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Home » Resources » Scholarship on Teaching » Teacher: Mastering the Art and Craft of Teaching
Scholarship July 3, 2025

Teacher: Mastering the Art and Craft of Teaching

The Wabash Center

Author
Bennett, Tom
Publisher
Continuum, New York, NY
ISBN
9781441114358
Table of Contents
Introduction

Section One: What does it Mean to Be a Teacher?
ch. 1 Why You Need to Read this Book
ch. 2 The Hidden History of Teachers
ch. 3 How Policy is Made
ch. 4 Teachers of the World
ch. 5 Get Me to the Greeks

Section Two: Developing Your Own Teaching Character
ch. 6 I am the Law: Judgement
ch. 7 Lion Taming: Courage
ch. 8 I am Waiting: Patience
ch. 9 I am the Adult: Wisdom
ch. 10 If at First you don't Succeed: Perseverance
ch. 11 They are Only Children: Compassion
ch. 12 The Dangers of the Profession

Section Three: The Workout
ch. 13 Pumping Iron: Continual Character Development and Sharing Good Practice
ch. 14 Keeping in Shape: Perpetual Professional Development and Following the Right Career Path

Conclusion
References and Further Reading
Index
Most teacher manuals talk about what teachers need to do. That's useful enough, especially for new teachers. But no list, however long, can anticipate every circumstance, and in teaching unusual circumstances are an integral part of everyday life. But how do experienced teachers know what to do?

Successful teachers develop a Teaching Character; they've worked on the qualities and personality traits that they need in order to cope successfully with the full spectrum of situations that being a teacher can involve. Veterans don't ask themselves, 'What does the teaching guide book tell me?' when confronted with difficult situations - they react instinctively, based on the character skills they've developed over time. Unfortunately, for most people this process of learning is unguided, and unconscious. It's time for a self-help manual that actually helps.

This book includes case studies and anecdotes, chapter summaries and humorous illustrations to help teachers reflect on what it means to be a teacher, and why it is the most rewarding profession there is. (From the Publisher)