32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching

This was Phillip Done's love story to teaching. There are trials, tribulations, challenges, but Done shows that in the end there are some things that make it all worth it. Hilarious throughout with some really poignant moments that made me tear up. I loved it. I have a feeling this will become one of my comfort books. I have the urge to buy a copy for all my teacher friends now.

Having been an elementary school teacher in my earlier days I can relate to the charming stories that Mr. Done relates in this quick-to-read book. He has taught 3rd grade for 20 years and still has an obvious passion for the classroom. Some of the anecdotes are quite funny - during a spelling test the children are in hysterics because all of the words have a double 'p', thus making them 'peepee' words. And others are very touching - a little girl whose pet rat dies the night before the annual pet parade. Mr. Done has no problem telling tales on himself either - getting his necktie stuck in the laminating machine is just one of many. If you have ever been a teacher or have even had a child in elementary school you will enjoy this book.

This one of those books that you'll "get" if you work in education- there were a lot of insider jokes, but also a lot of generally funny anecdotes. The changing chapter formats worked and kept things interesting. The only thing that I didn't like was his diatribe against gifted education. Apparently his school had a cruddy pull-out program with a few enrichment activities that he felt were just exclusionary. Also apparent- he doesn't understand what it's like to be gifted. My best friend in high school was very gifted, but, because her mom didn't know how to play town politics, wasn't in the gifted program until she moved. She didn't know how to work hard because she never had to put in any actual effort. Differentiation within the show more classroom is important, but frankly isn't enough. I got so annoyed by Done's "the other kids will feel bad" approach- should we cut out special education because those kids are also pulled out and often play games and get special rewards? Kids learn differently and every student deserves the chance to be challenged. show less

This book is such a fun read. It shows the fun quirky side of teaching. It is a book for anyone who has taught or who has attended first grade. The plot of the books takes the reader through a school year in third grade. It is a book composed of testimonies from the author that are often hilarious and sometimes embarrassing. One example is when the teacher agreed to get the students a class pet snake. Anyone can see how that may have turned out in a classroom full of eight year olds.

This was a fun listen about the daily life of an elementary teacher. There were some parts that seemed a bit too condescending to me regarding students, but there were also parts that were dead on and had me laughing.

Wonderfully true to life. Humorous, and filled with whimsical views of a teacher's experience and interactions with students, administration, parents, and fellow teachers.
I loved it!!!

I found this book to be funny, entertaining and true to the profession of teaching. The stories are short and well put together.