This thoroughly interesting book rests on the premise that Western and Eastern educational and parenting philosophies have vastly different strengths and weaknesses; therefore, parents on either side of the world can learn from each other...Beyond the Tiger Momis an honest, thought-provoking read! - Holistic Parenting MagazineFrom the Inside FlapAs a mother and a teacher who has lived and worked in both the United States and Asia, Maya Thiagarajan is well-acquainted with the differences between Western and Asian approaches to education and parenting. In this book, she not only interviews Asian parents about their values, hopes, and fears, but also synthesizes an extensive body of educational research. The result is a combination of reflection, story-telling, and practical advice for parents as they strive to raise successful global citizens. Each chapter ends with a "How To" section, offering parents research-backed suggestions to aid their children's development both inside and outside the classroom.About the AuthorMaya Thiagarajan was raised in Chennai India, by her South Indian father and American mother. After high school, Maya left India and moved to the US. She earned a BA in English from Middlebury College and a Masters in Education Policy from Harvard University. Maya started her teaching career at a tough urban public school in Baltimore City and later went on to teach at some of America's most prestigious independent schools. In 2009, Maya moved to Singapore where she now teaches students from around the world at an international school. Over half her students are South Asian or East Asian, deepening her understanding of Asian family values and Asian approaches to education. Maya has two children aged 5 and 8. how can i read books online for free without downloading Beyond the Tiger Mom: East-West Parenting for the Global Age
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A remarkable, thoughtful, timely book that all educators and parents should read!By mtkMaya Thiagarajans book Beyond the Tiger Mom: East-West Parenting for the Global Age should not just be read by parents but by anyone interested in education, especially in improving it, both here in the US and in Asia. Ms. Thiagarajan, who taught in both public and independent schools in the US and presently teaches at an international school in Singapore, is well versed both practically and theoretically in educational theory from around the world. She looks at the positives and negatives of the Western educational system (positives: emphasis on creativity and individuality; weaknesses: insufficiently demanding, too much stroking of a childs self-esteem without its being warranted, too little focus on building fundamental skills) and the Eastern system (positives: fundamentals, especially in math, are fully developed, memorization, practice drills, and a strong work ethic leads to academic success; weaknesses: too much pressure on students to achieve to the highest standards can demoralize those who are less capablethat is, hard work alone cannot always lead to success and leads to students shunning risks, too much rote learning diminishes creativity). What one is left with is that there are strengths that exist in both systems and a blend of these is ideal. What makes this book so special are her suggestions, based on research, of how to help ones child both inside and outside the classroom to be a balanced learner who loves reading, math, language and ideas as well as a balanced individual. She includes brief anecdotes from her own experiences raising her children and being a child in India herself as well as brief comments from parents she has met and interviewed from around the world. These comments and anecdotes reinforce her message. I highly recommend this book as one of the most thoughtful, readable, and exciting books on education I have yet read. I have not just bought this book for myself but also for my two children and their children as well as for the head of a school with a local US and global residential enrollment. I encourage you to do the same!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very informative, seems accurate and is easy to readBy SolnechnayaWhat a book! Highly recommend to any parent... On a personal note - While I am absolutely not an asian, my parenting happened to have the asian flair, while my spouse strongly preferred the western approach. So, naturally, parenting was a tug of war for us. This book gave all the information and vocabulary necessary to enable a mutual understanding, productive conversation and agreed upon course of action when it comes to parenting. This book was a game changer for our family. Many thanks to the author.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. True information gathered first handBy Carolyn WilhelmAs an American teacher in America, I have had a similar experiences with parents and students from Pakistan, China, and India mostly and have learned what was discussed in this book. A blending of the best ideas from East to West would benefit children, education, and society.