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The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers
We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.
In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.
Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here's to the next five years.
In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.
Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here's to the next five years.
144 pages, Paperback
Published May 10, 2022
4 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 9, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The First Five: A lLove Letter To All Teachers is a non-fiction book directed at new teachers within the teaching profession of today. What I loved was this book took an honest approach to teaching and education and highlights some of the things the author himself found difficult as a career. The book highlights obstacles within the teaching profession and the book itself is broken down into digestible chunks. After each chapter there are some questions for reflection for the reader which help them reflect and think about their methods and approach towards teaching. This was a great book that will be great for new teachers to read and reflect on.
The First Five: A lLove Letter To All Teachers is a non-fiction book directed at new teachers within the teaching profession of today. What I loved was this book took an honest approach to teaching and education and highlights some of the things the author himself found difficult as a career. The book highlights obstacles within the teaching profession and the book itself is broken down into digestible chunks. After each chapter there are some questions for reflection for the reader which help them reflect and think about their methods and approach towards teaching. This was a great book that will be great for new teachers to read and reflect on.
January 27, 2023
This book is so great. It's more like a memoir than a "traditional" teacher professional development book, and that's a good thing. Patrick shares beautiful insights about his first five years teaching: his individual successes and challenges, and how these experiences weave into larger conversations about teaching in our world today. I recommend this book for newer and seasoned teachers, and particularly recommend to fellow teacher educators- this would make a fantastic read for undergraduates as they approach graduation and entry into the teaching workforce.
August 2, 2024
When I first picked up this book, it was because I wanted to support my fellow UIUC and Black Chorus alumnus, Dr. Chezare A. Warren. I did not know I would also be finding names of people I am familiar with in my International Education world from ISS, Diversity Collaborative, and AIELOC-Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Cruz and Adrienne M. Waller. I feel even more connected to this book now.
This is an important read.🙏🏻
This is an important read.🙏🏻
July 22, 2022
I’m surely biased towards Patrick, but I’m okay with that! I loved this book. Patrick’s voice is rich, honest, and true to his experience. From the reminders that change is small but “still counts” to the personal anecdotes and encouragement to unpack parts of our own identity with students, I enjoyed every bit. Excited to read about the next five….
May 7, 2023
I read this book for free thanks to Net Galley. I was interested in reading this new teachers perspectives on his first few years teaching in a variety of classrooms. It was a nice shirt read. I wasn't expecting the questions at the end of each chapter which would make for a good discussion tool if I were reading this along with fellow educators.
April 27, 2023
Quite an easy read that raises a lot of important questions for teachers new and old.
May 8, 2024
*First read as a current undergraduate student looking to pursue teaching as a career. Plan to reread in the future once I begin teaching*
Structure of the book:
Each chapter is dedicated to a different story from one of Patrick’s six schools. The author shares not only the lessons learned from it but also the central questions that were raised by it (listed below). The end of each chapter contains a series of questions for educators to think about on their teaching journey.
Stories:
1. Why do I want to teach?
2. What does it mean to teach?
3. What’s the right school for me?
4. How do I teach?
5. How do I bring about change in a school?
6. How do I evaluate myself as a teacher?
7. Who am I as a human and what do I need?
My thoughts:
I don’t remember how I heard about this book, but I’m glad I did; there were many things I thoroughly enjoyed about the book. When it comes to writing style, I love the author’s storytelling. Patrick’s voice is vulnerable, reflective, and intentional. In an educational system that is struggling to serve teachers and students, Patrick calls for a paradigm shift. He asks us to redefine teaching by considering it first and foremost as human work. In recognizing our humanity, we change how teachers and students see one another. We create space for teachers to share their stories and connect with their students through them. Aside from highlighting the importance of teacher stories, he emphasizes teachers checking in with their needs. As teachers, you often want to do what’s best for your students, school, and community. To effectively do so, he argues, you must start by checking in with yourself. Continual reflection - on your needs, values, and direction - enables you to bring your best self to the classroom. Patrick embodies a person who regularly asks himself questions, and I like that he’s drawn to asking the big questions (even if he may not have the answers to them).
Patrick articulates his reflections well throughout the novel. For instance, one of his primary realizations is that things aren’t as black and white as they initially seem. It is not you vs. the administration, change isn’t all or nothing, and you aren’t fully in control of curriculum. He also describes his shifts in perspective: conversations with the administration are key; change is small and occurs over time; you can only do your best and that is good enough. I came away from the book with an admiration for the author’s ability to stand by his values by refusing to do things that aren’t in alignment with who he is.
Quotes I liked:
- “Reflection is the most critical practice of an effective teacher. It is making meaning of your past in order to make change for the future”
- “Embrace the journey”
- “I am just one piece of the larger picture. But still, like you, my story matters”
- “Our stories help us connect with our students”
- “I am not a teacher. I am a human being who teaches”
- “Putting my humanity first allows me to give myself grace when the system won’t”
- “You make decisions or you (to affirm the young kid in your heart), for your students (to affirm them), and for your schools (to create a legacy and inspire change)
- “In some cases, we’re trying so hard to be the teachers we needed that we forget the needs of our students in front of us”
- “Teacher autonomy should lend itself to student autonomy”
- “Adapt to the student rather than having them change for us”
- “It isn’t your classroom. It isn’t their classroom, either. The space that you and your students create together belongs to everyone equally”
- “From starfish, I have learned that if we keep our core intact, we can regenerate. We can fall apart, lose limbs, and re-grow them as long as we don’t let anyone threaten that central disc’s integrity” - Jollillian Zerdling
- “Schools are not solely responsible for helping a person. Schools are a reflection of society”
- “Adults need to have deeper conversations with each other about our beliefs, instead of just worrying about the children”
Structure of the book:
Each chapter is dedicated to a different story from one of Patrick’s six schools. The author shares not only the lessons learned from it but also the central questions that were raised by it (listed below). The end of each chapter contains a series of questions for educators to think about on their teaching journey.
Stories:
1. Why do I want to teach?
2. What does it mean to teach?
3. What’s the right school for me?
4. How do I teach?
5. How do I bring about change in a school?
6. How do I evaluate myself as a teacher?
7. Who am I as a human and what do I need?
My thoughts:
I don’t remember how I heard about this book, but I’m glad I did; there were many things I thoroughly enjoyed about the book. When it comes to writing style, I love the author’s storytelling. Patrick’s voice is vulnerable, reflective, and intentional. In an educational system that is struggling to serve teachers and students, Patrick calls for a paradigm shift. He asks us to redefine teaching by considering it first and foremost as human work. In recognizing our humanity, we change how teachers and students see one another. We create space for teachers to share their stories and connect with their students through them. Aside from highlighting the importance of teacher stories, he emphasizes teachers checking in with their needs. As teachers, you often want to do what’s best for your students, school, and community. To effectively do so, he argues, you must start by checking in with yourself. Continual reflection - on your needs, values, and direction - enables you to bring your best self to the classroom. Patrick embodies a person who regularly asks himself questions, and I like that he’s drawn to asking the big questions (even if he may not have the answers to them).
Patrick articulates his reflections well throughout the novel. For instance, one of his primary realizations is that things aren’t as black and white as they initially seem. It is not you vs. the administration, change isn’t all or nothing, and you aren’t fully in control of curriculum. He also describes his shifts in perspective: conversations with the administration are key; change is small and occurs over time; you can only do your best and that is good enough. I came away from the book with an admiration for the author’s ability to stand by his values by refusing to do things that aren’t in alignment with who he is.
Quotes I liked:
- “Reflection is the most critical practice of an effective teacher. It is making meaning of your past in order to make change for the future”
- “Embrace the journey”
- “I am just one piece of the larger picture. But still, like you, my story matters”
- “Our stories help us connect with our students”
- “I am not a teacher. I am a human being who teaches”
- “Putting my humanity first allows me to give myself grace when the system won’t”
- “You make decisions or you (to affirm the young kid in your heart), for your students (to affirm them), and for your schools (to create a legacy and inspire change)
- “In some cases, we’re trying so hard to be the teachers we needed that we forget the needs of our students in front of us”
- “Teacher autonomy should lend itself to student autonomy”
- “Adapt to the student rather than having them change for us”
- “It isn’t your classroom. It isn’t their classroom, either. The space that you and your students create together belongs to everyone equally”
- “From starfish, I have learned that if we keep our core intact, we can regenerate. We can fall apart, lose limbs, and re-grow them as long as we don’t let anyone threaten that central disc’s integrity” - Jollillian Zerdling
- “Schools are not solely responsible for helping a person. Schools are a reflection of society”
- “Adults need to have deeper conversations with each other about our beliefs, instead of just worrying about the children”
September 23, 2023
Loved it! The reflections on teaching felt real and a great book to look at your own practices.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews