"D'Amato has the soul of a poet."
-Phyllis Johnson, Tidewater Teacher Magazine

If you have visited Italy or are going soon, you probably know the basics: ordering a coffee will get you an espresso, don't plan to shop between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, and Italians tip about 5 percent compared to our 15 percent. However, if someone tells you to locate the zebra stripes, asks if you want to borrow a phone, or recommends some local cannoli, there's a good chance you'll be caught off guard.

During a seventeen-day escapade in a remote town two hours south of Naples, D'Amato and his students discovered the nuances of Italian society and much more. From being pick-pocketed to realizing there was no drinking age, the teenagers confronted many unanticipated situations.

Whether you are contemplating a vacation in Italy or wondering what happens when a teacher takes students four thousand miles from home, D'Amato's travel journal will serve as an intimate guide to the pain and pleasure of cross-cultural immersion. His captivating accounts are filled with impassioned observations and practical advice that will help readers avoid the potential pitfalls of traveling abroad. Roam Italy will make even jaded world travelers slow down to savor the oft-missed beauty and meaning embedded in seemingly ordinary "everyday" experiences.

"D'Amato has the soul of a poet."
-Phyllis Johnson, Tidewater Teacher Magazine

If you have visited Italy or are going soon, you probably know the basics: ordering a coffee will get you an espresso, don't plan to shop between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, and Italians tip about 5 percent compared to our 15 percent. However, if someone tells you to locate the zebra stripes, asks if you want to borrow a phone, or recommends some local cannoli, there's a good chance you'll be caught off guard.

During a seventeen-day escapade in a remote town two hours south of Naples, D'Amato and his students discovered the nuances of Italian society and much more. From being pick-pocketed to realizing there was no drinking age, the teenagers confronted many unanticipated situations.

Whether you are contemplating a vacation in Italy or wondering what happens when a teacher takes students four thousand miles from home, D'Amato's travel journal will serve as an intimate guide to the pain and pleasure of cross-cultural immersion. His captivating accounts are filled with impassioned observations and practical advice that will help readers avoid the potential pitfalls of traveling abroad. Roam Italy will make even jaded world travelers slow down to savor the oft-missed beauty and meaning embedded in seemingly ordinary "everyday" experiences.

"The Classroom" is an informative guide for teachers of all grade levels that takes an amusing and inspirational look at the effectiveness of yesterday's teaching methods on today's youth.

Author Michael D'Amato, a former Teacher of the Year, has packed "The Classroom" with teaching strategies, classroom management skills, educational quotes, life lessons, brain teasers, team-building activities, and much more. This witty and inspirational book examines such issues as: The fifteen most common mistakes made by teachers todayHow to increase communication with families by one hundred percent in less than five minutesThe one thing people fear more than death

Whether you are a beginning teacher looking for an edge, or a veteran teacher needing rejuvenation, "The Classroom" will teach you how to effectively encourage and motivate today's students.