Make Me!: Understanding and Engaging Student Resistance in School (Youth Development and Education Series)

This book was required for one of my course great insight for any aspiring educator. Not a boring read either trust me I've read snoozers.

Make Me! has become an indispensable text in my Culturally Responsive Classroom Management masters course. I’ve used it three semesters and each semester it is THE top text students say must be included when I teach the class again. As a former teacher himself, Toshalis speaks to the reader from a position of empathizing with the many challenges educators face. He also invites the reader to consider the ways in which we, as educators, may inadvertently contribute to student resistance in spite of our best efforts and intentions. Rather than viewing student resistance as disrespect, laziness, or disinterest in school, Toshalis reframes it by encouraging educators to see resistance as a resource we need to tap into. In other words, educators should view student resistance as a sign that something isn’t right and thus approach it from a position of inquiry: What is causing the student to resist and how can we address that problem? To capture the many reasons why students might resist, Toshalis organizes the book into four ways of understanding student resistance: theoretically, psychologically, politically, and pedagogically. Within each chapter he expertly blends theory and practice by using various theoretical lenses and research to situate our understanding of resistance and then presenting concrete strategies educators can use to address student resistance in their classrooms and schools. Make Me! has opened my students’ eyes (many of whom are full-time teachers) and fundamentally shifted the way they approach their students’ challenging behaviors. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

I've been in education for 25 years - currently teaching high school English - have worked from Los Angeles to Winston Salem, NC - teacher and assistant principal. I recommend all educators read this book - don't fight it - take it in. Chapter 12 was hard to read. I recommend NOT reading that one first (as I did). Instead, read the book in order. You'll see your kids and their families, your colleagues and administrators, and the institution. You'll learn and grow, and you'll see your kids responding to your learning and your growth. Thanks to the author. It's worthwhile to keep reading about student resistance even though we may have read about these topics in our university programs years ago (like when Obgu was the be-all-end-on on the topic). Much has been learned -- much remains to be learned.

Good book

This text isn't a typical "how-to guide" for success in classroom management and student behavior. What it is, though, is a hard look at a little respected topic that will force you to reconsider your pedagogy, role, and contribution to the educational system. That said, if you are genuinely interested in informing your teaching practices, this is a must-read.

Must read for Title I educators!

Mr. Toshalis like most education researchers is painfully naive and demonizes teachers. To me, it seems like he has already answered his research question and then goes to find evidence to support his conclusion. Even so, I do think he has several ideas on how teachers can approach their students more positively. He honestly addresses class problems which are taboo in the education establishment. Mr. Toshalis is good at pointing out problems within the education system but his solutions are naive and may disappoint actual teacher who actually is in the classroom. To be fair, the solutions are much more complicated than the problems. This book is worth reading but like anything proceed with a critical mind.

Theres some great advice in this book that can help you understand and work with your adolescent students. Minus o e star because it is a little drawn out and unnecessarily wordy at times.