicity, caring and humor. Thank you Mr.
Teo Colon for featuring this wonderful book
on your website!
Sara
Funny but Real!
I read the book and the short stories are
very funny, but real. It deals with the
everyday teaching strategies teachers have
to deal with. I really love the partnership
between Frank and Paul and their students
and the lessons learned. An easy and
entertaining read, you will like it too!!
Linda Crawford
...proud Garifuna!
I would like to comment on the book “Middle
Schoolin” that you featured on your
website. I am a proud garifuna from Belize
and I would recommend to everyone out there
in the world to read this book that is
co-authored by Frank Palacio.
I found the stories interesting,
entertaining and also enlightening. It
brought a lot of memories of the many
different experiences growing up while in
middle school and I could relate to the
stories.
The stories are short, concise and to the
point. There are no long drawn out stories
and every story had a message and a deep
meaning in the end. I just could not put
the book down when I started reading.
Elia Rose
...a slice of life
This book touches on the sensitive nature of
relationships between teenagers and teachers
in the educational relationship. Moments of
blatant honesty regarding teachers’
frustrations and imperfections expresses the
human condition. Enjoy a little slice of
life.
Sue Cella
A very inspiring book!
Hi Frank and Paul,
I read your book today and found it very
inspiring. I am going to give it to my
sister who teaches science in the Montebello
School District. My compliments to you for
the kudos you received from other school
districts.
Mary Louise
I will keep referring students...
I have turned my Middle School Interns on to
your book. I think they are happy to know
they are not alone in their first couple of
years.
Our Middle School teachers often get
forgotten and they have one of the hardest
jobs of all in that their students are in
between stages. I think some of them could
use a teacher resource book that includes
ideas for classroom management, incentives,
working with colleagues, seeking
professional development opportunities for
subject specific pedagogy, how to not get
lost in such big schools, preparing for a
sub including preparing the students for a
sub, and the list goes on. Those of us who
have worked in the Middle School setting
understand how different a dynamic it is
from the elementary and high school setting.
They need your expertise.
Thank you so much. I will keep referring
students. I am thrilled with your work and I
hope you also continue writing. So much to
share and new teachers are always feeling
alone. (Kimberly)
(Dr. Persiani-Becker, Cal-State-Los Angeles)
I Just Completed...
I just completed my copy if this extremely
relevant and entertaining book. I enjoyed it
so much that I immediately went to my local
library and asked them to get it so that
others may get a chance to enjoy it as much
as I did. I plan to do the same with the
three other libraries that I am a member of
as well as recommend it to all my
colleagues.
This book deals with every day themes that
teachers wrestle with all the time like how
to deal with students that steal something
which does not belong to them or how to
interact with parents, and administrators. I
especially enjoyed the last story written by
Frank -Vincent the Invincible. Frank was
able to portray with sensitivity the impact
a student (who through no fault of his own
was different from other students) had on
the others in his class and how he did not
let his circumstance keep him from aspiring
to attain his full potential as a human
being.
As a substitute teacher in California it
gave me a tremendous amount of tools to use
with students particularly in Middle School.
It also helped me to better understand what
my son went through in attending middle
school in California. I found the moral of
each story to be extremely helpful in
attaining further insight into the
reflection of the authors. The teaching
strategies section was also invaluable in
providing practical tips that can be used by
any teacher as he/she enters the classroom.
In addition the glossary was also extremely
useful in understanding terminology used by
the teaching profession in California.
This book is inspirational and I encourage
all students of human behavior to read it
because it has something in it for everyone.
They will gain something that they can use
in whatever profession they are a part of.
Tim Phillips
Rocklin, California
Just a few weeks ago
I rushed across town to grab my very own
copy of Middle Schoolin'!!!
What a pleasure and delightful experience it
was to read it!! As a soccer coach myself
and former middle school student's parent, I
can relate totally with the behavior of the
kids and the 50 topics covered in your book,
and they transport me back to a time when I
had to listen to my two daughter's classroom
episodes.
All the stories are not only so well
written, but wonderfully appealing
especially when the author gave a "Moral of
the Story"!!!
I really appreciate the entire concept and
formatting of your book. Please Mr.
Rallion, extend my humble gratitude to Mr.
Palacio as well. Thank you for enlightening
my life with your every day experiences.
Good Luck to you!!!
J.C. Mendoza
Ontario, California
I read your book and loved it
It was hysterical reading about the kids
tricks. But it also made me cry knowing all
the trials and tribulations our students
live through. I wish more people were aware
of what teachers have to deal with. I am
sure there are many more teachers as you and
Frank that believe in our kids and know that
many of them can and will be successful and
productive adults in life. Keep up the
great work both with the kids and your book.
Great reading!!!
Lynda A.
Delightful Collection
Middle Schoolin' is a delightful collection.
What immediately came to my mind is the need
to do such a compilation, especially as so
little is known about what takes place in
classrooms until there is something major
like a shooting incident. The authors have
brought out the human side of the glorious
profession called teaching. Excellent Work.
J.O.P.
Middle School Stories -- A one-of-a-kind
book
This book is written with great sensitivity,
humor, and love. The authors give a very
realistic look at the state of public
schools but they go a step further and their
caring and professionalism is evident. These
stories will touch you by their sheer,
simplicity, directness, and honesty. I was
touched to the point of tears. Our poor
students of today have so much to deal with.
The story about the kid who was shot was
really moving. Congratulations to the
authors for their vision to write such a
book. These stories are sort of like the
"Chicken Soup" series, but I prefer them
because of the pictures and the moral that
follows each story.
Charles Sayers
Will definitely recommend!
I have been Middle Schoolin' since Saturday,
LOVE IT. A must for new teachers and
refreshing for veterans!!! Will definitely
recommend!!!
J.M.
Congratulations!
...got my book and read it....I'm
recommended this reading to Parents,
Teachers and those with interest or who work
with youths...easy reading,
informative...love the morals at the end of
each story & the caricatures.
Anonymous
I read this book in a matter of a couple of
days. Even though I am not a teacher, I am a
therapist and was able to glean some useful
information regarding working with children.
The stories are full of pathos, humor,
compassion and they are very relevant. There
were times I laughed out loud and there were
some tears. It accurately describes life for
our middle schoolers and the teachers that
labor day in and day out with them I agree
with the reviewers who say that it helped
them make of their mind to work in middle
school because these authors are two
dedicated teachers who are inspirational as
portrayed by the stories. I happen to know
Frank Palacio very well and can personally
vouch for his integrity as a teacher and as
a human being.
Jermaine Francis
Just the book I was looking for!
A few days ago, I was hesitant as to whether
to teach at the middle school level. A
friend of mine recommended this book to me,
and I ordered it. After reading it I've made
up my mind to accept a position as a middle
school teacher. This book made me feel as if
I was in the classroom, teaching my
students. I finished my teaching credential
courses, but I feel this books goes beyond
book theory and what-ifs. This is the real
deal. Kudos to the authors!
Michael F.
Although "Middle Schoolin'" includes 50
stories, they are 50 very amazing short
stories, which will not require a lot of
your time. Interesting reading and
incredible discoveries of how some middle
school students behave and how teachers,
such as, Frank Palacio and Paul Rallion,
have to function day by day. Some humor and
some sadness are included. Have your tissue
box on hand when reading the "Tragedies and
Sadness" part. Some of those stories will
probably make you shed a few tears.
Excellent book for aspiring and new middle
school teachers; possibly for high school
teachers as well. Great insight of knowing
what to expect, how to handle certain
situations and what to do and not to do.
Highly recommend college/university
professors to add as your
assign/supplementary reading to your
secondary teaching method classes. Some
great discussions and alternatives of
handling certain situations can come out of
reading "Middle Schoolin'." Great for
teachers' reading groups. Don't miss out!
Get your book today, if you haven't
already.
Carolyn Henley-Johnson
Middle Schoolin' is a must read for every
teacher k-12
I stumbled across the book after first
visiting the website, www.middleschoolin.com.
I am a parent of a middle school
student, and so the information about the
book and its title appealed to me
instantly. I ordered the book and read it.
I enjoyed it, very, very much. I have a new
found appreciation for teachers! I will
certainly recommend this book to all my
parent and teacher friends. Good job, Mr.
Palacio and Mr. Rallion.
Mr. McBurns
I got my hard copy of Middle Schoolin'
50 Stories about the Challenges, Humor, and
Rewards of Teaching, late on Friday Sept
11. I have been awaiting my copy. It
grabbed my attention so much so that I
finished reading it/gobbling it in a day and
a half. This is a record for me no book has
gotten my attention like this one in a long
time.
Frank Palacio one of the author is my
brother. For the past five years or so
every summer Frank tells us that he is
writing a book. So I started thinking oh my
gosh I will be forced to read this book and
I was dreading the idea. My attention span
is such that I only read magazine articles
and short motivational readings and stories
like from Chicken Soup for the Soul. Once
the book was released I immediately ordered
my copy after visiting the website
www.middleschoolin.com and
reading some of the stories.
All the stories were very interesting and at
the end the author gave a 'Moral of the
Story' sort of a lesson learned. This was a
very good concept. The book and the stories
appeal to everyone especially to new and
experienced teachers, parents, students and
everyone who have attended a middle school
or junior high anywhere. The book grabbed my
attention and kept me reading late into the
night on Friday and Saturday. The whole
book is well written and
semi-autobiographical. Frank Palacio and
Paul Rallion are great authors and story
tellers the stories were entertaining,
touching and interesting.
Angela P.
