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"Each and every day teachers show up in their classrooms with a relentless sense of optimism. Despite the complicated challenges of schools, they come to and remain in the profession inspired by a conviction that through education they can move individuals and society to a more promising future. In Teaching with Heart: Poetry that Speaks to the Courage to Teach a diverse group of ninety teachers describe the complex of emotions and experiences of the teaching life - joy, outrage, heartbreak, hope, commitment and dedication. Each heartfelt commentary is paired with a cherished poem selected by the teacher. The contributors represent a broad array of educators: K-12 teachers, principals, superintendents, college professors, as well as many non-traditional teachers. They range from first year teachers to mid-career veterans to those who have retired after decades in the classroom. They come from inner-city, suburban, charter and private schools. The teachers identified an eclectic collection of poems and poets from Emily Dickinson, to Richard Wright, to Mary Oliver to the rapper Tupac Shakur. It is a book by teachers and for all who teach.The book also includes a poignant Foreword by Parker J. Palmer (The Courage to Teach), a stirring Introduction by Taylor Mali (What Teachers Make), and a moving Afterword by Sarah Brown Wessling (Teaching Channel). Where Teaching with Fire honored and celebrated the work of teachers; Teaching with Heart salutes the tenacious and relentless optimism of teachers and their belief that despite the many challenges and obstacles of the teaching life, much is possible"--
List of contents
A Note to Our Readers by Sam M. Intrator and Megan Scribner xi
Foreword by Parker J. Palmer xxi
Introduction by Taylor Mali xxvii
Relentless Optimism 1
Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus" reflection by Randi Weingarten 2
Fleet Foxes' "Helplessness Blues" reflection by Stephen Lazar 4
Marianne Williamson's "A Return to Love" [Excerpt] reflection by Rachel Willis 6
Edgar Lee Masters's "George Gray" reflection by Mel Glenn 8
Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" reflection by Kaitlin Roig 10
Rudyard Kipling's "if" reflection by Andy Wood 12
Loris Malaguzzi's "No Way. The Hundred is There." reflection by Tiffany Poirier 14
Gerald Jonas's "Lessons" reflection by Julie A. Gorlewski 16
Taylor Mali's "What Teachers Make" reflection by Kevin Hodgson 18
Teachable Moments 21
Rainier Maria Rilke's "All will come again into its strength" reflection by Gregory John 22
Richard Wilbur's "The Writer" reflection by Emily Brisse 24
Theodore Roethke's "The Waking" reflection by Nora Landon 26
Emily Dickinson's "'Tis so much joy! 'Tis so much joy!"
reflection by Lily Eskelsen García 28
Paul Boswell's "This Splendid Speck" reflection by Christine Intagliata 30
Stanley Kunitz's "Halley's Comet" reflection by Rob Maitra 32
Emily Dickinson's "If I can stop one Heart from breaking" reflection by Annette Breaux 34
John O'Donohue's "Beannacht" reflection by Emanuel Pariser 36
D. H. Lawrence's "The Best of School" reflection by Tom Vander Ark 38
Beauty in the Ordinary 41
Fernando Pessoa's "To Be Great, Be Entire" reflection by Vicki Den Ouden 42
Naomi Shihab Nye's "Famous" reflection by Safaa Abdel-Magid 44
Pablo Neruda's "In Praise of Ironing" reflection by Cindy O'Donnell-Allen 46
Louise Glück's "Aubade" reflection by Kent Dickson 48
W. H. Auden's "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" [Excerpt] reflection by Jamie Raskin 50
Stephen Crane's "LVIII" reflection by Liam Corley 52
Mary Oliver's "Crossing the Swamp" reflection by Maureen Geraghty 54
Philip Levine's "What Work Is" reflection by Holly Masturzo 56
Walt Whitman's "Section II from 'Song of Myself' " reflection by Jennifer Boyden 58
Enduring Impact 61
Naomi Shihab Nye's "Kindness" reflection by Hannah Cushing 62
Margaret Atwood's "You Begin" reflection by Karen Harris 64
Thich Nhat Hanh's "Please Call Me by My True Names" reflection by Ruth Charney 66
William Stafford's "Deciding" reflection by Michael Poutiatine 68
Li-Young Lee's "Eating Together" reflection by Wanda S. Praisner 70
John O'Donohue's "Blessing: For Presence" reflection by David Henderson 72
Tara Sophia Mohr's "Your Other Name" reflection by Lianne Raymond 74
Jim R. Rogers's "Good Morning!" reflection by Jane Zalkin 76
Galway Kinnell's "Saint Francis and the Sow" reflection by Kirsten Olson 78
The Work Is Hard 81
Antonio Machado's "VI" reflection by Michael L. Crauderueff 82
Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese" reflection by Kathleen Melville 84
Calvin Coolidge's "Persistence" reflection by April Niemela 86
Sharon Olds's "On the Subway" reflection by Lori Ungemah 88
Anonymous's "Work Gloves" reflection by Tom Meyer 90
William Stafford's "Next Time" reflection by Leanne Grabel Sander 92
Emily Dickinson's "We grow accustomed to the Dark--" reflection by Rachel Fentin 94
Walt Whitman's "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" reflection by Ronald Gordon 96
Wislawa Szymborska's "Life While
About the author
THE EDITORSSAM M. INTRATOR is principal of the Smith College Campus School, and professor of education and child study at Smith College. A Kellogg National Leadership Fellow, he is the author/editor of seven books, including
The Quest for Mastery: Positive Youth Development Through Out-of-School Programs.
MEGAN SCRIBNER has three decades of experience editing books, reports, and essays, including co-editing two other poetry anthologies with Intrator:
Teaching with Fire and
Leading from Within. In 2012, she received the Takoma Park Azalea Award for School Activist and continues to be active in her community.
Royalties from this book help create more Courage & Renewal resources and programs for educators.
Summary
Each and every day teachers show up in their classrooms with a relentless sense of optimism. Despite the complicated challenges of schools, they come to and remain in the profession inspired by a conviction that through education they can move individuals and society to a more promising future.
