Reviews

//**Prof. Howard Gardner:**//  //Branton Shearer, a psychologist with expertise in assessment, and Michael Fleetham, a master teacher and teacher educator, have combined their respective areas of expertise in teaching, leadership, and multiple intelligences. Their book is provocative, practical, and disarmingly personal//

**Sarah B. Odom, PhD** President & CEO of Vann-Ray, LLC. //I have known Dr. Shearer for some time now, and I highly recommend any of his works for administrators and educational professionals. Everyone needs to read his book, **Creating Extra-Ordinary Teachers**. Dr. Shearer provided training for my professional consulting division, and it was an eye-opening experience even for me. As I looked at the results from our inventories, I realized why some of us struggled with certain aspects of the consulting world. I would recommend every employer in America give the MIDAS to his/her employees to learn how to build on the strengths and provide additional training in areas of weakness. **It is a MUST READ book for all serious educators.**//

//I found this book to be very helpful in developing leadership curriculum for students, as well as for my own personal use. I am a supporter of the MI theory. My doctoral thesis evolved around the MI theory, MIDAS, and the college classroom. However, those people not familiar with or not proponents of the MI theory, will still find this book very useful. It is an easy book to read. Dr. Shearer's detailed accounts of his personal journey with Multiple Intelligences leading to his impressive career, are immensely helpful in solidifying the information presented.// //This book is not a book that you read once and put away. It is a book to refer to time and time again. There are activities to do, that should not be missed. The activities are not only valuable in improving one's teaching abilities, but helps one gain insights into their personal lives as well.// **This book is truly a gem. It should be on everyone's reading list.**
 * Nancy Peifer Neil, Professor, Nursing Program, West Palm Beach State College**

//The entire world is undergoing a determined education reform. The crucial key towards successful transformation of the important task of educating the next generation is the quality and passion of the teachers. Branton Shearer is a diligent researcher, dedicated educator, and professional developmental psychologist. Inspired by the impactful research of Professor Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences; and is collaboration with Mike Fleethar, an experienced educator, they have authored this stimulating book.// //With the practical wisdom and useful tools and techniques provided by this book, teachers can become more versatile, creative, and effective as a teacher and leader in the classroom and beyond. Personally, I found the practical application of Multiple Intelligences will help the teachers and students to actualize who they will become .// **This book will help to reform and revitalize the approach towards educating the young for the 21st century.**
 * Philemon Choi, Breakthrough Ltd. Hong Kong.**

//Each one of us, as teachers, has the capacity to be an extra-ordinary teacher. This book explores ways to release that potential. It is fascinating, inspirational, accessible and 'in touch' all at the same time. Branton and Mike have expertly combined theoretical gems and extracts of exceptional practice with practical ways to move yourself forward... together this will make a real positive difference at 'ground level' in the world of education.//
 * Lynne Williams, Senior Teacher and Teacher educator/trainer, Glanffrwd Infants School, Wales:**

//Creating Extraordinary Teachers” can be an inspirational tool for encouraging educational professionals// to delve deeply into themselves, exploring their own skills and talents, and learning how to nurture this understanding in others. Such a deeper self understanding contributes to a better prepared teacher for the myriad demands of this profession, not the least of which is to nurture the growth and development of those whom they will teach.” ** Kent **** State University, May 30, 2008, Kent ****, Ohio **
 * Wendy C. Kasten, Professor, Teaching, Leadership, & Curriculum Studies **

//First some criticism of your great effort... you should have written this book 20 years ago. Reading and assessing it carefully I dream of the difference it could have made for me. I could give you at least 15 names of my own teachers a long time ago who would have seriously benefited in learning from this book instead of switching off my desire to learn. How can you attack such a complex issue with so few and precise words that even I can understand? Fascinating.// //General remarks:// //This book is not only a must-read for people who are involved in education and teaching, but for any aspiring managers, CFOs and CEOs. I thought I understood multiple intelligences in its theory, but never was confronted with such a realistic approach to putting it into practice and hence improving my own personal capabilities. As soon as this book is published I will surely buy it and make it a must-read for all of my managers, as well as my son and my daughters.// //While I haven't had time to look into the names of journals or professional groups I suggest that instead of giving them my review, let them read the book for themselves and you will have a sale.// //Well done Branton.//
 * Andreas Graf von Faber-Castell, Director, Asia Pacific, A.W. Faber-Castell (Aust) Pty Ltd. Australia:**

// This book is inspirational because, having used MI in the classroom with pupils, it is now possible to use the same techniques and philosophies to became the extraordinary teacher we all want to be. I have learned about my leadership style and been challenged by some thought provoking 'prods' to consider how I can develop my personal strengths and weaknesses, but I have also been motivated by the experiences that others relate and can see how I can help those with whom I work develop too. // // This is a practical book that has simple strategies one can use immediately and is a valuable resource for all teachers. I will certainly recommend it to our Teaching and Learning Coaches for reflection and continuous professional development. //
 * Gillian Howarth, Teaching and Learning Consultant for **** Slough **** Excellence **** Cluster ****, **** UK **

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” John F. Kennedy (speech prepared for delivery in Dallas the day of his assassination, Nov. 22, 1963. //The authors of this book believe that leaders can be made, even extraordinary ones!// //They lead you along the path towards becoming a better leader by helping you to know your strenghts and face your weaknesses. The MIDAS™ profile is the cornerstone to your self-development. When you learn more about your own multiple intelligences profile you will better understand your experiences in the real world and gain more confidence in the choices you make.//
 * Erla Kristjansdottir,** **University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland:**

// This book is inspirational as it, for the first time, sets leadership into the context of multiple intelligences. Unsurprisingly, but so refreshingly, this book celebrates all types of leadership and leaders. // // If you undertake the practical activities detailed in this book, you will be taken on a personal journey through your past leadership (sometimes unrealized) and into a much clearer and effective future leadership. I personally would like to thank Branton and Mike for creating this programme as it has given me some wonderful tools to develop my leadership capacity across the school from my senior leadership team to my Foundation Stage class (4 years olds!) // // I would recommend this book to all teachers, middle leaders and especially to senior leaders as it will ensure all of us and our children fulfil our unique potentials. I believe, thanks to our unleashed ‘new leadership’ that will result from working through this book, we can create a world class education system that is unblinkered in terms of intelligences and celebrates and develops the diverse talents of all children and all leaders. //
 * Jon Le Fevre, **** Headteacher **** of **** Netley **** Abbey **** Infant School ****, **** Hampshire **** , **** UK **

// I commend this book to every teacher and educational leader who wants to inspire and motivate their students to better understand their capacity as learners. This is a very readable, accessible and fascinating book that provides the modern day teacher a practical framework to help them equip their students for their lives in the 21st Century. It is highly effective, well-written and will get educational leaders and schools to reflect on what provision they make for their students and whether the curriculum or the way it is taught needs to be redesigned. I found the case studies very useful and interesting. It is not just a book for educational leaders, but could/should have general and wider appeal. I am not sure that the title does this justice! //
 * Richard Chapman, **** Headteacher ****, **** Somerford **** Primary School **** and **** Archbishop **** Wake **** Primary School **

“From the first page I was excited by the focus on MI in relation to extraordinary leadership. I can relate to all the wonderful ideas on leadership and being extraordinary, shared throughout the text. In South Africa, the Dept of Education has listed 7 roles for educators that I focus on in all the educator professional development programmes/modules that I offer. One is the leadership role. I emphasize developing one's intrapersonal leadership and link that to the role of researcher and lifelong learner by means of expecting my students to do action research. Your references to reflection and lifelong learning, among others, are echoed via the US/UK stories as a refrain of principles of action research/learning. Thanks for writing this wonderful MI source. I can't wait to include it in my list of references for all my students in future!” Holistic, I conclude Reflecting on my read Clearly hearing: music between the lines Each line itself: music to my ears A rhythmic feel of MI percussion Yes, yes ….. even an African drum No, no, not only US/UK sounds It is global – everywhere It represents holistic life Learning from others’ real-life stories Sensing the need to become extraordinaire Through nature’s call Neurons’ web in my inner self Passionately energizing where it matters Convincing me in my connectedness: No leader, teacher, parent can be without this essential text Unless wanting to be ordinary …..
 * Dr Pieter H du Toit, Senior lecturer, Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa:**

“The unfortunate truth is that many teachers frame themselves as helpless followers who are buried within bureaucracies that foster mediocrity. The powerful message in Shearer and Fleetham’s work is that with a proper plan and a modicum of effort, these teachers can indeed become extraordinary leaders in our classrooms. I’m pleased that this is not a prescriptive book, but instead is a guide for self-exploration centered around becoming realistically extraordinary. It is doable. The activities contained in the book are clearly presented and expertly woven into the development of an overall personal strategy for becoming an extraordinary teacher. I particularly enjoyed the detailed interviews with real-life extraordinary teachers. Their stories reflect one of the significant benefits of endeavoring to become excellent – joy in teaching - and I strongly recommend the book's exercises in writing one's own story.”
 * Scott Diener, Ph.D., Associate Director, IT Services, Academic and Collaborative Technologies, The University of Auckland,New Zealand:**

"I'm very impressed with the purpose and structure of this great piece of work. It is a very useful MI handbook for teachers who aspired to develop their leadership skills in the global education industry."
 * LUI Hah Wah Elena:**

// I loved the practical and reflective nature of the book.The message which came over strongly to me was that we have to look to ourselves, and know ourselves, value what we do and then appreciate how we can enhance this by being more of what we are rather than having to recreate ourselves into some sort of new vision.This is the really powerful message behind MI which the book endorses - we all can be what we want to be and the exercises in the book gives us some tools for doing this. The case studies were very helpful in showing the theory into practice //
 * Chris **** Neanon ****, Principal Lecturer, School of Education and Continuing Studies, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth UK **

5 addtional reviews from around the world