The Giraffe Classroom

The Giraffe Classroom

Where Teaching is a Pleasure and Learning is a Joy

Nancy Sokol Green

“In her workbook, Ms. Green shares ideas from her 5th grade classroom, where she has, for example, a corner of the room set up with various props for a “Ten-minute Vacation” (for Hawaii, camping, etc.).

Green offers NVC facilitators in the classroom various teaching concepts, ways of evaluating, disciplining, etc. She focuses on cooperative learning, the use of humor and on fitting to the students’, rather than the teacher‘s, needs. Learning is approached not as an objective but as an ongoing, open-ended experience. Expression of feelings and wants is encouraged by everyvone in the classroom.

There are eleven activities that address feelings in the classroom; the use of music, poetry, collage and science is integrated into these activities to make them real and alive. Green uses well-known characters such as Dick Tracy. Humpty Dumpty and Little Red Riding Hood to illustrate the use of Jackal (life-alienating communication).

Before I reviewed this book, I thought I would only buy it if I were to actually work in a classroom. Now I see, however, that many of the concepts arc relevant to beginner Giraffes of any age. If you are interested in sharing NVC with others, this book offers lots of fun ways to do it.” (Reviewed by M. Vestan)