Teaching to learn, learning to teach : a handbook for secondary school teachers

Summary: This text, designed as a handbook for preservice and beginning teachers, is organized to address broad topics in secondary school teaching rather than the needs of specific subject areas. While examples are included from specific subject disciplines, the focus is on the relationships among them (concepts, skills, practices). Preservice teachers in secondary school general methods classes and student teaching seminars are frequently preoccupied with two problems--classroom control and figuring out exactly what is the role of the teacher. These problems are compounded by methods texts that compartmentalize different aspects of teaching (theory, practice, critical analysis). Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach: A Handbook for Secondary School Teachers provides an alternative.

*Although different approaches to secondary teaching are included, a model student-centered approach is offered that provides a series of "PRO/CLASS Practices" for designing lessons, developing personal connections with students, and building classroom communities. (The acronym stands for P lanning, R elationships, O rganization, C ommunity, L eadership, A ssessment, S upport, S truggle.)

*The broad principles of PRO/CLASS Practice are presented as part of an integrated approach to teaching -- not as a recipe to be followed mechanically. Preservice teachers are encouraged to reinterpret the principles and continually redefine them as they develop their own reflective practice.

*A variety of pedagogical features and activities are integrated throughout the text, including sample "Nuts and Bolts" teaching techniques (lesson and unit design, activities, questions, projects, team learning, community building) that can be used in different types of classrooms and by teachers employing different pedagogical approaches; conversations with preservice teachers; interviews and conversations with teachers; essays about classroom issues; and reflections on teaching goals and processes.