The First Years Out. Occasional Paper Series 13

The essays presented in this "Occasional Paper" reflect the voices of those in the midst of becoming the teachers they hope to be. In these essays, teachers find courage, resourcefulness, insight, and inspiration. They are reminded not to give up on themselves. Three vital aspects explored in these essays include: (1) teaching is about being present to what or who is before oneself--This requires the development of curiosity, an interest in the students' experience; (2) teaching is about bringing one's whole self--one's heart, mind, and ethics--to the classroom--Teaching happens both through who one is and what one does; and (3) teaching is about generosity--Teachers demonstrate this in their willingness to share whatever they have learned from their own journeys, to tell their stories as a way of keeping everyone else afloat. Following an introduction by Judith Leipzig, essays in this "Occasional Paper" include: (1) When September Comes Again (Elizabeth Huffman); (2) Starting Over Again: Comparing the First and Second Years of Teaching (Scott Moran); (3) Wrong Place, Right Time (Rachel Mazor); (4) Learning to Keep My Heart Open (Marika Paez); and (5) Normalizing the Need for Help (Nancy Gropper).