Table of Contents

Section One: What does it Mean to Be a Teacher? 1. Why You Need to Read this Book 2. The Hidden History of Teachers 3. How Policy is Made 4. Teachers of the World 5. Get Me to the Greeks Section Two: Developing Your Own Teaching Character 6. I am the Law: Judgement 7. Lion Taming: Courage 8. I am Waiting: Patience 9. I am the Adult: Wisdom 10. If at First you don't Succeed: Perseverance 11. They are Only Children: Compassion 12. The Dangers of the Profession Section Three: The Workout 13. Pumping Iron: Continual Character Development and Sharing Good Practice 14. Keeping in Shape: Perpetual Professional Development and Following the Right Career Path Index

Promotional Information

Teacher offers a new approach to professional development that focusses on building an individual teaching personality, rather than following a rule book.

About the Author

Tom Bennett is a teacher in East London, the chair of an independent group advising the Department of Education on behaviour, and the founder of the grass-roots and teacher-led researchED movement.

Reviews

‘This is a deeply thoughtful guide to becoming a better teacher. Bennett's book is full of practical wisdom rooted in sound philosophy and long experience. His use of virtue ethics is a masterstroke, cutting a swathe through the tick-box and checklist culture so as to reveal the very essence of good teaching: good character. The ideas and strategies Bennett provides are perfectly pitched for the busy professional, whatever stage of their career they are in. All in all, this is a book which gives the reader practical and effective solutions to the question which everyone in the profession asks themselves: how can I get better? The answers, ladies and gentlemen, are within.' Mike Gershon, sociology teacher, King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds, UK

‘Tom Bennett is the voice of the modern teacher. Everyone involved in education wants to be the best they can be, to do all that we can for our young people, and Tom gets ‘us' as a profession. Teachers, and everyone who wants to understand how modern education should work, need to read what Tom Bennett says so that they can be inspired, informed and generally get more of a grip on the reality of how to function in a 21st century school. You will be a better teacher if you read this book!' Stephen Drew, Senior Vice-Principal, Passmores Academy, UK, featured school on Channel 4's Educating Essex

‘This is a book all teachers need to read, whether they be in training, newly qualified or experienced. It contains a wealth of golden nuggets for being an effective and efficient teacher, as well as providing an understanding of the current context of classroom life. Quite simply, this is one of the best and most useful books I have read about what we do, and need to do as teachers.'John d'Abbro, OBE, Head of the New Rush Hall Group and Headteacher on Channel 4's Jamie's Dream School