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Teaching in the New Crazy: On Thriving in an Overwhelming, Politicized, and Complicated World
From book bans to AI to a loneliness epidemic, teachers find themselves in an existential quandary. In this courageously candid book, high school history teacher Dr. Glen Coleman asks the tough questions, challenging educators to rethink their craft. Coleman’s enduring love of the profession shines through as he encourages fellow teachers to embrace change and take care of themselves in the process.
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Twenty years ago Glen Coleman was my teacher who did something exceptionally well -- he created a space for students to explore big ideas and was courageous enough to let learning get messy as we looked for the answers, together. In this book, with humor, optimism and at times, stark realism, Coleman asks and seeks to answer the biggest questions educators face today- how to teach and reach students in the new chaotic normal. Offering actionable strategies to employ in and out of the classroom, Coleman reminds us that, “one lesson can still change a life.” It did for me.
-Daniel Lewer, 2020 Hawai’i History Teacher of the Year, founder of History For Humans, class of 2002, River Dell High School.
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From page 1:
Fellow educators, we need to call it like it is. Teaching young people today is a white-knuckle drive that can make us feel as though we’re losing our sanity. We’re supposed to help students think critically as our democracy crumbles, as trust gives way to tribalism, and as confidence in institutions such as our elections, the dollar, or vaccines gives way to doubt. Today’s debates are met with fear because the issues we face are overwhelming, politicized, and complicated. This has resulted in a new cynicism that is appearing in our classrooms.
“Why do I need to know ‘this’ when AI can do it for me?”
“Why learn about the world when it’s falling apart?”
“Why listen to adults when they caused this mess?”
These will be constant refrains in our classrooms, if they are not already.
My response is because one lesson can still change a life. A teacher can still empower our youth to right the wrongs of previous generations. A good question can still open anyone’s mind.
And yet our problems are too great for any one teacher to solve.
This realization can lead to burnout.
So, I’m writing this book to help you, regardless of what you teach — no matter where or when — and to start a conversation within our profession about how to thrive in what I will call “the new crazy,” or our “chaotic new normal.”
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From page 67:
"What do you think?"
What is interesting about asking that simple question, “What do you think?” and answering it publicly is that we learn about the importance of revision. When you listen to someone intently, speakers tend to think more carefully about what they are saying. Furthermore, because most young people have not had the experience of being heard or taken seriously, they’ll tend to research and speak more deliberately. That moment of realization — I am being heard — is priceless. (This also goes for me as a teacher. I need to rephrase things all the time because I am not a smooth speaker; I’m quite a flawed one.)
The point is, listening is a superpower. Trust results when we value imperfections (because perfectionism is kryptonite).
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Twenty years ago Glen Coleman was my teacher who did something exceptionally well -- he created a space for students to explore big ideas and was courageous enough to let learning get messy as we looked for the answers, together. In this book, with humor, optimism and at times, stark realism, Coleman asks and seeks to answer the biggest questions educators face today- how to teach and reach students in the new chaotic normal. Offering actionable strategies to employ in and out of the classroom, Coleman reminds us that, “one lesson can still change a life.” It did for me.
-Daniel Lewer, 2020 Hawai’i History Teacher of the Year, founder of History For Humans, class of 2002, River Dell High School.
-------------------------------------------------------
From page 1:
Fellow educators, we need to call it like it is. Teaching young people today is a white-knuckle drive that can make us feel as though we’re losing our sanity. We’re supposed to help students think critically as our democracy crumbles, as trust gives way to tribalism, and as confidence in institutions such as our elections, the dollar, or vaccines gives way to doubt. Today’s debates are met with fear because the issues we face are overwhelming, politicized, and complicated. This has resulted in a new cynicism that is appearing in our classrooms.
“Why do I need to know ‘this’ when AI can do it for me?”
“Why learn about the world when it’s falling apart?”
“Why listen to adults when they caused this mess?”
These will be constant refrains in our classrooms, if they are not already.
My response is because one lesson can still change a life. A teacher can still empower our youth to right the wrongs of previous generations. A good question can still open anyone’s mind.
And yet our problems are too great for any one teacher to solve.
This realization can lead to burnout.
So, I’m writing this book to help you, regardless of what you teach — no matter where or when — and to start a conversation within our profession about how to thrive in what I will call “the new crazy,” or our “chaotic new normal.”
-------------------------------------------------------
From page 67:
"What do you think?"
What is interesting about asking that simple question, “What do you think?” and answering it publicly is that we learn about the importance of revision. When you listen to someone intently, speakers tend to think more carefully about what they are saying. Furthermore, because most young people have not had the experience of being heard or taken seriously, they’ll tend to research and speak more deliberately. That moment of realization — I am being heard — is priceless. (This also goes for me as a teacher. I need to rephrase things all the time because I am not a smooth speaker; I’m quite a flawed one.)
The point is, listening is a superpower. Trust results when we value imperfections (because perfectionism is kryptonite).
217 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2024
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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