Teaching Is for Superheroes! - Insight and Inspiration for Your Classroom (Tights and Cape Optional)

This isn't your average teaching book. With a fun, comic-book-inspired layout, Teaching Is for Superheroes! skips the information overload and gives you practical action steps for igniting enthusiasm in your K-12 classroom and achieving your professional goals. Now more than ever, teachers are in high demand--yet the threat of burnout still looms large. This book will help you keep the spark alive, engaging you in a deeper examination of education by way of entertaining superhero archetypes and tropes. What's your teaching origin story? Your secret identity? Your powers, weaknesses, nemeses? The teachers-as-superheroes metaphor provides a rich venue through which you can thoughtfully analyze your purpose and pedagogy.
 
This high quality, eye-catching book offers you an inspirational springboard for practical insight and application in the classroom. You'll gain ideas for surviving your first year, navigating social media as a teacher, interacting productively with colleagues and parents, using tech in the classroom, prioritizing self-care, harnessing your teacher "superpowers," and even dressing for teaching success. The school setting may not be as glamorous as the futurist skyscrapers, alien planets, or alternate universes we see in movies and comics, but the adventure is just as exciting--and best of all, it's real!
* Gain teaching insights, tips, and advice in an entertaining, superhero-inspired format
* Identify your teaching superpowers and weaknesses, and learn to lean on others when needed
* Explore the "universe" of teaching to understand where you fit in and how you can leave your legacy
* Equip yourself with the gadgets and gizmos you need to sharpen your skills and power up your classroom
 
Current and future K-12 educators--pick up Teaching Is for Superheroes!, put on your cape, and start saving the world, one class at a time.

List of contents

Foreword xiii
 
Acknowledgments xv
 
About the Author xvii
 
Introduction 1
 
Teachers Are Superheroes 2
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 3
 
References 4
 
01 Origin Stories 5
 
Tales of Passion! 5
 
My Tragic Backstory 6
 
Happier Thoughts 7
 
Catchy Catchphrases and Super Slogans 8
 
Finding Purpose 11
 
Born or Made? 14
 
Year One 15
 
To Be Continued! 17
 
Further Reading 17
 
Further Viewing 17
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 17
 
References 18
 
02 Secret Identities 21
 
Q&A FYI (No TMI) 22
 
The Best at What I Do Forget 23
 
What's in a Name? 25
 
That's Mister Fantastic to You 26
 
They Know Where You Live! 28
 
Dial H for Hero Help 28
 
I Am Teacher Man! 31
 
Hero vs. Civilian 32
 
Buffers for Blurred Boundaries 33
 
To Be Continued! 34
 
Further Reading 34
 
Further Viewing 34
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 35
 
References 35
 
03 Costumes and Colors 39
 
Fashion Tip #1: Functionality 40
 
Fashion Tip #2: Simplicity 40
 
Wardrobe Malfunctions 41
 
Complementary Colors-- Primary Heroes, Secondary Villains 42
 
Colors in the Classroom 44
 
What (Not) to Wear? 46
 
Quick Changes or Gradual Transformations 48
 
Timeless or Trendy 49
 
Dress Codes for Students and Teachers 50
 
To Be Continued! 53
 
Further Reading 53
 
Further Viewing 53
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 53
 
References 54
 
04 Living and Learning in Your Universe 59
 
Keeping It Real 60
 
Classrooms of SIN! 62
 
Natural Light and Life 63
 
Musical Chairs (and Desks) 64
 
Declarative Decorations 66
 
You Are the Real Clock King 66
 
Where Is Your Hideout? 67
 
Putting a Personal Touch on Personal Space 69
 
Be True to Your School(s) 70
 
Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice 71
 
A Secret Sanctum Sanctorum 72
 
To Be Continued! 74
 
Further Reading 74
 
Further Viewing 74
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 75
 
References 76
 
05 Strengths and Superpowers 79
 
Man Without Fear and With- It Teachers 79
 
Fantastic Teaching Powers 81
 
Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) 81
 
Human Torch (Johnny Storm) 82
 
Invisible Woman (Susan Storm- Richards) 83
 
The Thing (Ben Grimm) 85
 
Earthbound (and Effective) Teacher Powers 86
 
Content Knowledge (CK) 87
 
Pedagogical Knowledge (PK) 87
 
Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) 88
 
Research- Aligned Framework for Teaching (RAFT) 90
 
Weird Superpowers 92
 
To Be Continued! 93
 
Further Reading 93
 
Further Viewing 94
 
Questions for Reflection and Discussion 94
 
References 95
 
06 Gadgets and Gizmos 101
 
What's in Your Utility Belt? 101
 
Meaningful Materials 102
 
Technology: Vision or Ultron? 105
 
Magic Bullets, Quick Fixes, Power Rings, and Ultimate Nullifiers 106
 
The Ultimate Educational Tool 106
 
Questioning 107
 
Responding 108
 
Conveying Nonverbal Behaviors 109
 
Listening and Noticing 110
 
Waiting and Thinking 110
 
Utility and Synergy 111
 
Sharpen the Saw (and Your Skills) 112
 
To Be Continued! 113
&n

About the author

DANIEL J. BERGMAN, PhD, is a Professor and Program Chair of Science Education at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Like Superman, he considers the Sunflower State his adoptive home. Unlike Superman, Dr. Bergman cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound. Dr. Bergman previously taught middle and high school science in Nebraska and Iowa, and currently works with students and teachers from kindergarten to graduate school and every grade in between. As a fan of science, teaching, and superheroes, he is the ultimate SuperNerd. He writes about these passions at www.teachlikeasuperhero.blog and elsewhere.

Summary

This isn't your average teaching book. With a fun, comic-book-inspired layout, Teaching Is for Superheroes! skips the information overload and gives you practical action steps for igniting enthusiasm in your K-12 classroom and achieving your professional goals. Now more than ever, teachers are in high demand--yet the threat of burnout still looms large. This book will help you keep the spark alive, engaging you in a deeper examination of education by way of entertaining superhero archetypes and tropes. What's your teaching origin story? Your secret identity? Your powers, weaknesses, nemeses? The teachers-as-superheroes metaphor provides a rich venue through which you can thoughtfully analyze your purpose and pedagogy.

This high quality, eye-catching book offers you an inspirational springboard for practical insight and application in the classroom. You'll gain ideas for surviving your first year, navigating social media as a teacher, interacting productively with colleagues and parents, using tech in the classroom, prioritizing self-care, harnessing your teacher "superpowers," and even dressing for teaching success. The school setting may not be as glamorous as the futurist skyscrapers, alien planets, or alternate universes we see in movies and comics, but the adventure is just as exciting--and best of all, it's real!
* Gain teaching insights, tips, and advice in an entertaining, superhero-inspired format
* Identify your teaching superpowers and weaknesses, and learn to lean on others when needed
* Explore the "universe" of teaching to understand where you fit in and how you can leave your legacy
* Equip yourself with the gadgets and gizmos you need to sharpen your skills and power up your classroom

Current and future K-12 educators--pick up Teaching Is for Superheroes!, put on your cape, and start saving the world, one class at a time.

Product details

• Authors: Bergman, Daniel Bergman, Daniel J Bergman, Daniel J. Bergman
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.07.2023
• EAN: 9781394153732
• ISBN: 978-1-394-15373-2
• No. of pages: 240
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Humanities, art, music > Education > General, dictionaries; Education, Bildungswesen, EDUCATION / Educational Policy & Reform / General, Teaching skills and techniques, K-12 / Lehrerbildung, K-12, Teacher Education (K-12), Educational strategies and policy, EDUCATION / Teaching / Methods & Strategies