Introduction to Secondary Teaching

Drawing from social justice pedagogies, evidence-based instruction, the wisdom of experienced teachers, and adolescent-brain research, Introduction to Secondary Teaching: Blending Wisdom, Research, and Social Justice offers theories, practices, rationale, and actionable steps needed to be an effective secondary school teacher. Chapters cover building relationships with students, classroom management, creating authentic learning experiences, planning and providing instruction, fostering motivation and engagement in learning, and designing meaningful and just assessments. Written to help new teachers enjoy success early on in their careers, this book argues that we cannot wait for teachers to learn "from experience" alone. This book lays a foundation to help teachers sustain in this challenging profession and become the educational leaders we need. Rooted in this foundation is a new concept, TIPPS, referring to teacher identity, presence, passion, and stance-a conceptual framework that informs all aspects of a teacher's work. Teacher educators will appreciate this course-friendly text, with its guiding questions, real-world examples, summarizing key points, and features by real teachers across a range of content areas, all bringing ideas and practices to life.

Anthony Johnston was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Johnston initially enjoyed an acting career before electing to become a secondary school teacher. In a Coalition of Essential Schools-affiliated school in San Francisco, Leadership High School, he taught high school English for a decade and served as a department chair and as a school coach/consultant for Bay Area schools. In 2009, Johnston pursued a doctorate to become a professor of teacher education and began working as the secondary program director and an education professor at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT, in 2014. In Connecticut, Johnston continues to support schools, teachers, and districts to develop and sustain socially just and equitable outcomes for students. Johnston is an active member of AERA, LRA, and NCTE. Johnston is committed to preparing teachers to be effective practitioners committed to equity, social justice, and liberation through meaningful and authentic learning experiences.