This book was written for new teachers still forming their philosophy, veteran teachers looking for that final piece of the puzzle, and those somewhere in between trying to go from adequate to excellent. The book seeks to balance the control needed in traditional, directed teaching situations with the freedom necessary for students to do inquiry and group work.

Classroom Management, the Dance of the Dolphin

Mark Kennedy
Holistic Education Press (2004)
ISBN 1885580177
Reviewed by Christine Watson for Reader Views (1/06)


Mark Kennedy’s book, "Classroom Management, the Dance of the Dolphin," does a great job of using what is already working in the classroom, and adding to it. He compares traditional teaching to more unconventional methods, and breaks both groups into four areas. Both traditional and unconventional teaching methods are validated as he explains how both are necessary to provide a holistic learning experience for the students.

Recognizing that the teacher will be stronger in one of the specific areas, Kennedy helps classroom leaders to take note of that fact, and broaden learning experiences for the students. Each student has a dominant learning style, and it is important to structure the classroom in a way that every student is able to spend some time learning through his or her preferred style.

The classroom management tool that Kennedy uses and recommends is called a Micro, or democratically run classroom. He believes in structuring the classroom similar to a business or government, with students having specific roles and duties to help them self manage and learn responsibility.

This book was both enjoyable and helpful to me as a high school special education teacher. Kennedy’s definition of “spirituality” summed up what I had been trying to formulate in my own mind for years. I would like to implement his Micro classroom management ideas into my own classroom. His wisdom and experience shine through in every chapter. The charts he has throughout the book are terrific references to the information he is providing. Teachers, administrators, parents, and others involved in education can all benefit from reading this book.