Summer offers the opportunity to recharge and reflect鈥攁nd for many teachers, it鈥檚 the ideal time to gather helpful resources. With that in mind, I asked accomplished teachers in the Teacher Leaders Network to share the literary, cinematic, and musical works that sustain them (and help inspire their students). 鈥擝raden Welborn
Susan, a family/consumer science teacher:
I think of lines from John Steinbeck鈥檚 poem 鈥淐aptured Fireflies": 鈥淚鈥檝e had many teachers who taught us soon forgotten things, / But only a few like her who created in me a new thing, a new attitude, a new hunger / 鈥� What deathless power lies in the hands of such a person.鈥�
Katy, an academic intervention specialist:
Lisa Delpit鈥檚 resonated with me. It wasn鈥檛 comfortable to read because it challenged many of my core beliefs about teaching and learning. However, to this day, it inspires my work in and out of the classroom.
Cossondra, a special education teacher (and ):
Taylor Mali鈥檚 poem 鈥溾�� is the piece I find most inspiring in my classroom. This piece reminds me of how important engagement, spontaneity and enthusiasm are in my work. 鈥淟et me teach like the first snow, falling.鈥�
Marsha, a middle school teacher in Kansas:
When I heard the song 鈥淛ammin鈥欌�� by Brad Paisley, I fell in love with it. It鈥檚 uplifting and full of possibilities, and it鈥檚 thinking about how to change the future. That鈥檚 why I teach 鈥� helping kids find their futures.
Tiffany, who teaches gifted elementary students:
When I was an 11th grader at a boarding school in New England, I read Jonathan Kozol鈥檚 . This book hooked me on the idea of public education as a career. It terrified me even as it ignited a fire inside of me. Kozol鈥檚 images stuck with me and followed me down to Florida, where I find myself teaching in high-poverty schools.
Anne, a 5th grade teacher:
Karen Levine鈥檚 inspired me to teach a non-fiction unit related to the Holocaust. In Levine鈥檚 book, a young girl dies at the hands of the Nazis but her dream of becoming a teacher is realized when her suitcase is found at Auschwitz and used to educate a new generation of children about the horrors of genocide.
Gail, a K-6 instructional coach in Virginia:
When I first saw 鈥淢usic of the Heart,鈥� I cried my eyes out鈥攚hat dedication, what determination, what perseverance. And a lovely example of supporting students to be whatever they aspire to be. Every time I watch it, I get all tingly when the students are performing in Carnegie Hall. Did I agree with the teacher鈥檚 rather harsh teaching methods? No, but I certainly admired her refusal to give up on her students and the incredible results she achieved.
David, a high school English and language arts teacher:
I could point to lots of nonfiction about education and teaching, but as an English teacher I also argue for the relevance of fiction in shaping our understanding of the world, its people, and our relationships. Alan Paton鈥檚 , published in 1948, emphasizes that we need not assume guilt for other people鈥檚 sins鈥攂ut embrace responsibility for what we have and what we do in the future. And in , Ernest Gaines asks us to wrestle with family, faith, knowledge, responsibility, and whatever measures of unfairness and indignity life may throw at any of us.
John, an early childhood educator (and blogger at & ):
Sly and the Family Stone songs like 鈥淪tand,鈥� 鈥淵ou Can Make It If You Try,鈥� and 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 a Star鈥� have inspired my students and me. These songs are exuberant and joyful, and are embedded with life lessons I want my students to remember: Believe in yourself; stand up to injustice; achievement requires risk. 鈥淵ou Can Make It If You Try鈥� has often been our theme song鈥攚e鈥檝e even come up with a Pips-style dance!
Laurie, a special education teacher:
As someone who works with kids in an urban setting who learn differently, I am always inspired by teachers who share how they have helped kids to be successful. My all-time favorite author, Louanne Johnson, has written many books about teaching in East L.A. Her book My Posse Don鈥檛 Do Homework had me riveted by her dedication and determination to help the kids that others had given up on. I鈥檝e used many of the ideas in her book , like having my students share their talents: cooking, singing, playing a musical instrument. It changed their perceptions of themselves; many felt they weren鈥檛 good at anything, and this activity gave them validation.
Anthony, who teaches gifted students:
鈥淏ill and Ted鈥檚 Excellent Adventure鈥� is a great representation of what teaching history is all about, bringing it alive for uninterested youth.
Cindi, a middle school reading teacher:
鈥淯nwritten鈥� by Natasha Bedingfield and 鈥�100 Years鈥� by Five For Fighting are songs I often share with middle schoolers. 鈥淯nwritten鈥� reminds them they have their entire lives ahead of them鈥�"the rest is still unwritten.鈥� On the wall, I place the lyrics 鈥渢oday is where your book begins鈥� and ask them to compose a timeline depicting the milestones that are still 鈥渦nwritten.鈥� The song 鈥�100 Years鈥� tells students they have time to go after (and reach!) their goals, and encourages them to make good choices along the way.
Paul, high school science teacher in Florida:
I always remember watching Nick Nolte chuck the textbooks out the window in the movie 鈥淭eachers.鈥� I loved that moment. It sent the message that they were about to do something different, something important, something meaningful. 鈥� I also loved Frank McCourt鈥檚 , especially how he asks, 鈥淲ill today be something to remember, or something to forget?鈥� I often think of this awesome challenge: to make every day something to remember, a worthwhile experience.
Allison, a kindergarten teacher in Colorado:
Peter Reynolds鈥檚 inspires me each and every time I read it to my kindergartners, who are also captivated by the pictures and the relatable story! It is about a teacher helping children to be proud of their work, no matter how simple it might appear.
Ernie, a middle school electives teacher:
A magic moment in my life occurred when I was a high school senior in the Career Exploration Program, spending half of my day working with a 1st grade teacher. Mrs. Parke handed me a copy of James Herndon鈥檚 . Published in 1965, Herndon鈥檚 book speaks to the same frustrations that we find in our schools today. Herndon identified the skills that his students had acquired and then pushed them to reach higher levels. Sounds like great teaching to me, but he was fired after his first year of teaching for not following his school鈥檚 protocols for instruction. Is history repeating itself?
Ryan, a reading and language arts teacher:
鈥淒ead Poets Society鈥� offers a trove of inspiring moments for teachers and students, especially boys, whom we so often lose as passionate readers. I will always remember and echo John Keating鈥檚 line, " ... the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?鈥�
Elizabeth, a special education teacher:
I absolutely love the scene in 鈥淒ead Poet鈥檚 Society鈥� when Mr. Keating asks the students to stand on the table to see the world differently. This scene captures my goals: to teach beyond the walls of the classroom and to encourage kids to step beyond conformity and be individual thinkers. I want my students to become thinkers who have a solid sense of their own perspective while respecting and keeping an open mind to the views of others.
Alicia, an ELL teacher in Colorado:
I think about Bob Dylan鈥檚 song 鈥淢y Back Pages": 鈥淚n a soldier鈥檚 stance, I aimed my hand / At the mongrel dogs who teach / Fearing not that I鈥檇 become my enemy / In the instant that I preach.鈥� Every day when I walk into the classroom, I must have the passion, focus, and commitment to be an inspiring teacher. So many leave education because they burn out. This quote helps me remember that it is always possible to become the thing you have fought against, so you have to keep moving in the direction of becoming who you want to be, each and every day.
