quit your teaching career. Become a "writer". Tell other teachers how to teach. When all is said and done think "Wow, that was an eventful 3 years".
I am a little tired of hearing about teachers who teach for a short period of time (We're talking 2 or 3 years), quit their jobs, then write a book about how great they were. These books are then used as "textbooks" for Graduate programs in education. Maybe this is more a reflection of grad schools for their poor choice of required readings, than the teacher in question.
Regardless, I am all about a teacher book, a teacher blog, a teacher website. I am also ready, willing, and able to collaborate like the best of them. However, I have NO interest in hearing what you have to say once you're an outsider. I just don't feel that someone who taught for two years has any business schooling me on my career.
Yes, you read correctly.
I said career, not temp position.
Don't get me wrong, I love to hear from experienced retired teachers, that's fantastic and always welcome. I also enjoy conversations with new teachers as they have lots of fresh and exciting ideas and tons of enthusiasm. I've also learned plenty during what I'd like to call "what not to do" conversations with the not-so-hot hot-shot teachers at my school. I'm just a little frustrated that "the experts in the field" have decided to use their self-diagnosed "talent" and "skill" to teach adults how to teach rather than children.
Two books on the required list for my grad program were written by teachers described above. One is The Freedom Writers Diary the well-known book that is now a major motion picture, and the other Educating Esme.
Both of the ladies who wrote the books linked above taught for 2-3 years. I read both of these books, and enjoyed them! Don't get me wrong, I love me a teacher or student narrative. It was just soooo disappointing to reach the end, eager to find out the good they are doing in public schools, only to find out that they left the classroom years ago, shortly after entering it.
Maybe a teacher who doesn't quite make it in the classroom is a more entertaining read than one who is still there.
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5 comments:
On that same note, I'm tired of administrators who come in and boss the teachers around when they themselves have 2 years or less of teaching experience and NO DEGREE IN EDUCATION!!! It's amazing the lack of credentials one can have in the NYC system and be a principal... and just like those authors, they only last 2-3 years in that capacity.
I've read both of those books and enjoyed them, but I take them more as inspirational stories than as references for how to be a good teacher.
That being said, this is my 5th year in the classroom, so maybe it's time for me to write a book and quit. *Wink*
P.S. Completely unrelated, but my word verification text reads "nonsingl" - I find this funny because, being married, I am definitely of the "nonsingl" variety!
Agreed! I think it is so important to still be enmeshed in the classroom in order to teach others! I love to read books by Lucy Calkins and veterans like that who have YEARS of experience to draw upon. True teachers can never bring themselves to leave the classroom regardless of how many books they have read!
Blogger definitely needs a "Like" button!
So true!
I call them the Silverscreen Superteachers, because they have this gigantic ego, go out and save the world and then write to tell about it. They are imperialists of the worst sort. I think Dante has reserved a place for them in his inferno.
I don't find the stories inpsirational as much as sappy and insipid. I'm more inspired by humility, authenticity and reality. Show me a humble teacher book and I'll buy it.
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