What Keeps Teachers Going?

by Sonia Nieto

What helps great public school teachers persevere--in spite of everything? Sonia Nieto, a renowned teacher educator, takes a close look at what can be learned from veteran teachers who not only continue to teach but also manage to remain enthusiastic about it. This inspirational volume provides much-needed advice on how some urban teachers are solving the everyday challenges of student learning. Nieto collaborates with experienced teachers in urban schools who are especially effective working with students of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds--students who are among the most marginalized in our public schools. Offering an alternative vision of what's important in teaching and learning, Nieto concludes with an urgent call to advance new national priorities for public education.

Teaching as Evolution Teaching as Autobiography Teaching as Love Teaching as Hope and Possibility Teaching as Anger and Desperation Teaching as Intellectual Work Teaching as Democratic Practice Teaching as Shaping Futures Final Thoughts: What Keeps Teachers Going in Spite of Everything?

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Sonia Nieto is Professor Emerita of Language, Literacy and Culture at the College of Education, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot get myself to finish this book! I'm seventy five pages in and do not like it enough to continue right now. Maybe I will try it again. But, I just find it boooooring.

[CMT-Michigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot. Sonia worked with several teachers for a year to find out what teachers going in spite of all the stressors of the job. In addition to the book, I was watching a DVD of a conference she gave with some teachers where they discussed these issues, so it was really interesting overall.

[Terynce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read and well timed with the back to school press happening. We're not teaching subjects, we're teaching people and whatever we can do to reach students and support other teachers along the way makes things better for everyone. Just as we want to be valued and respected our students must feel valued and respected. Reading this helped me recharge my batteries -- just a little bit.

[Terynce Teaches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read and well timed with the back to school press happening. We're not teaching subjects, we're teaching people and whatever we can do to reach students and support other teachers along the way makes things better for everyone. Just as we want to be valued and respected our students must feel valued and respected. Reading this helped me recharge my batteries -- just a little bit.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book for parents to read to really get in the world of people who spend more time with their kids than they do.
Also very important for teachers and or future teachers to give some clue as to the pitfalls,as well as the breakthroughs available.

[Jill Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting perspectives shared