 |
For many children, teachers are figures in their lives who they see and spend time with on par with their own families. The impact that teachers have on the development of the children who become their students is immeasurable, and so it is important that the members of this profession come to work every day with inspiration and enthusiasm in the face of what can be truly difficult challenges. This book includes several personal anecdotes, memories, and methods for success collected by the author over her career as a teacher with the intent of helping other teachers make each day of class exciting and engaging. Dealing with the unique requirements each student brings to school, difficult parents, burnout, and administration can be overwhelming for any teacher, but by sticking together and reminding themselves of why they teach, they can find joy in every lesson.
The book is divided into the various months of the school year, starting in August and September and continuing through May. Each month contains a group of ideas and stories that dovetail with school events, seasons, and holidays, fitting the chosen theme. Both aspiring educators and seasoned teachers alike can find an ally’s voice in this book, warning and preparing them for pitfalls while also sharing the moments that make the job truly worthwhile. Parents of school-age children as well can get a deeper appreciation for all of the work and planning that goes into their child’s education by hearing it directly from someone with decades of experience. The importance of those who teach cannot be overstated, and this book gives plenty of firsthand reasons why the teachers of every community should be celebrated and honored for the work they do in molding future generations.
The way that each chapter is organized into each of the months of the school year lets the reader reminisce and remember their own time in school and which projects proved special to them. Sometimes, the schoolroom setting or the memories of lesson planning are replaced with the author’s stories about raising her own family, which serve an important role in reminding readers that teachers have their own lives to live outside of the classroom. While there is an emphasis on the things that need to be taught to children, the precocious banter and unexpected wisdom of young students take a starring role, showing the importance of listening and connecting with students rather than just thinking of them as needing to simply memorize lessons and perform well on tests.
Every chapter also concludes with a Bible verse that ties into the preceding topic and sends the moral or lesson home more clearly, as well as a “homework assignment” that can help to keep the reader grounded in the moment or inspire them to incorporate something into their own curriculum. Even for non-teachers, these assignments can be something that parents can do with their children to help out at home, doing their best to supplement their education and take an active role in it. The author isn’t afraid to show both the ups and downs of teaching, but in true practiced fashion, eases the audience into harder topics and stays alongside them, sharing in their frustrations before helping them work through them. This is an uplifting and useful text that any teacher can lean on for support no matter what gets put in front of them. It shows that a teacher’s job extends far beyond the actual school building and even beyond the children that comprise their classroom.