Keeping the Light in Your Eyes: A Guide to Helping Teachers Discover, Remember, Relive, and Rediscover the Joy of Teaching [Hardcover]

Beth Hurst (Author), Ginny Reding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999 | ISBN-10: 1890871052 | ISBN-13: 978-1890871055

The authors of this inspirational new book were on a mission. While much has been written about teacher burnout and the day-to-day problems teachers face, little has been written about how teachers who deal with these problems overcome them, and continue to enter the classroom each morning with enthusiasm for their calling. To discover such teachers, the authors interviewed over 70 teachers in communities across the country to find teachers who, in a profession characterized by pressure, stress, and little reward, still find teaching an enjoyable, fulfilling career. The book includes over 150 teacher narratives of their real-life classroom experiences. The narratives provide unique insights into creating a teaching mission, setting up a community of learners, discovering the rewards of diversity, balancing personal and professional time, turning mistakes into excellence, using laughter to create rapport with students, and using discipline to create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation in the classroom. From these inspirational stories emerges a vision of the joys and rewards of working with children and a portrait of the teachers who have made a difference in the lives of their students and a contribution to their community. The quotes, stories, and advice written in the teachers' own words are interwoven with practical suggestions for ideas to make the classroom an inspirational environment for students and teachers alike.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

If you are not a teacher yourself, this wonderful resource for teachers would make a terrific, inspirational gift for your child's teacher.

About the Author

Beth Hurst is an assistant professor in the College of Education at Southwest Missouri State University where she inspires new generations of teachers to create joyful learning experiences for their students. She has also authored numerous articles and gives presentations to show teachers how to maintain their enthusiasm in the classroom. Ginny Reding of Pleasant Hope Middle School, has been a classroom teacher for nearly twenty-one years and has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. In addition, she authored a weekly column, Reflections from the Heart, for an Oklahoma newspaper. This column encouraged readers to reflect on the joys and overcome the adversities of everyday life.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 151 pages
• Publisher: Holcomb Hathaway Pubs (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890871052
• ISBN-13: 978-1890871055
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,583,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need a faculty book talk? HERE IT IS!!, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping the Light in Your Eyes: A Guide to Helping Teachers Discover, Remember, Relive, and Rediscover the Joy of Teaching (Hardcover)

I bought copies of this book for our elementary staff for a book talk, and the teachers rated it the best ever!! Every theme, every anticdote that Beth and Ginny share strikes a cord with teachers, new and old. The stories they share, the quotes they provide, the entire book is a wealth of reminders of why teachers chose their vocation! Another BIG plus are the activities they suggest at the end of each section. Good common sense ideas that "light the bulb" in even the most veteran teachers. These gals know about teaching, and have given a wonderful window into the profession.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift for teachers!, March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping the Light in Your Eyes: A Guide to Helping Teachers Discover, Remember, Relive, and Rediscover the Joy of Teaching (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for the teachers at my son's school as a teacher appreciation gift from the PTA. They loved it! The librarian cataloged it in the school library. The principal even used excerpts from the book for his weekly teacher newsletter. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Opened Up My Eyes and My Heart, July 28, 2001

By 

Wendy Timmons (Waveland, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keeping the Light in Your Eyes: A Guide to Helping Teachers Discover, Remember, Relive, and Rediscover the Joy of Teaching (Hardcover)

When I saw the book on the island in the kitchen, I knew that it was intended for me. Never mind that it had David's name on it; I was going to read this book. Besides the name of the book and the names of the authors, the cover also stated that the book was designed to help teachers discover and recover the joy of teaching. That was something I needed to do. Believe me, the book lives up to everything that is printed on the cover, and much more. This is not the typical teacher resource book. This book speaks to the soul of the veteran teacher. It helps one dig deeply and find the glowing embers that sparked the journey to become teacher. There is also something for the preservice teacher. At the end of each chapter, the reader will find suggestions that will help him/her incorporate things from the chapter into his/hers teaching life. There is also a list of ideas just for the pre-service teacher. So, go ahead and get this book and find yourself again. Hats off to Beth and Ginny. This book is a job well done!