Teaching with Heart: Poetry that Speaks to the Courage to Teach
edited by Sam M. Intrator and Megan Scribner
Jossey-Bass, 2014
review copy is my own, and will live on my shelf at school, ready to offer words of wisdom when I am in need
I have loved the first volume this duo edited, Teaching with Fire: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Teach
for 10 years. The poems and accompanying essays have buoyed me up and carried me forward.This new volume already has five poems sticky-noted for sharing, and dozens of others that made me nod and smile. In times when we have to keep stuff like this in mind, it is good to have a place to go where our profession is valued, understood, and truly celebrated. This is a book I will turn to and thumb through many times throughout the school year, in good times and when I'm worn down and worn out.
Plus, how much fun is it to find my Poetry Month pal, Kevin Hodgson (Kevin's Meandering Mind, @dogtrax), right there on pages 18-20 in the section "Relentless Optimism" sharing "What Teachers Make" by Taylor Mali (who wrote the introduction to the book)?!?!
In his introduction, Mali writes about still getting a feeling of "imminence" every fall, even though it's been since 2000 that teaching was his day job. He continues,
"For years I couldn't figure out why as a poet I still felt this way. But it makes perfect sense. Because on a very basic level, being a poet and being a teacher are inextricably linked. Whether teaching or writing, what I really am doing is shepherding revelation. I am the midwife to epiphany."Today is our first day day with students. Nothing could be better than approaching this day as "the midwife to epiphany."
Another one I want! A LOT! I love the idea of being a midwife to epiphany! Have a terrific first day! And YEAR! May lots of big truth and a love of learning be birthed in your classroom!
ReplyDeleteI love the first one, too, can't wait to see this one, Mary Lee. Thanks for telling a little about it. Hope your day was good! Our staff 'day' retreat was today. Kids come in a week!
ReplyDeleteDid you ever attend a Courage to Teach program? We had a class which included eight retreats over two years (one per season). It was amazing.
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