Introduction to Secondary Teaching: Blending Wisdom, Research, and Social Justice

Drawing from social justice pedagogies, evidence-based instruction, the wisdom of experienced teachers, and adolescent-brain research, Introduction to Secondary Teaching: Blending Wisdom, Research, and Social Justice offers theories, practices, rationale, and actionable steps needed to be an effective secondary school teacher. Chapters cover building relationships with students, classroom management, creating authentic learning experiences, planning and providing instruction, fostering motivation and engagement in learning, and designing meaningful and just assessments. Written to help new teachers enjoy success early on in their careers, this book argues that we cannot wait for teachers to learn “from experience” alone. This book lays a foundation to help teachers sustain in this challenging profession and become the educational leaders we need. Rooted in this foundation is a new concept, TIPPS, referring to teacher identity, presence, passion, and stance-a conceptual framework that informs all aspects of a teacher's work. Teacher educators will appreciate this course-friendly text, with its guiding questions, real-world examples, summarizing key points, and features by real teachers across a range of content areas, all bringing ideas and practices to life.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter 1: Wisdom and TIPPS for Teaching Chapter 2: Teaching and Learning as Liberation Chapter 3: Teaching through Relationships Chapter 4: Managing the Ecology of the Classroom Chapter 5: Planning to Teach with Students in Mind Chapter 6: Instruction that Engages Chapter 7: Engagement for Learning Chapter 8: Assessment for Feedback and Growth Conclusion

About the Author :
Anthony Johnston was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Johnston initially enjoyed an acting career before electing to become a secondary school teacher. In a Coalition of Essential Schools-affiliated school in San Francisco, Leadership High School, he taught high school English for a decade and served as a department chair and as a school coach/consultant for Bay Area schools. In 2009, Johnston pursued a doctorate to become a professor of teacher education and began working as the secondary program director and an education professor at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT, in 2014. In Connecticut, Johnston continues to support schools, teachers, and districts to develop and sustain socially just and equitable outcomes for students. Johnston is an active member of AERA, LRA, and NCTE. Johnston is committed to preparing teachers to be effective practitioners committed to equity, social justice, and liberation through meaningful and authentic learning experiences.

Review :
As educators navigate deeply uncertain times, we need books that help us understand and learn from research that is explicitly translated into implications for practice. I recommend Introduction to Secondary Teaching as one secondary educators should read as we reflect on and continue the fight for high quality education with every student in our schools. At a time when compassionate and connected teaching is under threat, Anthony R. Johnston's book offers a powerful, accessible, and practical response. This clearly written book provides a detailed explanation of Johnston's view of 'effective' teaching that is centered on justice, pedagogical practices, and the students themselves. This book provides wonderful suggestions for creating classrooms that are filled with humanity and learning.