What's the Big Idea?: Question-Driven Units to Motivate Reading, Writing, and Thinking

Jim Burke is fabulous! His ideas/activities always work in my classroom. What's the Big Idea? gave me ideas in which to improve my questioning in my lessons/units, tapping into a student's interest in problem solving/finding truth/finding relationships, etc. I also own and use Jim's other books, Tools for Thought and English Teacher's Companion. I find his ideas and style work well with my students. All of his works would be on my Top 10 list, as mine are always by the side of desk! Another reviewer said that these are great ideas only if you teach AP, but his ideas have worked wonderfully in my classroom. I don't teach AP but 8th grade, and his ideas have been very popular with the kids. I may have to alter some activities or make them more accessible to my students, but his ideas/activities seem to be more memorable for my students than others. I'll always be a fan!!!

Though I'm not finished yet, I can tell you a give a thumbs up to the content. Thoughtful and specific, Jim Burke provides an easy-to-understand narrative about essential questions. I do have a warning for Kindle users. The book does not neatly translate its format to the smaller Kindle. I just now found the blurb on the book's Amazon page that warns about the text layout being optimized for larger screens (Kindle DX, computer screen, iPad, etc.). My fault, I'll be certain to check that out from now on. Had I known ahead of time, I would have purchased the paperback.Great content, though!

As a fairly new teacher, I love it when I find a book that helps me do my job better. This book does that. As teachers we're often given things like Essential Questions in our curriculum, and often these have little bearing on what we do. Mr. Burke takes the idea and shows how to connect the lesson(s) to the students' lives, thereby giving them meaning. Wonderful concept which I'm beginning to apply now. Also, the lessons and ideas provided are very useful, and it was so nice to be able to download the original blacklines for these lessons (and they came in Word format so I could customize them a bit). Great buy!

Here are lessons and advice based on successful experiences with a wide range of Jim Burke's students, all based on the concept of using inquiry as the foundation of units, lessons, and learning.Jim draws on and makes connections with many of the best contemporary thinkers as he provides the theoretical bases for his chapters. Although many of the lessons deal with specific texts, they are easily adaptable to any works a teacher might be using in class.This important book is supported by superb graphics, online access to handouts and organizers, and useful appendices.

There are issues with words/images being cut off. It wasn't so bad that I couldn't utilize the content well but it was frustrating. The book isn't that much more to buy the hard copy so I'd recommend that. The book itself is a fantastic teaching resource that I highly recommend. I read it for a teaching course but I feel that it's very accessible and would be just as easy to benefit from reading independently. It has resources and unit plan ideas. A bit idealistic at times and isn't focused on daily lesson planning, but a great resource.

It has changed the way I teach, and has improved how my students think!

repeats itself at times, but overall very good

With this book I have gotten some ideas for helping students become better readers. I hope to find some ideas for pieces to present to my classroom.