Sammy's Page

Intro

          Letters To a Young Teacher is an interesting book depicting the struggles of a first year teacher.  The book is written with a series of letters between a first year teacher, Francessca, and the author, Kozol.  The book tells a series of events that have happened throughout Francessa’s first year as a teacher in the exact school Kozol once taught in.  It provides great insight on many problems first year teachers might face in their own classrooms.  Francessca and Kozol build a relationship throughout the book through their letters back and forth and visits Kozol makes to Francesscas classroom.  The book provides advice ranging from diversity to co-workers.  Kozol makes sure to let Francessca know that every situation is different but stills provides his advice and addresses any concerns she might have.  Letters To A Young Teacher is not only a great book for the story it tells but also for the advice it provides for the classroom.  With Kozol’s experiences and Francessca’s ignorance many questions are answered regarding school and the way children learn. 

Scenario Letter

Dear Mr. Kozol,

            As I am working through my first year as a teacher I am facing many of the problems I feared prior to my first day.  Through these time I have found myself looking back to your book, Letters To A Young Teacher, that I read in one of my final classes before graduating and becoming a teacher.  Although your book has re-calmed some of my nerves I find myself still questioning how to approach some situations.

            I’ve come to the conclusion that many times while I am teaching in the mornings many of my students are not grasping the content.  I have tried switching the way I introduce material and the way students express their understanding of the content but nothing seems to be working.  I have noticed that throughout the day students seem to grasp more but by the end of the day are back to not understanding anything.  I have tried everything I can think of and was hoping you could provide some guidance for helping my students gain knowledge all day long.  I know my students would love to have you visit our class along with myself.  If there is anyway you could provide me with insight or brace my class with your presence that would be amazing!

Thank you,

Miss. Maethner

How Kozol Influenced Me Personally

Dear Mr. Kozol,

            While I am approaching my final months as a pre-service teacher I am forced to look ahead and think about the future.  While doing so I have obtained many fears and concerns regarding my first year in the classroom as the teacher and not the student.  Although I feel many of my classes have taught me everything I need to know about teaching the fear of applying my knowledge correctly is very high.  Thankfully due to a class I am in now, I was asked to read your book, Letters To a Young Teacher, and many of my concerns and fears were answered. 

            Through my time reading your book many of my fears and concerns for my first year have been settled.  Seeing that many other teachers, like Francessca, have some of the same problems I have been fearful of is very settling and reassuring.  Knowing that I am not alone through my first year is helpful.  Your book has taught me to never be afraid to ask for help or pursue guidance through tough times.  I have learned the importance of the role of the teacher in the classroom and how important the teacher is for fostering student learning.  Letters To a Young Teacher has been a great book to read as a student who will soon be entering the teaching field.  It have been very helpful and calming, while also providing great insight on what is to come.

            I would like to thank you for providing the world with your experience and guidance.  Because of you my fears have lessened and I am excited for my first year as a teacher!

Thank you,

Miss. Maethner

My Favorite Chapter

           During my reading of Letters To a Young Teacher I obtained many great lessons for my first year of teaching.  Although I loved everything about the book there was one particular chapter that stood out to me and that was chapter seven.  This chapter was all about diversity and the importance it has on the classroom environment.  Within the chapter Kozol discussed how many schools do not have the diversity they need to create a well-balanced and enriched environment.  He explains that many schools that try an implement diversity programs are those schools that do not have diversity in the school.  This is just one of the problems with diversity in schools.  As the chapter progresses Kozol also discusses how important it is for students to have diversity in the classroom for their learning environment.  Although Kozol feels diversity is very important in the classroom he fears that the diversity needed in schools is not there.  As he expresses all his concerns with diversity to Francessca, Kozol brings up a point that many schools may not be diverse due to the neighborhoods surrounding the schools.  This is the main issue when it comes to diversity.  Since schools are broken up based off location schools diversity is based off the neighborhoods surrounding them.  This chapter discussed many issues that I feel are important to the education world and need to be addressed.  Teachers can only do so much to discuss diversity and implement it into the classroom.  If schools are not diverse students will never understand the importance of equality.

Extra Letter

Dear Mr. Kozol,

            First off I wanted to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to not only read my letter of concerns but also visit my classroom.  My students truly enjoyed having a visitor and wanted me to let you know that you are welcome in our classroom anytime!

            Your advice and strategies to help motivate my students in the mornings have been effective.  My students are showing great improvements and more interest not only in the mornings, but also throughout the whole day.  Providing students with less intensive content and more interactive activates in the mornings has proven to boost their energy throughout the day and wake them up in the mornings to prepare for deeper content later on.  Student’s grades have improved and their enjoyment for learning has sky rocketed.  When students enter my room in the mornings they cannot get to their seats fast enough to discover what the day’s activity will be. 

            As I see your advice and suggestions working first hand it makes me think of all the other areas that I could use your experience.  All of this makes me question if I learned all that I needed to while in school, if I gained enough experience before entering my own classroom for the first time.  Should pre--service teachers be required to spend more time in the classroom before graduating?  How can we prepare for all the wonders and struggles being a first year teachers entails?  I find myself questioning everything I learned in school.  I have expressed my concerns and fears with my mentor veteran teacher but she continually tells me I’m a great teacher and to trust my instincts, but what instincts do I actually have?  I find myself wondering how I would feel if I had more time in the classroom prior to graduating.  Then would teachers, myself included, be prepared for the struggles of being a first year teacher?

A fellow educator,

Miss. Maethner