A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond: Knowledge and Insight for Brave Teachers

Are you sick of classroom management advice that doesn’t match your daily existence or address the realities of the classroom? In this helpful new book, renowned educator Larry Strauss provides an honest examination of the challenges we face as high school teachers, not the least of which are the minds and temperaments of teenagers, the kind of empathy that can meet the most daunting teaching conditions, and the commitment required of us to succeed—but also the profound rewards of achieving that success. Strauss provides meaningful ways for teachers to forge their path to success and have a lasting impact on students. Topics include getting to know and love your kids, even—or especially—in their worst moments; practicing intentional fairness and committing to relentless empathy; understanding who teenagers are; focusing on progress; setting modest goals and a vision of the long term; creating authenticity; encouraging kids to speak up; and making differentiation manageable. He also shows you how to stay committed and prioritize your sanity at the same time by overcoming compassion fatigue, getting support, protecting your time, and keeping your sense of humor. The book offers hope to educators who feel themselves veering toward surrender but are still looking for a path to ultimate success. With honesty, insights, inspiration, and humorous examples, you’ll have a blueprint for a successful and rewarding career in the classroom.

Table of Contents:
Part I: You're as Ready as Anyone Has Ever Been 1. Why Bother 2. Shuck the False Notions 3. Teenagers Are Teenagers Part II: Getting Your Groove 4. Develop Your Brand 5. You've Kind of Got to Love Kids 6. And Get to Know Your Students 7. It's All About Them Always 8. Be a Presence in Their Lives 9. Some Focus on Fairness 10. Empowerment is Power Part III: Win Win 11. Modest Goals and a Vision of the Long Term 12. Bring the Passion 13. Nice Is Not Weak 14. Fun Is the Goal, Always 15. Plan to be Spontaneous 16. Create Authenticity 17. Manageable Differentiation 18. Success is the Means and the End 19. Noise 20. What They Call Classroom Management 21. We Are All Beginners Part IV: All in for the Kids and Ourselves 22. Dispatching Demands and Weathering Fads 23. Try to Be an Ally with Admins 25. Try Being a Partner with Parents 25. Protecting Kids from Travesty of Test Mania 26. Don't EVER Lose Your Sense of Humor 27. Change Is the Constant 28. Teaching through the Learning Tools of Evasion and Distraction 29. Sanity First, Martyrdom Is Overrated 30. Don't Let Heartbreak Bury You 31. Give and Get Support 32. Keep Pushing for Systemic Change

About the Author :
Larry Strauss has taught thousands of children in South Los Angeles since the early 1990s and has mentored dozens of new and struggling teachers since the early 2000s. A National Board Certified teacher since 2003, he created an AP program and an athletic program at his school and saw both programs blossom—and coached an LA City basketball championship team whose coaching staff included the captain of the school’s very first basketball team 23 years earlier. In his youth, he was a New York subway graffiti writer, a stand-up comic, a disco bouncer, and, for two seasons, a writer on the first-generation Transformers cartoon. Bluesky Handle: @Lstrauss

Review :
"As a former student of Mr. Strauss, I can attest to his profound impact on those fortunate enough to cross his path. His classroom was more than a place to learn; it was a space to grow, laugh, and be seen. A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond captures the heart of the educator I remember—unwavering in his belief in students, honest in his humor, and generous in sharing his wisdom. This book is a gift to anyone in education or considering the journey. Strauss didn’t just teach English; he taught life, and these pages reflect the legacy of a teacher who truly cared." Emerald Woodland, Arizona State University Professor of Educational Leadership "A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond" is a must-read for anyone considering a career in education. This book offers the optimism, joy, and love that can make teaching sustainable, and the wisdom of life lessons to help teachers become positive catalysts in the lives of young people. It is essential reading for anyone looking to gain deeper insight about educating the next generation." Dr. Patrick Jones, Senior VP, The Mind Trust; Former Strauss Student "Larry Strauss helped me immensely through my first few years teaching, and now speaks to a generation of other teachers trying to grasp the realities of classrooms in the post-COVID-19 era. He masterfully captures what makes education an arduous yet ultimately rewarding endeavor. This book offers an honest and authentic account of what it means to be an educator and will be the reason why someone becomes or remains a teacher, a role that is more necessary now than ever." Elias Gonzalez, L.A. Public School Teacher of Ten Years