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The Teachers
The Teachers: A Year Inside America's Most Vulnerable, Important Profession | Alexandra Robbins
18 posts | 11 read | 12 to read
A riveting, must-read, year-in-the-life account of three teachers, combined with reporting that reveals whats really going on behind school doors, by New York Times bestselling author and education expert Alexandra Robbins. Alexandra Robbins goes behind the scenes to tell the true, sometimes shocking, always inspirational stories of three teachers as they navigate a year in the classroom. She follows Penny, a southern middle school math teacher who grappled with a toxic staff clique at the big school in a small town; Miguel, a special ed teacher in the western United States who fought for his students both as an educator and as an activist; and Rebecca, an East Coast elementary school teacher who struggled to schedule and define a life outside of school. Robbins also interviewed hundreds of other teachers nationwide who share their secrets, dramas, and joys. Interspersed among the teachers storiesa seeming scandal, a fourth-grade whodunit, and teacher confessionsare hard-hitting essays featuring cutting-edge reporting on the biggest issues facing teachers today, such as school violence; outrageous parent behavior; inadequate support, staffing, and resources coupled with unrealistic mounting demands; the myth of teacher burnout; the COVID-19 pandemic; and ways all of us can help the professionals who are central both to the lives of our children and the heart of our communities.
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blurb
kspenmoll
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Read this fascinating book,a gift from my husband,in 2023. The cow bell is a replica of one that my mother used to ring,to call us from all over the neighborhood,to dinner. My sister has the actual bell. #SchoolSpirit #teacher #bell

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️ 🛎️ ❤️ 3mo
Eggs Book sounds good! 3mo
46 likes2 comments
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lanecannon
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Pickpick

As an elementary school teacher this book hits the nail right on the head. Everyone should read this book to get a glimpse at what's going on in our classrooms!

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DaniJ
Pickpick

So many “👏HECK YES” moments when listening to this book! Based on American education systems, but so relatable for any teacher. These systems are crippled and crumbling. Listen up, world. Something has to change.

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kspenmoll
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Pickpick

#nonfictionnovember
It actually took me a few months to finish this book, but I read a good bulk of it this month. I have such mixed feelings. It is definitely a Pick, but reading about the teachers the book follows for a school year-elementary teacher,MS math teacher,MS Spec ed teacher.Their work trials, mistakes,successes,lack of resources,admin support,parent issues-all affects their personal lives. It was depressing, insulting,infuriating🔽

kspenmoll 🔼a reminder of this country‘s negative attitudes & blame towards the profession - well researched with countless surveys etc. discussed by the author- an overwhelming amount of information is included, wonderful discussions. I am glad I read to the end, because the last chapter asks how can we help?,a list of positive experiences teachers stated as to why they teach & more importantly why they stay. I am extraordinarily beyond lucky to work🔽 12mo
kspenmoll 🔼It‘s not perfect by any means but staff is supportive of each other, strives to work in teams, develop interdisciplinary units,& most importantly, put students both their academic & mental health first. I love going in each day. I have missed everyone so much while out post surgery since 9/7-excited to be back 12/4! 12mo
EmilyM I bought this over the summer and meant to read it but thought, "it's summer...I don't want to read about work!" And when I think of reading it now I think " I am in the middle of the school year...I don't want to read about work!" ? (High school English teacher here in year 26) 12mo
See All 7 Comments
Tamra As a parent I do my utmost to appreciate and support the work of K-12 teachers. They are incredibly influential in children‘s lives. 12mo
kspenmoll @Tamra Thank you in behalf of all teachers! I have many wonderful/thoughtful parents like you. It makes a huge difference to feel appreciated. 12mo
kspenmoll @EmilyM It is a thought provoking book. I decided to read each month‘s section in that month in real time. I got behind ( life) but was able to finish while I was recovering from surgery. There is so much good information & insights into our profession that it is worth the read. I would recommend it- I have to read any non fiction in bites-use sticky notes etc to process. 12mo
EmilyM @kspenmoll That is good to know! I didn't realize it was broken down by month, either. 12mo
67 likes7 comments
blurb
kspenmoll
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#bookreport
Finished: April in Spain ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In process:
~The Shop on Royal Street 14/33 chapters #audio
~The Teachers on Ch. “December”- goes until June
~A Cryptic Clue was lost in my house!!! Found today so will resume ch3 #libraryfind
~The Corpse Castle Murders ch 47/77 #dorsetcrimebook1
~The Most Likely Club finished required section #sundaybuddyread

Cinfhen Looks like you‘re on track 🙌🏻❣️ 1y
39 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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#librarians #schoollibrarians #townlibrarians

The December chapter in this book devotes 10 pages to the utmost importance of the role of the Librarian(or Media Specialist) in schools.the discussion also focuses on the invisibility, disregard, & in some districts the elimination of this position, deemed unnecessary by many school boards & districts. #librariansoflitsy

Erinreadsthebooks Yes!!! 👏👏👏👏 1y
Librarybelle What a great passage! Thanks for the tag! 1y
50 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
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dabbe 💚🩷💚 1y
44 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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My husband gave this to me this past year. I just started it. My goal is to read a chapter per day if I can. #teachersoflitsy #achapteraday #porchlife

66 likes1 stack add
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jackilynn
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Pickpick

This book!!! Having dealt with many of the same situations and feelings I feel seen!!

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Floresj
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Pickpick

Robbins did an exceptional job of walking a reader through a year in the life as a teacher. Many times, I could relate to each situation (I taught middle school for 25 years.) I‘d like a teacher in there that holds the line, yet isn‘t beloved. Parent pressure is real, toxic interactions in buildings happen, charters are encroaching on public schools, and I‘m glad that this one showcases these issues.

16 likes1 stack add
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TiredLibrarian
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Pickpick

The author follows three teachers through a school year, and adds some research about teaching in this day and age. I would have liked more of the personal stories and less of the factual content, but it's still an eye-opening read. #nonfiction #education

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TiredLibrarian
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A Maryland administrator to a group of female math teachers: "Long-term subs are really hard to find, so I need you to not get really sick or pregnant this year." #FirstlineFridays @ShyBookOwl

kspenmoll Serious? OMG!!! 1y
behudd This book sounds fascinating in the worst way 1y
TiredLibrarian @behudd That pretty much describes it. Great read, but definitely has its share of "what the hell??" moments. 1y
30 likes3 comments
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TiredLibrarian
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About 1/3 into this, and really enjoying it. The teachers profiled are amazing. #nonfiction #education

38 likes1 stack add
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eflubliner
Pickpick

Amazing account of teachers‘ struggles throughout the US. Though the author is not an educator, she captures authentic experiences in a storytelling fashion in her writing.

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Amiable
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Pickpick

A behind-the-scenes look at what many U.S. teachers endure— entitled helicopter parents, peer bullying, a lack of administrative support, the force of a minority of bigoted parents who are trying to dictate how and what they teach, and the expectation that they will take a bullet (or a deadly disease during a pandemic) for our children. And yet they do it because in the end they love the kids. It‘s a sobering story.

#Nonfiction2023

Suet624 I‘m almost scared to read this. It‘s such a tough job. 1y
CoverToCoverGirl I volunteered for many years in an elementary school, what the teachers dealt with then was overwhelming. I can‘t even begin to imagine what they deal with on a daily basis now. 1y
Amiable @CoverToCoverGirl @Suet624 According to many states now, teachers can‘t be trusted with curriculum, book censorship or delicate conversations about sex or gender. But they should be armed to shoulder the weight of being the ones to “stop a bad guy with a gun.” It‘s ridiculous and infuriating. 1y
CoverToCoverGirl @Amiable it really is crazy that they aren‘t trusted to teach but expected to possibly take a bullet. And don‘t get me started on the idea that teachers should be armed while teaching.. it‘s very disturbing and outrageous. A recipe for further disaster. 1y
50 likes1 stack add4 comments
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bio_chem06
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Pickpick

Sadly, I didn‘t find anything in the book surprising. I have several friends who are teachers in low economic schools, this book is true to form. I would recommend this book to anyone who just doesn‘t believe or understand the education problems we have in this country.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Robbins looks at the reality of being a teacher in America, both joys and systemic problems. In addition to many smaller interviews, she follows the lives of three teachers for a year: a middle school math teacher beloved by students but in a bad marriage, a young elementary school teacher trying to balance work and a social life, and a passionate middle school special Ed teacher in a poor school district facing burnout. Fantastic! Read this!

76 likes2 stack adds
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Erinreadsthebooks
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Pretty pumped about this one ✊🤓🖤

ShelleyBooksie Stacked- sounds so good! 2y
31 likes3 stack adds1 comment