Retracing the Journey: Teaching and Learning in an American High School

by Leila Christenbury

Leila Christenbury is well known as a writer and researcher in English education. Her classic book Making the Journey, now in its third edition, has been a guide to countless middle and high school language arts teachers. In her new book, this veteran teacher and teacher educator reveals what did and more surprisingly did not happen when she returned to the high school classroom after a hiatus of many years. Exploring her experiences in light of current teacher preparation reform efforts, the author's compelling narrative is a continuation of her earlier work that will resonate with those concerned about the state of secondary education in the United States today.

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book about teaching that I have read in 5 years. Leila, a teacher educator like me, went back to teach an honors English class in a high school and found out a lot about students she should have already known: they don't read assigned readings, they are great at manipulating teachers, they are friendly until a teacher begins to push them with high expectations, and they are quite comfortable doing nothing all day, every day.

What is great about this book is that the author recognizes all the mistakes she made and honestly describes them. She also writes very clearly about barriers that make teaching so difficult today: 1. school emphasis on standardized tests leads students to think the regular curriculum is not important; 2. most teachers regularly give students too many opportunities to turn in late assignments, leading them to think that due dates are meaningless; 3. parents think they can meet with a teacher at a moment's notice; 4. administrators are concerned 99% with school image and 1% with student learning; and many more.

At the end of the book Leila clearly reviews the literature on school reform attempts and failures then concludes we better do something soon before society gives up completely on public education.

[Meg Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely fascinating. It's a courageous book. It would have been easy to accept "good enough" but Christenbury asks more and raises great questions about American high schools today. I can't wait to talk with her about it.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just got this book and can't wait to read it. It must be so much easier to be a person who doesn't read...they you wouldn't always have a PILE of books by your bed just tempting you to skip work, sleep, cleaning, showering, etc. to read! (Not that I am advocating being a nonreader!)

[Claudia]

I saw her at NCTE. Enjoyed Making the Journey...started this one about her return to the classroom...and surprise! It's harder than she thought! A bit 'well, duh!'

[Jill Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Offered some valuable food for thought.