"Out-of-School Tales of a Reluctant Educator" ... is a brilliant, insightful, vivid, heartwarming narrative of a reluctant teacher's attempt to navigate the sometimes treacherous and rollicking waters of adolescence. Page had never wanted to be a teacher. She was out of work, there was a teacher shortage, and Milltown High School needed a teacher. She had no training, no coursework, knew nothing about adolescents, and, besides teaching world history and American geography, she was charged to teach first and second year Spanish even though she could barely speak a word. "Out-of-School Tales," starting with Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, spans forty-two years of poignant, unexpected, sometimes scary, and mostly hilarious events; the adolescent escapades might remind you of your own. At the same time, woven throughout is historical context and a portrait of how a teacher develops her ability to teach. From Billy giving her a very strange gift that he had crafted in shop class, to Page joining her neighbors in chasing two fat pigs down a country road in Vermont, there isn't a dull moment. It's history, it's sociology, it's education, it's all about adolescents. It might make you laugh and it might make you cry a little. www.marilynmonkspage.com _________________
About the Author: Marilyn Monks Page grew up in Worcester, MA and lived, and raised her children, in the Boston area for many years. She began her career as a high school social-studies and Spanish teacher and taught in every grade 7 through 12, at every academic level, in rural, suburban, and urban school systems in different parts of the United States. She taught at the university level and worked with pre- and in-service teachers, grades K-12, for 20 years. She also directed a research project for the development of K-12 professional certification requirements in the state of Washington. She has been the technology coordinator for educational programs at two universities and developed the first middle-school, teacher-preparation programs in the Vermont State College System. She earned her EdD from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in Instructional Leadership and in Educational Media and Technology. She is the author, and author with Bruce A. Marlowe, of several books. At any given time you can find her in Boston or in San Francisco or in Seattle or in Paris. And she likes it that way. ----------------------------------- Also by Marilyn L Page: You Can't Teach Until Everyone Is Listening; Creating and Sustaining the Constructivist Classroom (2nd Edition) (with Bruce Marlowe); Creating and Sustaining the Constructivist Classroom (1st Edition) (with Bruce Marlowe); Creating the Constructivist Classroom, High School Edition, Video Series (with Bruce Marlowe); Creating the Constructivist Classroom, Middle School Edition, Video Series (with Bruce Marlowe); Creating the Constructivist Classroom, Elementary School Edition, Video Series (with Bruce Marlowe).