Introduction
nature of the problem teachers are encountering, demonstrate the problem’s impact on teacher relationships, and explain why it is important to address. Each of these chapters includes multiple Notice the Wave prompts that invite the reader to pause for a moment and consider a particular issue in light of the information that I’ve presented. While the first chapter of each part might seem overwhelming, with its enumeration and discussion of challenges, negative statistics, and various hurdles, readers should continue on, as the second chapter of each part will uplift, inspire, and comfort. That is, the second chapter is devoted to finding practical solutions to the problems that I’ve outlined; it offers detailed, research-based suggestions that can improve classroom teachers’ chances of thriving amid change and finding or rediscovering meaning and purpose in their careers. This is where the book will lay out actionable guidelines for teachers, and each strategy will feature a Ride the Wave prompt that asks readers to tangibly articulate and record their thoughts and plans for the next steps through checklists, tables, graphic organizers, and written responses. Note that strategies and Ride the Wave action pieces are designed to be intensely practical to those who are actively using this text to help address the problems associated with constant change. However, while each strategy or Ride the Wave is intended to facilitate practical assistance, it is not necessary for readers to engage each prompt in order to maximize the utility of the overall text. Teachers are free as classroom practitioners to pinpoint which problems, strategies, and action pieces are relevant to their specific troubles. In other words, each piece serves a purpose independently of the others. While I believe in the efficacy of the designed activities, they are not collectively more useful than when done on a one-by-one basis. Finally, each chapter in the book will have a brief summary section that, for each why chapter, sums up the challenges or, for each how chapter, reminds us just what we can achieve now that we’re armed with this knowledge and versed in the personal and collaborative fixes.
Recapturing the Magic This book is a labor of love written by a teacher in the middle of his career. Twenty years in the classroom affords a unique perspective as it situates a teacher in a position as neither a novice nor a veteran on the cusp of retirement. On one hand, the beginning of my teaching career feels like forever ago. When I walked into my very first class, Bill Clinton was president, the 9/11 attacks were still three years from occurring, and Facebook and the iPhone did not exist. On the other hand, retirement and the
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