The Great Expectations School Audiobook By Dan Brown cover art

The Great Expectations School

A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungle

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The Great Expectations School

By: Dan Brown
Narrated by: Gregory St. John
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At 22, Dan Brown came to the Bronx's P.S. 85 as an eager, fresh-faced teacher. Unbeknownst to him, his assigned class, 4-217, was the designated "dumping ground" for all fourth-grade problem cases, and his students would prove to be more challenging than he could ever anticipate. Intent on being a caring, dedicated teacher but confronted with unruly children, absent parents, and a failing administration, Dan was pushed to the limit time and again: he found himself screaming with rage, punching his fist through a blackboard out of sheer frustration, often just wanting to give up and walk away.

Yet in this seeming chaos, he slowly learned from his own mistakes and discovered an unexpected well of inspiration to discipline and teach and make a difference. The Great Expectations School is the touching journey of Class 4-217 and their teacher, Mr. Brown, but more than that, it is the revealing story of a broken educational system and all those struggling within and fighting against it.

©2007, 2011 Dan Brown (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Professionals & Academics Biographies & Memoirs Education Educators

Editorial reviews

Educators will find much of interest in The Great Expectations School: A Rookie Year in the New Blackboard Jungle, a memoir that tells the story of author Dan Brown’s first year as a fourth-grade teacher, at the age of 22. Brown describes the debilitating problems he encountered with the American education system, and how he found the strength to keep teaching, in the hopes that even within a broken system he might make a difference.

Gregory St. John’s performance is spot-on, and he modulates his voice skillfully, both to underline Brown’s indictment of public education in the United States as well as his genuine optimism that determined people can and do make learning possible for kids, no matter the obstacles.
Insightful Observations • Touching Moments • Humorous Anecdotes • Well-written Memoir • Profound Experiences

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What a great book … so many laugh out loud moments and so many touching moments.

Funny and Tragic

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I’m a teacher so a lot of his experiences in this book really hit home with me.

Not your typical Dan Brown

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If you've lived the life of a teacher you will NEVER regret this read. Hopeful.

Every teacher should read

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Im a retired teacher and can relate to all situations, fears, doubts and successes that are shared in this book. I loved the summation of “caring” being at the heart of good teaching.

Retired teacher has walked in Dan Browns shoes, and then some.

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So much of the book hit home for me as a person who works in the public education system. It has given me more inspiration to keep doing my job to help children reach their fullest potential in spite of the circumstances. Especially now, in the current political nightmare we face as educators.

A real eye opener for people who don't work in the public education system.

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