One year out of college, James Nehring landed "accidentally" in teaching and soon discovered his love for the profession. But he was surrounded by a school system consumed with order, efficiency, rules, and punishment. He wanted to change the system. So began a quest that became a career. Why Teach? Notes and Questions from a Life in Education is a journey inside American education and a story of self-discovery. Why Teach? is the perfect introductory text for an aspiring teacher, a source of reflection for fellow educators, and a compelling insider critique of the system from pre-school to graduate school. In an age dominated by social science, Why Teach? makes the case for a humanistic approach to schooling.
Acknowledgments About the Author Foreword Debbie Meier Introduction Part I: Entry Chapter 1 Ditch of Distinction Time to Move On Holding Kids Hostage Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 2 Teaching and Telling Student Will Be Able To... Real Students Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Part II: Beginner Chapter 3 What Are Kids Like? Losing My Way Finding My Way Back Choosing Who to Become Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 4 Teaching and Coaching Two Boys Three Girls Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 5 A Pleasant Routine How Do You Ask a Question? A Life Raft Appears Pretty Much It Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 6 Mystery and Results Pitching Stories Unmapped Territory Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Part III: Resist Chapter 7 Uppity Teacher Photo Shoot and Phone Jack Copy Room Encounter Hall Duty Debate Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 8 Scheduling Will Not Be a Problem Go Bigger, Not Smaller Ready, Set, Go! Sort of... Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 9 Circuit Test Our Scary Visitor A Reason They Call Us Lab Rats Back to Camp Learning "A Lesson" A Rainbow Appears Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Part IV: Deeper Learning Chapter 10 Born for this Job First Day One Tumbleweed A Day in the Life A Role Model, Please? Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 11 Listening and Reloading The Art of Thinking Together Mediating Collision with Z You Can't Make Me A Culture of "Yeah, but..." Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 12 Six Months Later A Dream Coming True Growing Into Your Own True Self Cafe Wednesday Unnatural Behavior Standardized Children Chew Gum and Don't Stay with the Group Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 13 A Backyard Cookout Bad Review Lifer Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Part V: Evolve Chapter 14 Twenty-Six Again Rookie Six Years Later My New Schooling Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 15 It's Okay to Ask a Question Anguished English Whatever you say, Prof Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 16 Skillful Teaching Being Blunt The Idealist Realist Migrating Online with Video and Audio Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 17 Messing with Peoples' Beliefs Beliefs Fight Back Three Steps Forward Two Steps Back Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 18 Trouble Not on the Test Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Part VI: Big Picture Chapter 19 Beat Goes On School as Contested Space Do the Math Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 20 Corner Bar Endless Fields of Corn Balance? Reflection Questions Suggested Reading Chapter 21 Ladder Up a Wall Ready Enough Anxiety Dream Reflection Questions Suggested Reading
