Notes from a Classroom: Reflections on Teaching [Hardcover]

Kay McSpadden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1580871313 | ISBN-13: 978-1580871310 | Publication Date: November 11, 2007

Kay McSpadden's classroom in rural York, South Carolina is windowless, water-stained, gray - and the scene of something amazing. Inside, slackers stay late to wrestle with Socrates. A teenage mother discovers Shakespeare. And a shy special ed student wins applause for powerful public speaking.

In Notes from a Classroom, McSpadden introduces her unforgettable students. She chronicles their encounters with literature. And she shares what she's learned in 30 years of trial (and error!) in the classroom: How to turn teen diffidence, bravado and apathy into a lifelong passion for learning.

Published originally in the Charlotte Observer or delivered as radio addresses for Charlotte's NPR affiliate, the 72 essays collected in Notes from a Classroom offer a wealth of wisdom for teachers, parents and anyone who works with teens. An epilogue, "Socrates Eats School Lunch," chronicles the joys and challenges of teaching students to think critically. And a special bonus section, "Books for the Examined Life," offers readers a chance to confront the great literary questions - and invites them to come up with answers of their own.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest in a recent spat of from-the-trenches teacher memoirs, this one is notable for McSpadden's clear-eyed understanding of teenagers, and her compassion for the underprivileged students she works with everyday. A collection of McSpadden's biweekly columns in The Charlotte Observer, these 70-some pieces share a knack for the well-observed detail, be it the "sadness" of a young man reciting a Sara Teasdale poem that quiets a "class of wriggly sophomores," or the startling significance of a student's note, placed among a student exhibit of photos they took of their homes, reading "We don't got a camera. Sorry." Though it suffers when McSpadden's attention turns away from her classroom to other, more sentimental topics, and the brevity of unexpanded newspaper columns can wear thin when reading straight through, most of these snappy lessons feature plenty of hard-earned wisdom, gentle humor and memorable student portraits.
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Review

"...journal entries from a teacher...who brings out the best in her students by giving them the best of herself." -- Knoxville News Sentinel, November 25, 2007

"McSpadden's reminiscences about the rewards and challenges of her work should provide insight to students considering a career in education." -- School Library Journal, November 1, 2007

"The latest in a recent spate of from-the-trenches teacher memoirs, this one is notable for McSpadden's clear-eyed understanding of teenagers..." -- Publishers Weekly, December 12, 2007

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 317 pages
• Publisher: C. D. Stampley Enterprises (November 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580871313
• ISBN-13: 978-1580871310
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,392,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been teaching for 30 years, and I still love going to work every day--usually! Since 1981 I have been at a high-poverty high school in rural South Carolina teaching students of all ability levels, from inclusion special education students to Advanced Placement seniors. I also teach creative writing and public speaking, two diverse classes which put together all types of students who might never be in the same classes during the rest of their school year.

Notes from a Classroom is a collection of essays about my students. I hope you find them helpful!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "What a treasure Kay McSpadden has given us", December 6, 2007

By 

Richard Rotondi "Stampley" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes from a Classroom: Reflections on Teaching (Hardcover)

Full disclosure: I am the editor of "Notes from a Classroom," so if I think it a treasure (and I do) that is no surprise.

But the words above are not mine. They are poet Nikki Giovanni's -- part of a beautiful tribute she wrote to Kay McSpadden and to teachers generally after seeing an early copy of "Notes" (the full text is reprinted in "Notes" and is also available online).

Readers in Charlotte, NC have long known Kay McSpadden to be a treasure. "Notes" is a collection of McSpadden's popular columns from the Charlotte Observer, where she writes about teaching high school English in a high poverty school. McSpadden doesn't flinch from reporting her challenges in the classroom, her disappointments -- even mistakes. But again and again, she shows us students transformed through Socratic discussion and through their encounters with literature.

Whether you are an educator, parent, or anyone who cares about life and learning, these stories will send chills down your spine. And if you have a classroom of your own, you'll especially want to peek over McSpadden's shoulder as she shares how to turn struggling teens into successful students.

"On rare occasions I read a book that leaves me feeling wiser," says Ed Williams, Editor of the Editorial Pages for the Charlotte Observer. "This is one of those books." Read "Notes from a Classroom," and discover why.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teach for Your Life, December 7, 2007

By 

Jean A. Roznik (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes from a Classroom: Reflections on Teaching (Hardcover)

A Call to Life Long Learning

Thank goodness author and seasoned high school teacher Kay McSpadden did not learn all she needed to know in kindergarten. One of the themes of Notes from a Classroom, a collection of essays originally written by McSpadden for a local newspaper and radio station, is that life provides constant learning opportunities. A good education, says McSpadden, is one that empowers us to ask probing questions along the way -- especially concerning what others would have us believe.

I have always maintained that teaching is not for the faint of heart and I could see little to recommend it as a career. After reading this book I still believe that the molding of young minds is one of the toughest jobs out there but there were moments when the author's regard for her profession and her students made me wish I had what it takes.

Notes from a Classroom is not just about education. It is about children, adolescents, family, work, struggle, joy, tragedy--in short, it is about the human condition. Long out of kindergarten, Kay McSpadden has the wisdom to know she still has more to learn and that is what makes this wonderful book all the more valuable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and Riveting Look into Teaching and Learning, May 10, 2008

By 

Emily A. Rotondi (Reading, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes from a Classroom: Reflections on Teaching (Hardcover)

Kay McSpadden writes eloquently and honestly about her experience teaching in a rural South Carolina high school. As a teacher myself I can empathize with the trials and triumphs she endures and in times when "the job" feels tough, Kay McSpadden's words spur me on and remind me why I chose this honorable profession to begin with. Whether it's convincing her students to embrace the joy of English literature, encouraging the shy boy to have his voice heard or instilling her faith in the conviction that ALL students can achieve, Kay McSpadden makes teachers proud to be teachers, convinces students that EVERYONE has the capacity to learn and reminds parents that learning often comes in different and unique ways. A must read for anyone who understands that education is empowering.