Description
Book SynopsisTeaching Is The Hardest Job You Will Ever Love! is a realistic guide that can help the high school teacher and community. It includes ways to maintain one's health, how to balance one's personal and school life, and how to interact in a better, successful manner. In order to become successful, it is important for high school teachers to include personal fulfillment so that students will ultimately learn not only the subject matter but also how to be self-sufficient, be self-accountable, and learn with others. While students need to learn how to accept their learning and their grades, parents or guardians also need to be able to be a support system for their young adults with encouragement when needed and with praise when earned.
Trade ReviewTeaching, The Hardest Job You'll Ever Love! is necessary reading not only for educators but for anyone with a true interest in helping young people realize their potential. As a former student of Steven Sonntag myself, I can say with authority that his caring discipline and devotion to the teaching profession are unparalleled. The inspiration I took from this book is a treasure! -- Miklos Fejer, an elementary school teacher in Mimata, Japan
This book is a true how-to manual for beginning teachers and is inspiring for those of us who've been in the classroom for many years. From interview tips to how to arrange your desk, teachers will truly benefit from Sonntag's decades of experience. My favorite tip is the 'Five-Minute Vacations.' This is a fabulous resource that belongs on every teacher's bookshelf. -- Leslie Harris, an elementary school teacher in Sacramento, California
Steven Sonntag's book Teaching, the Hardest Job You'll Ever Love! is a kaleidoscope of experiences proffered simply and subtly to ensure that unpleasant truths and tested wisdom may be 'considered'. His own personal style is best described by himself in chapter twenty-four: 'It does take a lot of tact to improve any concerns.' -- Carol De Sa Campos, former high school teacher in Manteca, California
Sonntag, a high school teacher, mentor teacher, and chairperson, offers a guide to help high school teachers be positive role models, maintain enthusiasm, and have success in many aspects of their job, from having a healthy personal life to working with technology-savvy students. He gives advice on working with colleagues, administrators, students, and parents; doing physical, mental, and emotional exercises; being fair and sensitive; managing time; working with challenging students; connecting the classroom to the outside world; coaching a sport or the academic decathlon; and having high expectations of students. * Book News, Inc. *
In this sampler of practical ideas, Sonntag has collected suggestions to help teachers navigate the demands and challenges of teaching. By proposing clever titles throughout the book's chapters, Sonntag quickly attracts the attention of the reader. The next step is to humbly present the ideas for consideration and move on. Each chapter is short, allowing a suggestion, tip, or life experience to dominate so that the reader can easily absorb the advice and move to the next tip. This structure serves to assist the educator who doesn't have a leisurely reading schedule and may have only 15 to 30 minutes here or there. One premise that seems to be woven into many chapters is that the teacher is meant to be a strong, positive role model. This can be found in many chapters, but the one chapter that this reviewer particularly liked is titled "That's Neat!" It emphasizes the connection between neatness and high expectations. The work of schooling children is becoming more and more demanding, and Sonntag encourages educators to embrace this guide to facilitate making a difference in the lives of students—the noble goal of so many in education. Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 The Purpose of Teaching, the Hardest Job You Will Ever Love! Chapter 2 Striving for a Healthy Life as a Person Chapter 3 How about Moving Your Body? Chapter 4 Mental and Emotional Workouts! Chapter 5 Relaxation Times! Chapter 6 The Adversarial Administration? Chapter 7 Different Evaluation Processes Chapter 8 Utilizing Available Resources Chapter 9 Working with Colleagues Chapter 10 Working with Students' Parents/Guardians Chapter 11 Time Is of the Essence! Chapter 12 The Teacher's Perspective about the Classes Chapter 13 Mutual Respect Chapter 14 The Teacher's Sensitivity toward Students Chapter 15 Appreciating and Working with Uniqueness Chapter 16 Consistent Fairness Chapter 17 Challenging Students Chapter 18 Tech-Savvy Students Chapter 19 Students Need and Respect Organization Chapter 20 That's Neat! Chapter 21 Questioning Can Lead to Successful Understanding Chapter 22 High Expectations Chapter 23 Connecting the Classroom with the Outside World Chapter 24 Coaching a Sport Chapter 25 Coaching the Academic Decathlon Chapter 26 If and When One Still Has Extra Time and Extra Energy Chapter 27 "You Can Make More Tomorrows than a Person Can Possibly Count!" - Miklos Fejer
