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A Teaching Handbook for Wiccans and Pagans: Practical Guidance for Sharing Your Path
As the Pagan and Wiccan communities grow, so does the need for teachers, mentors, and role models. For those who want to share their knowledge, teaching can be a very empowering and spiritual experience. But practicing the Craft and teaching it are two very different things. In this timely guide, popular Wiccan author and teacher Thea Sabin presents clear techniques for creating a curriculum, including sample syllabi. She also provides instruction and guidance on crucial aspects of becoming an effective and inspiring teacher of Wicca and Paganism. You will also find interviews and advice from several respected Pagan teachers, such as Patrick McCollum, Holli Emore of Cherry Hill Seminary, Christopher Penczak, and T. Thorn Coyle.
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 30, 2012
I often hear a book described as "one I wish I'd had back when I was..." I've even had that said about my own work a few times. In this case, it's a really apt statement. I wish I'd had Thea Sabin's teaching manual when I was a young Wiccan teacher.
This book is as far as I know the first of its kind, and I'm happy to see it. I taught off and on for ten years, and while I never became a pro at it, I learned a lot--and much of what I learned that proved helpful is in this book. I checked the Handbook out from the library purely out of curiosity and was genuinely impressed.
Sabin covers a lot of ground; there's no way to go in depth in all the subjects, but what's really great about this book is that it offers you a place to start. When I was designing my first courses I had no idea how to organize my subjects, how to structure a class; I only had the classes I'd been to to go on, and since a lot of those were taught by crazy people, I felt like I was kind of making it up as I went along. That education was valuable, and I learned quickly what worked and what didn't, but I think a newer teacher getting her feet wet would benefit hugely from this book. It doesn't tell you what to do, it gives you several approaches to much of the subject, and shows the benefits and detriments of each.
Sabin discusses how to find students and screen them - and how that's different whether you're holding class in your home or giving a public presentation. She goes into the cost of teaching as well as the age-old debate about charging for teaching, and while she's not a die hard either way she offers thought-provoking reasons toward both directions and lets the reader make up her own mind. Sabin then breaks down a single class into its components, shows you how to construct them, and then how to present the material including using media like DVDs and handouts as well as helpful lecture hints.
Her chapters on what to do when the psychos come out of the woodwork would have been especially good for me back in the day, but there is also good information about teaching online, and then a VERY important section on self-care for teachers to help them avoid burnout.
I found this book actually made me want to teach again - I probably won't, since I'm not in that place anymore and what I would teach now would be very different from the average Wiccan/Pagan curriculum, but after several years of avoiding the subject entirely Sabin's book brought me back to that place in my mind, and I have to say, that's the mark of a job well done.
This book is as far as I know the first of its kind, and I'm happy to see it. I taught off and on for ten years, and while I never became a pro at it, I learned a lot--and much of what I learned that proved helpful is in this book. I checked the Handbook out from the library purely out of curiosity and was genuinely impressed.
Sabin covers a lot of ground; there's no way to go in depth in all the subjects, but what's really great about this book is that it offers you a place to start. When I was designing my first courses I had no idea how to organize my subjects, how to structure a class; I only had the classes I'd been to to go on, and since a lot of those were taught by crazy people, I felt like I was kind of making it up as I went along. That education was valuable, and I learned quickly what worked and what didn't, but I think a newer teacher getting her feet wet would benefit hugely from this book. It doesn't tell you what to do, it gives you several approaches to much of the subject, and shows the benefits and detriments of each.
Sabin discusses how to find students and screen them - and how that's different whether you're holding class in your home or giving a public presentation. She goes into the cost of teaching as well as the age-old debate about charging for teaching, and while she's not a die hard either way she offers thought-provoking reasons toward both directions and lets the reader make up her own mind. Sabin then breaks down a single class into its components, shows you how to construct them, and then how to present the material including using media like DVDs and handouts as well as helpful lecture hints.
Her chapters on what to do when the psychos come out of the woodwork would have been especially good for me back in the day, but there is also good information about teaching online, and then a VERY important section on self-care for teachers to help them avoid burnout.
I found this book actually made me want to teach again - I probably won't, since I'm not in that place anymore and what I would teach now would be very different from the average Wiccan/Pagan curriculum, but after several years of avoiding the subject entirely Sabin's book brought me back to that place in my mind, and I have to say, that's the mark of a job well done.
May 2, 2012
I liked this book. It was well researched, very well written and laid out in a way that made it easy for the reader to go back and forth as they needed to. Thea made creating a syllabus easy for those who aren't trained as teachers. There were enough stories from new and old pagan teachers that highlighted each point, I particularly liked reading Chris Penzack's quotes, he was very funny.
Even though I may not wish to become a teacher, I believe this book will make it easier for those who choose this path. Thea made you look deep within for not just what you wished to impart to your students but what you wished they would learn ( which yes, it's very different). The author pushed the reader to truly examine why they wished to teach, what were the true goals of becoming a teacher. She even tackled the sticky subject of charging or not charging for teaching. She imparted much information about how to control your class, control your message and control your image.
See the full review on my blog
Even though I may not wish to become a teacher, I believe this book will make it easier for those who choose this path. Thea made you look deep within for not just what you wished to impart to your students but what you wished they would learn ( which yes, it's very different). The author pushed the reader to truly examine why they wished to teach, what were the true goals of becoming a teacher. She even tackled the sticky subject of charging or not charging for teaching. She imparted much information about how to control your class, control your message and control your image.
See the full review on my blog
December 15, 2022
First, I think this book needed to have a bigger emphasis with the description and/or title of the book that it is an interview. Nearly every concept the author had to back up her claims with random bits from interviews with other teachers. Constantly! I’ve seen it done better in other books where multiple people collaborated on a work and this just felt like the author had little confidence in the work she was writing.
Secondly, it is extremely obvious the author has a bias for what style of teaching should be done. This book is only useful for in person, short term learning (within 6 months or less). It also assumes you will have a group, not a handful of students which isn’t realistic. The chapter for online teaching was pointless. It’s outdated, and was likely outdated when published. The author treats online community as if it’s still 2006. Of course, websites have changed and are mostly defunct now. Her attitude can be summed up with this quote:
“I suppose you could haul your laptop outside and take a pagan course (as long as you could get wifi) but it just doesn’t quite seem right to me.”
The information might be useful if you plan on doing one off classes at the local witch shop. If you are looking for a book on teaching your tradition to others, keep looking.
Secondly, it is extremely obvious the author has a bias for what style of teaching should be done. This book is only useful for in person, short term learning (within 6 months or less). It also assumes you will have a group, not a handful of students which isn’t realistic. The chapter for online teaching was pointless. It’s outdated, and was likely outdated when published. The author treats online community as if it’s still 2006. Of course, websites have changed and are mostly defunct now. Her attitude can be summed up with this quote:
“I suppose you could haul your laptop outside and take a pagan course (as long as you could get wifi) but it just doesn’t quite seem right to me.”
The information might be useful if you plan on doing one off classes at the local witch shop. If you are looking for a book on teaching your tradition to others, keep looking.
August 22, 2016
As a teacher and instructional designer, I am already well equipped to provide educational experiences and facilitate learning. This book is a fine book. It really is, but it did not meet my particular reading needs. What I mean is, I was looking for practice guidance for specific pedagogical strategies of teaching paganism (really, for a self-directed path), and instead found specific guidance for teaching. It is more of a teaching primer than a pagan-teaching book. The most useful sections were those at the end that (finally) focused on pagan-derived lessons rather than pedagogy and learning theory. This book would likely be very useful to someone who has never taught or doesn't understand teaching, though (and I can see how some Pagan-pathworkers would be just that). This book just wasn't for me.
June 7, 2012
This is one of the best books I've ever read regarding Pagan leadership...ever.
There's not much more to say than that. As I was reading this book, the #1 thought that kept coming to mind was "gee, I thought that only happened to me!". It was wonderful to read about all the thinsg that have come up for me since I began teaching seriously a couple years ago and how teachers deal with them. Im so lucky to have read this somewhat early on in my teaching practice. This would have been needed even 20 years ago I'm sure, so I'm glad its around now.
Even if you only ever plan to teach casually to one person, get this book anyways. Its worth it!
There's not much more to say than that. As I was reading this book, the #1 thought that kept coming to mind was "gee, I thought that only happened to me!". It was wonderful to read about all the thinsg that have come up for me since I began teaching seriously a couple years ago and how teachers deal with them. Im so lucky to have read this somewhat early on in my teaching practice. This would have been needed even 20 years ago I'm sure, so I'm glad its around now.
Even if you only ever plan to teach casually to one person, get this book anyways. Its worth it!
July 12, 2013
I had great timing for reading this book, because it was right before I started an outer court for seekers of Wicca. This book provided a broad overview of all of the nitty-gritty details, helping me think long-term with my plans and not miss any important practical business. This book would be especially vital to anyone who hasn't yet taken on the role of teacher in any sort of formal context.
July 16, 2012
If not for the Wiccan/Pagans stuff, this could be agreat book for theacher!
Se non fosse per tutti gli argomenti che ruotano intorno ai Wiccan/Pagans, sarebbe un ottimo libro per chi decide di insegnare.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND LLWELLYN WORLDWIDE
Se non fosse per tutti gli argomenti che ruotano intorno ai Wiccan/Pagans, sarebbe un ottimo libro per chi decide di insegnare.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND LLWELLYN WORLDWIDE
June 25, 2013
A great book. Extensive details that are organized and placed together in a way to maximusr your teaching efforts. I recomend this book to any attempting to aid other as well as your own personal growth.
February 9, 2013
Very helpful!! My teaching adults skills are improved!!
June 2, 2015
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Informative, demonstrative, and engaging!
May 24, 2013
review soon at thefaeryromanticlibrarian.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews