Myths and Misconceptions about Teaching: What Really Happens in the Classroom

Here, author Vicki Snider describes six teaching myths that prevent reform in education. These myths affect all students, but especially hurt low-performing students-those with disabilities or risk factors. Based on her perspective as a longtime classroom teacher and teacher educator, Dr. Snider examines the beliefs that guide teaching practices. She uses current research on teaching reading to illustrate the faulty premises that underlie the myths and how they ultimately affect children and adolescents. Together, these myths expose an approach to teaching that is highly contextual and idiosyncratic, leaving little room for the inherent absolutes in school reform efforts. The six myths: _ Process _ Fun _ Eclectic instruction _ Good teacher _ Learning style, and _ Disability Myths and Misconceptions about Teaching features: _ A description of the historical, sociological, and philosophical forces that reinforce these myths _ A comparison of the field of education to medicine in an attempt to explain why there is so much reluctance to embrace a science of teaching This book should be of interest to teachers, professors, parents, school board members, and graduate students.