Taking Back the Classroom by Dr. Delaney J. Kirk

This book is developed from a series of workshops on classroom management conducted by Dr. Delaney Kirk over many years. It provides a toolbox filled with proven classroom management techniques that have been used successfully by faculty in all disciplines. Useful for both new and experienced faculty members wondering how to manage today's college students.

Delaney J. Kirk, Ph.D., is a Professor of Management at the University of South Florida with 26 years of teaching experience (learned the hard way sometimes), in both large and small, public and private universities. She has recently conducted teaching workshops at Duke University, Columbia University, University of Washington, University of Nebraska, Graceland University, Drake University, and Metropolitan Community College, in addition to numerous academic conferences. She was the featured expert for the Chronicle of Higher Education?s online chat on classroom management on September 15, 2004, and has earned the prestigious Drake University Board of Governor’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Here's what professors are saying about Taking Back the Classroom:

I learned a lot and found quite a few things I want to incorporate into my classes.
- Professor Nancy Leonard, West Virginia University

Taking Back the Classroom is a must read for all college professors.
- Dr. Geralyn M. Franklin, Dean, University of South Florida-St Petersburg

Dr. Kirk has done a fabulous job putting together a great resource of ideas for teachers like me.
- Dr. Paula Thonney, Brookdale Community College

How does one succinctly and successfully encapsulate effective teaching at the college level? Dr. Kirk appears to have generated the answer to that question and many others in her new book. Full of many useful and applicable tips and tricks, she has cut to the heart of the complexities of today's college classroom. From basic courtesies like punctuality and cell phones to classroom management issues like syllabus writing and late work policies, Dr. Kirk has left few stones unturned in her quest to take back the classroom. I've been teaching for over a decade, and she provided numerous a-ha moments that will become part of my next semester. Excellent! A must read for ANY college professor.
- T.L. Johnson, Visiting Professor of Management, Drake University

Regrettably, graduate school does NOT prepare FUTURE faculty members for what they shall encounter BOTH in the classroom and from Administrators--this fine, well written, concise little book fills just that void. Highly recommended--in matter-of-fact, readable English with numerous examples. One slight quibble-- a few graphic illustrations would certainly help illustrate further some points.
- Dr. Thomas Mullen, Dalton State University

This book has been useful after having been out of academia for six years.
- Professor James W. Doyle

I have been teaching college students for 4 years now and have started encountering the same problems Dr. Kirk has noted in her book.  Her advice is very helpful; experienced professors will find new ideas, and even some good laughs (my favorite is the story of the student who plagiarized one of Kirk's own articles!) The book's greatest value may be to beginning college instructors, who may not have anticipated some of the challenges they will face. I think high-school teachers might benefit from it as well.
- Dr. Christopher Fuhrmann, University of North Texas

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