Why didn't I know about this book in 2006 when I started teaching? One complaint I have with many professional books on education is that they are mostly theory with very little information that can be brought directly into the classroom. I cannot make that complaint about Jim Burke's The English Teacher's Companion. He writes in a conversational tone, and I found myself relating to his comments and experiences from the very first chapter when he writes, "It's August when the dreams begin again, each one signaling summer's end and school's beginning." He also refers to summer notes he's made as "hopeful notes of someone who believes that this year I will do it better, get it right." When I read this, I thought "he understands me and how difficult our job can be!" Instant credibility.
After scanning the remainder of the book, I discovered that Burke includes not only advice to new and veteran English teachers, but case studies in which he shows and explain exactly how that advice can be implemented, complete with student artifacts as evidence. I think this book will definitely be exactly what it claims to be: a companion for English teachers.
1.20.2013
New Semester, New Challenges, New Content
This semester, I am taking two additional courses, both of which will fuel the content of my posts over the next few months. While my previous posts were dedicated mostly to young adult literature, posts over the next few months will be about methods of teaching secondary language arts, including posts about professional books and articles I will be reading.
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