The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter

By Vivian Gussin Paley

Book Overview

How does a teacher begin to appreciate and tap the rich creative resources of the fantasy world of children? What social functions do story playing and storytelling serve in the preschool classroom? And how can the child who is trapped in private fantasies be brought into the richly imaginative social play that surrounds him? The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter focuses on the challenge posed by the isolated child to teachers and classmates alike in the unique community of the classroom. It is the dramatic story of Jason--the loner and outsider--and of his ultimate triumph and homecoming into the society of his classmates. As we follow Jason's struggle, we see that the classroom is indeed the crucible within which the young discover themselves and learn to confront new problems in their daily experience. Vivian Paley recreates the stage upon which children emerge as natural and ingenious storytellers. She supplements these real-life vignettes with brilliant insights into the teaching process, offering detailed discussions about control, authority, and the misuse of punishment in the preschool classroom. She shows a more effective and natural dynamic of limit-setting that emerges in the control children exert over their own fantasies. And here for the first time the author introduces a triumvirate of teachers (Paley herself and two apprentices) who reflect on the meaning of events unfolding before them.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674080319
• ISBN13: 9780674080317
• Release Date: September 1991
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Textbook

I received the book in a timely manner and I knew the book would be a good read. I've read three other books by the same author and she's fabulous. I was not disappointed with this book either. Thank you to the seller for having it on hand.

Master Teacher

I believe the story relayed in this book is truly what the concept of 'no child left behind' could mean with a teacher and wisdom that honors each child for who he/she is, and meets them where they are to invite them into a larger "education". If more of our young children with different abilities could be allowed to live into their stories we might evoke happier endings for them. Vivian Paley;s insight, wisdom and ability to educe young stories has deeply inspired the foundation of my teaching.

The Boy Who Would Be a Helicopter

This book helps teachers to see how important play is, as well as how we each have a voice to tell stories. Children have a great imagination and this book helps to see a glimpse of it.

I have a question

Love her story-telling and its relationship to teaching - I use it in my ESL classes. Is Vivian related to the short story writer - Grace Paley?

An absolute must read for anyone who loves young children!

This book reaffirmed my faith in the education of young children. I had no idea there were teachers like Ms. Paley.Ms. Paley paints a portrait of a kindergarten classroom where each child is valued for his or her own unique self. Her students are story tellers and thus are "not slow or fast" but evolve at their own speed. Paley shares her own learning through the telling of this wonderful year in her classroom. I will make it required reading for all of my child care staff.