5. Discarding Baggage: Reframing Myths
Becoming a Teacher Who Writes - Let Teaching be your Writing Muse - Nancy S. Gorrell
Nancy S. Gorrell [+]
English teacher and poet
Description
Chapter 5 introduces teachers to the concept of baggage in need of discard. Such baggage comprises obstacles that keep teachers from becoming, and so from teaching with joy, creativity, and authenticity. The author discusses how as a writing teacher she discarded the baggage of absolute authority and reframed it within an apprenticeship model. The author reframes and discards several myths: (1) writing teachers must be writers; (2) you can’t teach creative writing; (3) you can’t teach creativity. In doing so, the author presents strategies and solutions for teachers of all subjects. Chapter 5 also introduces baggage that cannot be discarded: “The Tyranny of the Ts” – time, tradition, textbooks, teacher guides, tests, and “they” – in addition to the new educational environment brought about by Covid-19, school lockdowns, and virtual learning. Chapter 5 concludes with Interdisciplinary Applications for Teachers and Students and a “Discarding Your Baggage” writing prompt.