A student demands to know what authority you have to judge his writing. Another student sits in your office reading her essay aloud and crying. What you hoped would be a stimulating classroom discussion falls flat.
Do these scenarios sound familiar? Have you been at a loss as to how to respond? Do you feel like you're faking it and like you've made huge mistakes? Then you might be a new teacher, and you certainly aren't alone.
Anne Bramblett and Alison Knoblauch are fresh from this experience and know how daunting first-time teaching can be, despite the best preparation. They have collected essays that address the anxieties and problems of beginning teachers and provide a welcome reality check for those who expect success from day one. Honest, often humorous, and most of all empathetic, these essays remind you that lesson plans fail, students will challenge you, and classroom discussions often go nowhere. Most of all they dispel the "Myth of the Super Teacher" who enjoys only success. They reveal the dark secret of teaching: not everything works, certainly not all the time.