Create Captivating Classes - by J Christopher Bontjes (Paperback)

About the Book

The definition of "entertain" is "pleasantly hold attention." Teachers must accomplish this without training, as the skill is not taught in college. Create Captivating Classes fills this gap in teachers' training.

Book Synopsis

It's a challenge every teacher faces... finding ways to get and keep the attention of their students; getting them to engage fully in the lessons. In today's world of constant connection to media and entertainment through television and the Internet, it is harder than ever. Add to that the pressures of NCLB, Common Core State Standards, and the Danielson evaluation model putting full responsibility for student learning and growth on the teacher and we have reached a crisis.

How can teachers compete with this constant stream of personalized entertainment? They must learn to think and teach as entertainers!

This is not as revolutionary a concept as it may sound. The word "entertain" is defined as "to pleasantly hold attention." So teachers already "entertain" their students. So no problem, right?

Wrong.

Teachers are now competing for the attention of their students. And the competition is fierce. They are up against professional entertainers who have spent years studying the art of entertainment without having to worry about teaching as well.

Teachers are trained in their subjects, but not in the methods and techniques used by entertainment professionals. Teachers must learn to plan and to think as the professional entertainers do. Only then can they effectively compete. Only then can they Create Captivating Classes!

Christopher Bontjes has more than 40 years of experience in designing shows and entertaining audiences of all ages from the stage. He also has more than 25 years of experience as a classroom teacher. Because his teaching specialty is music, he has had the opportunity to teach students ranging in age from Kindergarten through adult.

In Create Captivating Classes: Why NCLB Should Mean No Child Left Bored, Bontjes shares the techniques used by entertainment professionals to keep audiences glued to their seats and begging for more. He then applies each technique to the classroom, showing teachers, step-by-step, how to use each idea in the classroom to keep students riveted to lessons and anxious to learn more.

These ideas and techniques are effective with all students. They work regardless of age or socio-economic background. They work not because of who students are, but because of what students are - HUMAN!

Every teacher has students they struggle to reach. Create Captivating Classes will add a myriad of new ideas to your educational "bag of tricks."

Order your copy today and learn to Create Captivating Classes!

Review Quotes

"Overall, a great read: memorable, funny, and useful at the same time." --ELT Journal

"Keeping students engaged with instruction is no easy task in modern classrooms. Create Captivating Classes gives educators tools to encompass background knowledge as well as strategies for teachers of any age student. Even if the NCLB law is not renewed, these ideas will stand the test of time!" --Eva Cornwell, Title I coordinator, Georgetown-Ridge Farm School District, Illinois

"Perfect for new and veteran teachers! This book is loaded with creative ideas to capture and maintain student interests. Veteran teacher and entertaining magician shares his best tricks! Read this and see what you can pull out of your hat! Your students will love you for it!" --Lisa Witsman, Teacher, Westville School District, Illinois

"Public education is in a state of crises in this country, in part because too many classrooms are deadly dull. From his background as an educator and a magician, Christopher Bontjes understands that children learn best when the teacher is able to draw them into the subject matter and that fun and substance are not mutually exclusive. The ideas in Create Captivating Classes can lift both the spirits and the achievement of students and teachers alike." --Dr. David R. Goodsell, retired associate professor of education at Valdosta State University, Georgia

"What do educators and entertainers have in common? Both need an engaged audience in order to be effective. The principles in Create Captivating Classes can be used by educators, youth workers, pastors, coaches, or anyone who works with an audience of any size or age range." --Joanna Coombs, jr. high/high school supervisor, Danville Christian Academy

"This book is a superb springboard for a teacher's imagination! Clear, concise, engaging -- and inspiring! This is a how-to book that's a real page-turner; I had to keep reading because I wanted to know what else I could learn. Every teacher can benefit from some part of this book. J. Christopher Bontjes takes a creative approach to everything from lesson planning and presentation to classroom management -- and makes it feel like fun. Read this book. Use it. Be a better teacher!" --Laura Logan, upper elementary head teacher, Woodside Montessori Academy, Massachusetts

"Create Captivating Classes should become a required read for teachers new to the profession and those who have been in the field for many years. Christopher has reminded us that if we expect to keep the attention of our students, we need to pay attention to the way we keep their interest. A little humor never hurts! We all have the opportunity to be the "entertainer in our classroom" and in turn help the students become more engaged. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop that Christopher held earlier this year. If you ever have this opportunity, take it! It is well worth your time, and you will leave with some great ideas and a smile. Do yourself a favor: add this book to your "must read list." The ideas presented in this book will help you re-energize your classroom and refocus your students." --Kimberly A. Hawthorne, professor, Business, Hospitality, and Information Systems Department, Illinois Central College

About the Author

J. Christopher Bontjes is a teacher with more than 20 years of classroom experience in public schools working with students ranging in age from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Bontjes is also a magician with more than 40 years of experience entertaining audiences of all ages and all sizes. His extensive experience has allowed him to merge the techniques of both professions to Create Captivating Classes.