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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Ayers, what consumes millions and millions of education dollars?

2. Which culture required that each boy kill a lion and be circumcised in order to become a man?

3. What was the most recent standardized test Ayers took?

4. What does Ayers suggest that teachers have to be if they do not want to lose their capacity for renewal and growth?

5. In what publication did Bernardina and Zayd read coverage of the Central Park rape?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some ways that teachers can keep track of student achievement according to Ayers?

2. In Chapter 4, "Building Bridges," what did the second grade newsletter contain?

3. Explain the themes of Fratney described by Ayers.

4. Based on Chapter 4, "Building Bridges," describe why Zayd's project, a project focused on values, was an important hopeful approach to teaching.

5. In Chapter 5, "Liberating the Curriculum," what did Sarah's mother discuss?

6. How does Ayers suggest people meet the problem of guidelines and mandates?

7. How did Ayers describe Zayd's pursuing of his "coming of age" ceremony?

8. What are the alternatives to standardized tests discussed by Ayers?

9. Describe Ayers's quest in teaching.

10. In Chapter 7, "The Mystery of Teaching," what problems occurred when teachers tried to implement a new idea every day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Ayers discussed how to become a great teacher. Ayers also discussed how the teacher's job is never finished.

Part 1) Do you agree with Ayers when he states "Teaching is never finished"? Explain.

Part 2) How did one become a "wonderful teacher"?

Essay Topic 2

Lisa Delpit and June Jordan researched culture and how culture related to the classroom. Compare and contrast Delpit and Jordan's belief regarding culture and the classroom.

Essay Topic 3

William Ayers spent most of his professional life teaching. Ayers classroom was a laboratory for teaching.

Part 1) Describe Ayers's research shared in the book.

Part 2) Explain Ayers's focus of the book, To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher.

Part 3) What teaching "tips" or suggestions does Ayers hope the reader takes away from the book?

(see the answer keys)

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