Instead of providing a list of rules, formulas and steps that new teachers need to follow, the author tells stories, makes observations and provides practical advice. In a style that is both deep and conversational, the author provides insights often neglected in books aimed for new teachers, including the role of shame in teacher identity, the use of professional learning networks for professional growth, the need for paradox, increasing a sense of awareness, the need for humility in classroom leadership and how to build a better relationship with students. The result is a book that is practical, philosophical and personal. It also includes a New Teacher Toolkit with 45 resources for teachers entering the classroom for the first time.
A Sustainable Start
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John T. Spencer is a middle school teacher in an urban enclave of Phoenix, Arizona. It's a beautiful barrio, but you wouldn't guess that if all you examined were test scores and data charts. His students consistently achieve well on the standardized tests, despite the fact that he de-emphasizes the tests and focuses on blogs, problem-based learning projects, documentaries, murals and other Constructivist-style projects. Despite these accomplishments, he is transparent about the darker moments of anger and shame. John has taught numerous workshops and professional development sessions and has mentored new teachers in topics ranging from stress and burnout to classroom leadership. He enjoys drinking coffee, listening to indie music, reading and writing. He has an amazing, beautiful wife and three awesome children.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been following John on Twitter for a while now and he always has a lot of poignant things to say about education.
This book really gets me as a teacher, especially being so early on in my career. It provides suggestions and guidance as opposed to the direct do this, this way doctrines that are typically handed down through teacher textbooks.
One of the things that is most striking about it is the narrative style. He gives all of his advice and guidance through his own experiences, admitting to failures and short comings, and using them as jumping off points to learn from his mistakes in the future. It's a great read and I would recommend it to people who aren't in the teaching profession, just so they can understand what our profession really is all about.
This book really gets me as a teacher, especially being so early on in my career. It provides suggestions and guidance as opposed to the direct do this, this way doctrines that are typically handed down through teacher textbooks.
One of the things that is most striking about it is the narrative style. He gives all of his advice and guidance through his own experiences, admitting to failures and short comings, and using them as jumping off points to learn from his mistakes in the future. It's a great read and I would recommend it to people who aren't in the teaching profession, just so they can understand what our profession really is all about.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By gramborm
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having just finished my MAT and beginning my student teaching, Spencer really gives the internal monologue of student teachers a proper voice. With personal stories and insights of massive insecurities, self doubt, over compensation, and at the end of the day questioning what you are doing for your students and yourself, Spencer relives his first year alongside with you.
He approaches your first year of teaching not as the time where you learn how to make agendas or how to create good lesson plans but how to emotionally and mentally approach the future path. Teaching is a very holistic art that is practiced through love and understanding, both of students and content.
Spencer helps bring a healthy perspective to teaching, a way to approach your first year, and to understand that we are always learning.
I would absolutely recommend to anyone who is close to or is new to teaching, especially because the holistic nature of teaching is ignored in most college programs.
He approaches your first year of teaching not as the time where you learn how to make agendas or how to create good lesson plans but how to emotionally and mentally approach the future path. Teaching is a very holistic art that is practiced through love and understanding, both of students and content.
Spencer helps bring a healthy perspective to teaching, a way to approach your first year, and to understand that we are always learning.
I would absolutely recommend to anyone who is close to or is new to teaching, especially because the holistic nature of teaching is ignored in most college programs.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
John Spencer's "A Sustainable Start" is one of those books that had me saying "I wish I had been given this during my first year as a teacher." More useful than most of the professional development and touted copies of "The First Days of School" that people threw at me when I was overwhelmed as a rookie, the approach that he takes is one of looking at not just having a good first few days or year but at having a good career. He is knowledgeable but also candid in relating his experiences as a teacher and I think that candor is refreshing, especially in a world where those who are tasked with "guiding" teachers through books come off way too much as superstars.
I will echo another reviewer that the book could have used a copy editor, and if you're buying this, I would recommend the paperback version rather than the e-book version. The e-book version wasn't hard to read by any means, but while I was going through it, I made an effort to answer the reflective questions and would have loved to just jot them down in my copy of the book rather than a separate notebook. I also think the paperback will be useful to anyone who wants to reproduce some of the materials found in the back of the book (sample forms, questionnaires, etc.).
Overall, as someone who has been teaching for nearly a decade, I still found this to be a great resource and will definitely use it to help guide me through my own career.
I will echo another reviewer that the book could have used a copy editor, and if you're buying this, I would recommend the paperback version rather than the e-book version. The e-book version wasn't hard to read by any means, but while I was going through it, I made an effort to answer the reflective questions and would have loved to just jot them down in my copy of the book rather than a separate notebook. I also think the paperback will be useful to anyone who wants to reproduce some of the materials found in the back of the book (sample forms, questionnaires, etc.).
Overall, as someone who has been teaching for nearly a decade, I still found this to be a great resource and will definitely use it to help guide me through my own career.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good resource
This book has a lot of great information and resources for new teachers. It offers a brutally honest, but moving, picture of what the first year of teaching is like. Read more
Published 12 months ago by jamiemarie9
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots in there
As the title says there's a lot of information and resources in there. It's a little clumsy in it's layout and design, the forms aren't all the prettiest in design but the info is... Read more
Published 18 months ago by smohr
