Teaching From the Deep End: Succeeding With Today's Classroom Challenges

"Belmonte reminds us that teaching is not always about what you teach, but how and why you teach." —Katherine Hogan, Founding Lead Teacher Social Justice High School, Chicago, IL "This book is unique. The author invites potential and experienced teachers to think more deeply about numerous facets of teaching we encounter but seldom consider. I learned a lot!" —Barrie Bennett, Professor of Education OISE/University of Toronto Establish a teaching philosophy of your own with these insightful principles! The world needs its next generation of quality teachers. This reader-friendly and entertaining guide helps preservice and beginning teachers dive into the deep end of today′s classroom challenges not ordinarily covered in traditional teacher induction courses. Combining theory with anecdotes from the author′s extensive teaching experiences, Teaching From the Deep End guides readers through the process of finding their own way as educators. Dominic Belmonte encourages teachers to reflect on why they chose teaching as a profession and prompts them to think, to question, to observe, and to anticipate as they develop their teaching philosophy. Revised throughout, this updated edition of the bestseller: Includes suggestions for navigating school politics Offers ways to survive a culture of "testmania" Provides recommendations for working with colleagues and parents Gives expanded job-seeking advice for new teachers

Table of Contents:
Foreword to the Second Edition by Gregory Michie Preface About the Author Part One: Getting There 1. The Teaching Profession: What Are You Doing and Why Are You Doing It? 2. Perception During the Job Search 3. Your Educational Philosophy: Creating Your Teaching Tenets 4. Reflective Writing Exercises for New and Veteran Teachers 5. Remember the Paul Potts Principle: It Is So (If You Think So) Part Two: Being There 6. The Classroom: Where the Teacher′s Path and the Student′s Path Converge 7. The Teacher′s Words: You Can Heal and You Can Harm 8. The Teaching Persona: Who You Are When You′re Standing up There at the Big Desk 9. Working With Colleagues: Being a Team Player 10. Dealing With School Hierarchy and Politics 11. Don′t Make Things Worse: Avoiding Deficit Views of Children 12. A Pep Talk About Parents 13. Seven Yin-Yang Blunders to Avoid Part Three: Staying There 14. Classroom Ethics: 68 What-If′s That Will Make Any Teacher Say "Yikes!" 15. Major Stresses in the Teaching Profession: Why You Must Remain a Teacher 16. The Paperwork Can Kill You 17. Living in Testmania Part Four: Bringing Others There 18. Creating Programs for Teacher Preparation: The Programs of the Golden Apple Foundation in Illinois Epilogue: Group Hug References Index

About the Author :
Dominic Belmonte taught at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, for twenty years as an English teacher and chairman of the English Department. He is now President and CEO of the Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. A member and past chairman of the Golden Apple Academy of Educators, in 1989 he co-created the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program, a pre-induction teacher preparation experience that is now the Golden Apple Foundation’s largest program, named by Harvard University as one of 15 programs out of 1,200 nationwide as a finalist for its Innovations in American Government award. In 1996 Belmonte also co-created the GATE (Golden Apple Teacher Education) program, an alternative pathway to teacher certification for mid-career adults wishing a career in teaching secondary math or science or teaching elementary school children.

Review :
"Belmonte reminds us that teaching is not always about what you teach, but how and why you teach. He asks teachers to become reflective practitioners who work with students, not for them, and that makes all the difference. Students turn into producers of knowledge, and teachers into artisans molding that beautiful vision with this philosophy of education." "This book is unique. The author invites potential and experienced teachers to think more deeply about numerous facets of teaching we encounter but seldom consider. Teaching from the Deep End has story and heart. It also has a clear connection to the underbelly of the teaching and learning process; the author pushes those who teach to be more attuned to being consciously competent and not simply accidentally adequate. I learned a lot!" "This book reframes the essence of what teaching is essentially about. The author provokes readers to think about their intentions and focuses on passion for teaching, the importance of knowing self, and the necessity of being cognizant of how bias and the use of language impact our work with students." "This book is unique; the author invites potential and experienced teachers to think more deeply about numerous facets of teaching we encounter but seldom consider. I learned a lot!"