A Hands-On Manual for Teachers, Parents, and Magicians
Xuxo Ruiz is not just any teacher; he’s also a magician. And guess what? He discovered that blending his two passions made him a bit of a hero for kids and educators everywhere. This delightful concoction of teaching and trickery even landed him a nod for the Global Teacher Prize (not too shabby, eh?).
Now, let’s be honest: the teachers who stick in your memory are usually the ones who turned boring lessons into something resembling fun. I mean, who didn’t enjoy a lesson that felt more like a party? Those teachers knew the secret—grab our attention first, and we’d be itching to learn. Sadly, these days, many kids are about as motivated as a cat in a bath (which is to say, not at all).
When I first started lecturing, I tossed in the odd magic trick here and there. And lo and behold, students were actually paying attention! (Who knew?) This got me thinking—could magic be the golden ticket for teachers? How would the wee ones react? What tricks could be useful for teachers in classrooms and parents at home?
Thus, the idea of Educational Magic was born, and I set about crafting a hands-on approach to spark motivation in students. Over the years, I’ve sprinkled a dash of magic across every educational setting imaginable—from kindergarten to high school, in P.E. to Art, Maths to Science. It wasn’t just about motivation, either; it helped explain concepts, mediate squabbles, and boost self-esteem (and that’s no small feat!).
Fast forward fifteen years of trial, error, and a smattering of applause, and here you are, holding a collection of tricks that have been road-tested with real students in actual classrooms. All that hard work, practice, and a sprinkle of magic is right here. As you flip through these pages, prepare to discover techniques that will not only amaze you but also your students. You’re about to have them on the edge of their seats, thinking, “How did they do that?”
In my experience (and from the feedback of teachers and parents who’ve joined my courses), this stuff really works. I genuinely believe you’re about to tap into a treasure trove of resources that will transform your teaching game.
Foreword Attention, please! There’s nothing here... Nothing there... Nothing anywhere... Nothing up the sleeve... But, what about now? Shazam! Here he is, in the flesh, XUXO! Ta-da! And here I present him to you... One step forward... That’s it.
But who is XUXO?
Xuxo is a teacher. And a magician. A bit of a bigamist, really. He’s got two great loves—magic and teaching—and he’s happily married to both. For years, he’s been juggling these passions, racking up diverse experiences in the classroom and a successful career as a magician. He’s the kind of magician who can conjure joy and banish boredom, leaving young audiences spellbound by the fascinating Art of Magic.
"I've known Xuxo for many years, since the time when he, still very young and eager to learn and enter the world of magic, assisted in magicians' meetings in Cadiz. There were times when I would see him in some of my lectures and seminars for magicians, seated in the first row, eyes wide open, mind at the ready. Since then, we have met in magic conventions and, most often, in my house, in long and fruitful sessions, learning and getting immersed in it, sharpening our tools, "our powers". Soon enough, already on his own, I saw him using these powers with his other love-teaching. The practice of teaching. I emphasize the practical aspect because what Xuxo describes in this precious and extremely useful book is not the result of some theoretical rumination on how magic might help improve the teacher's work. On the contrary, it is the juicy and well-ripened fruit of the continuous application of his knowledge and experience (in the real life of a teacher, with its difficulties and problems) on how to surprise, entertain, astonish and enlighten the young student-spectators with ever-fascinating magic tricks. Attention, please! Xuxo is here... Love of magic there... Love of teaching everywhere... But there's nothing up his sleeve... But what about now? ...Shazam! Here it is, in paper, in black and white... Teaching with Magic. Ta-da! Come and give it a look... Come and give it a read... Magicordially, - Juan Tamariz
"My name is David Kaye. I am a magician for children in New York and one of the more respected children's magician in the magic community. And what a joy it is to see a new magic book like this one. This is not the first book instructing teachers how to use magic in class. But it is the first book written by an unequivocally expert teacher who is also an unequivocally expert magician. Xuxo is the only person who could have written a book like this. Xuxo is an excellent teacher and thus he is also excellent at teaching you how to perform magic. This book is smart, easy to understand, and complete. You will learn a lot here. This topic is very dear to my heart because my father was a high school chemistry teacher for thirty years, who used magic to enhance his classes. And as Xuxo suggested might be the case, he was one of the most popular teachers in the school. One of the benefits of children seeing magic performed in class is that it might inspire them to become interested in learning more about it. So not only will your students thank you for performing magic for them, we magicians will thank you for introducing your students to our art. Treat your kids to magic and you will treat them to a lesson they will never forget. This is a wonderful book with which you will create exciting moments in your classes. Take the advice given here, as it is excellent. Enjoy!" - David Kaye
