The Art of Teaching

by Jay Parini

Becoming an effective teacher can be quite painful and exhausting, taking years of trial and error. In The Art of Teaching , writer and critic Jay Parini looks back over his own decades of trials, errors, and triumphs, in an intimate memoir that brims with humor, encouragement, and hard-won wisdom about the teacher's craft.
Here is a godsend for instructors of all levels, offering valuable insight into the many challenges that educators face, from establishing a persona in the classroom, to fostering relationships with students, to balancing teaching load with academic writing and research. Insight abounds. Parini shows, for instance, that there is nothing natural about teaching. The classroom is a form of theater, and the teacher must play various roles. A good teacher may look natural, but that's the product of endless practice. The book also considers such topics as the manner of dress that teachers adopt (and what this says about them as teachers), the delicate question of politics in the classroom, the untapped value of emeritus professors, and the vital importance of a settled, disciplined life for a teacher and a writer. Parini grounds all of this in personal stories of his own career in the academy, tracing his path from unfocused student--a self-confessed "tough nut to crack"--to passionate
writer, scholar, and teacher, one who frankly admits making many mistakes over the years.
Every year, thousands of newly minted college teachers embark on their careers, most with scant training in their chosen profession. The Art of Teaching is a perfect book for these young educators as well as anyone who wants to learn more about this difficult but rewarding profession.

Genres: Teaching, Education, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2004

About the author

Jay Parini (born 1948) is an American writer and academic. He is known for novels and poetry, biography and criticism.

Reviews

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

he's a bit elbow-patchy, hearty-laughy, ready to quote something by yeats for literally every possible occasion. but, there's actually a lot of philosophical substance to this book. be forewarned of subtle sexism in the writing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as a Christmas present from my dad. Might not have bought it because the title is pretty weak. However, it's one of the best books on teaching, on honestly assessing your skills and goals as a teacher and learning to be a great teacher, that I have read. There's solid, inspiring, focused pedagogy here, but well written. He also talks about being a writer and a teacher at the same time, that it can be a dynamic, effective relationship, some of us are more productive when we are doing both. It makes me trust him not only as a teacher, but as a writer. It's a pet peeve when books on writing, are badly written (boring, dry, trying so hard to be academically acceptable but failing elicit any excitement in me as a reader). Parini is engaging and honest and leaves me believing it would be an honor to be in one of his classes.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Parini's book about teaching a lot. In the first section he describes how he became a writer and teacher, including how he failed to be granted tenure in his first teaching job at Dartmouth. He goes on to a very successful career at Middlebury and has also written a ton of books: poetry, novels, and biography, many of which have been very well received. Perhaps because of his rough start as a college teacher, he wrote this book as the guide he wishes he had had. The second section, The Teaching Life, is a description of what it takes to become a good teacher -- including the clothing one wears. Its fun to read even if one does not plan to become an academic. In the third section, The Nitty Gritty, Parini drills down to discuss office hours and how to give a good lecture. Written in 2005, there are a few things Parini might want to leave out if he updates this. In talking about the kind of relationships he likes to have with his students he mentions that they sometimes pick up his kids from school. That wouldn't fly today for sure.

[Mary Blair Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super valuable and direct, enjoyable to read

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know what this book needed? More sensitive, yet noble vampires. There wasn't one of those in here. It was basically what this one guy, Jay Parini, thinks about teaching. And he's not a vampire.

[audrey bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting thoughts from a veteran professor on teaching!

[Kyle Palazzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not even remotely helpful for a middle school teacher.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve become a huge Parini fan in a very short space of time. I’ve loved his Promised Land and the Last Station and Benjamin’s Crossing for instance. This is book isn’t one of his best. It’s even slightly archaic in terms of its perspectives on teaching. Even so, I was fascinated by the anachronisms. As a community college administrator, I realize that his observations aren’t really addressed to me. He is talking about teaching in the context of research. Yet I bought some copies for my colleagues because I thought the book reminds modern educators of many important academic values that have been submerged in the modern, bureaucratic, risk-adverse, “student centered,” assessment and data-driven era. It’s fascinating to remember that instructors were once encouraged to invite students over to their homes. I sometimes remember my own academic history with incredulity. Did I really get drunk on sherry in a graduate seminar? And, if so, was that s good or bad thing? Support your answer with evidence, as they say.

[Fitrianita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice advice.

[Leesgoodfood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a long book, but he covers a lot of ground. It is about the art of teaching; not the mechanics. He talks as a mentor, telling stories, from one experienced professor to a beginner, or less experienced. “Remember that your job is to demonstrate before students the process of thinking….you are trying to provide students with the sensation of thinking as well as the thoughts themselves.” (p.113). Things he discusses fit I well with what I’ve earned about adult learning theories. The only downside is his experience comes before the shift to online classes, and he has taught at schools where the face-to-face lecture, seminars and office hours provide opportunities for Professor-student interaction that I remember fondly (mostly) from my student days, but are scarcer now. He talks about academia, about intellectuals, about the political-ness and ideological perspectives from campuses, and the relation to education. “My teachers challenged me” he says “to reconsider a whole range of notions about the nature of reality that I took for granted.: (p. 152). But he does close with the thought to “Welcome change”. (p. 155)
The book is small, fairly short, not difficult reading, but interesting and thought-provoking. I have never had the desire to be in academia full-time, but I do enjoy teaching. So even thought I have taught college classes off-and-on over the past 20 or so years, I can affirm some of his points from my experience, but I can hear him speaking to me as one not as experienced and still learning. Always learning. I recommend it for anyone even thinking about teaching others. 4 stars only because it is 10 years old, and doesn't include online issues.

[Patrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read about another teacher reflecting on his (her) chosen profession. So that's good. I cannot, however, relate to the many lessons in life and in the classroom that Parini offers after three decades in the classroom. A bit too much about Parini and his favorite old authors (classics no doubt) and way too little about student learning. Actually "The Art of Teaching" is a good title, as the book offers up teaching as a performance, strangely removed from student learning.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not perfect (Parini's ego is very much on display), this book really allowed me to loosen up in the classroom. He discusses the "mask" we wear as educators, and the performance aspect to standing in front of a room of students. I especially like the section on the erotic nature of the teacher/student relationship. He also reminds us that we should we be free to discuss politics in the classroom--in fact it is absolutely necessary. Thank god somebody has the guts to say it.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that were really great, parts that I've already figured out for myself through my own teaching (but which would have been extremely helpful a few years ago), and parts that I didn't like so much. I had expected to get a little more practical advice, but it feels like this book is more of a memoir with some advice thrown in. So if I had gone into the book with that idea in mind, I probably would have enjoyed it even more.

[Rizky S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bahasanya ringan, menyenangkan untuk dibaca sekaligus menginspirasi dan memberi semangat. Sangat cocok dibaca oleh para pengajar muda yang bingung ketika hendak memulai karier sebagai pengajar. Professor Parini sering menyelipkan beberapa kutipan dan potongan cerita pengalaman dari beberapa pengajar favoritnya seperti Frost dan Wittgenstein. di akhir buku Ia menuliskan sebuah epilog yang indah dan menyentuh tentang pengalamannya sebagai seorang pengajar

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middlebury English professor Jay Parini shares his perspective. He makes some nice observations about making sure you're a good fit for your institution, adopting a persona, dressing the part (!), and keeping politics in the classroom (!!). A nice reminder that teaching is, essentially, a relationship with your subject and your students. Provocative and helpful but not earth-shattering.

[M.G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not so much about teaching, but rather about the tensions felt by the author in trying to balance his writing aspirations alongside a teaching commitment. Moreover, any parts that were devoted to teaching were geared towards post-secondary teaching, as opposed to grade school. Sadly, he started off with a great analogy for teaching, and went downhill from there. Pity.

[Ami Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring. Notes on college teaching from a 30-year veteran.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, but not totally applicable to all teachers. He gives great advice and says some very relatable things. Yet he goes on unnecessary tangents sometimes

[Carolina]

Sweet, funny, inspiring.