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As promised, we are continuing to share some of our participants’ key takeaways from our summer faculty book groups.
The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life by Parker Palmer:
- Placing the subject and passion for the subject at the center of the classroom is more effective than the “two poles” approach of a teacher-centered or student-centered classroom.
- Being vulnerable with students leads to greater human connection. It can be a positive thing to integrate the deepest parts of who you are with your teaching practice and philosophy.
- Reading a book from someone whose ideological viewpoints clashed with some faculty in the group and resonated more with others was a good model for the type of texts students encounter in our classrooms. “We had discussions where we agreed, disagreed, and pulled out the best of the book’s arguments.”
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King:
- The importance of a disciplined writing routine: writing everyday is a tried and true habit to cultivate, and good writing hygiene (like good sleep hygiene) takes commitment.
- Pushing through the hard and boring parts of writing, rather than leaving them alone for a time, is often a necessary part of the process.
- Reading physical books is a cheat code to avoid the onslaught of advertisements and notifications that constantly prey on your attention when you use electronics.
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