Going by the Book

The plight of the new teacher has changed little during the last 30 years. Neophytes still confront the same conflicting demands--to foster students' academic development while controlling their behavior, often in crowded classrooms in ill-equipped and poorly administered schools. Thanks to five books, Isenberg (a 30-year veteran of urban classroom teaching) found solace and support. The five books are Up The Down Staircase, Teacher, How Children Fail, To Sir With Love, and 36 Children. As teaching narratives, these best-selling writings of classroom teachers are a precious legacy of wisdom, inspiration, and experience. Going By The Book is the first published account of the role of teaching narratives in the ongoing professional development of a working teacher. It also serves to illustrate the importance of shared stories in maintaining the will to endure in the teaching profession.