Dragons In My Classroom: A Teacher’s Memoir by Barbara Kennard

Publisher:  She Writes Press, (June 14, 2022)
Category: Memoir, Educator Biographies, Mid-Life Management, Inspirational
Tour dates: June 15, 2022-July 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647423650
Available in Print and ebook, 224 pages

Description Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard

As a young book lover with dyslexia, Barbara found the solution to her reading struggles in Miss Gluding, her first-grade teacher, who showed compassion for her student’s plight—and knew how to help her. From that time on, Barbara knew what she wanted to be: a teacher, just like Miss Gluding.

Unfortunately, Barbara also had some bad teachers in the years that ensued—including her sixth-grade teacher, an exacting woman who called attention to Barbara’s learning disabilities in front of classmates. Still wanting to follow in Miss Gluding’s footsteps in 1964, Barbara vowed she would be a better one than her sixth-grade teacher; instead, however, she became very much like her, with unattainable expectations for her students and herself. After seventeen years in the teaching profession, she realized she had to either change her teaching style or change careers. By providence, right as she stood at this crossroads, she was offered the opportunity to teach overseas at The Dragon School in Oxford, England, for a year—an opportunity she jumped at.

In the year that followed, Barbara would rely on her faith in God to give up a lot of what she knew about teaching and learn to do it differently—ways that wouldn’t have room for her perfectionism. In short, she would have to begin again.

My Thoughts Dragons In My Classroom by Barbara Kennard

Barbara Kennard knew that she wanted to become a teacher from a young age, like her first-grade teacher.  She did not want to be over bearing, like her sixth-grade teacher.

Let me start from the beginning. Barbara had a learning disability, dyslexia. It is a very common problem but when she went to school, there was no such thing as special education.  Luckily for her, her first-grade teacher would not give up on her and she learned to read. That teacher influenced her so much that she wanted to follow in her foot steps.  Even though when she started sixth grade, she was discouraged by her over bearing teacher.

I completely understood how she felt. You see, I also had dyslexia and struggle to learn how to read, write and do basic math.  By the time I went to school, in the 60’s, my school had a special education first grade class.  My teacher, Mrs. Conden, had the patience of a saint and I learned.  Once I caught on how to read, you could not get me to stop!  However, I also had a terrible Kindergarten teacher who punished me for things like not being able to cut out a heart on Valentine’s day that actually looked like a heart.  Of course, that was from the dyslexia as well.  At least, I know that now, as an adult who had studied disabilities towards my Social work degree. I also had an over bearing fifth grade teacher.

I wanted to be in a helping profession, like Ms. Kennard but certainly not teaching, due to my negative experiences! That is where we differ.  She wanted to be like her first-grade teacher and not her sixth-grade teacher. She succeeded in becoming a teacher.  She loved teaching in a Montessori school but eventually ended up teaching in an all-boys school in Boston.  That was more challenging for her.  Between the administration and the parents, she started to feel burned out.

A friend of hers, from the administration came to talk with her one day.  He could tell that she was feeling burnt out.  He told her about a program they had with a school in Oxford, England.  Teachers would swap places for two years. He said that he did it and he gained an entirely new perspective from it. After discussing it with her husband, she decided to do it and moved to Oxford for 2 years. It was named the Dragon school.

She loved the experience and grew leaps and bounds from the experience.  After the 2 years she was back in Boston with renewed energy. She had a new outlook.  How so you ask? Sorry, I am not giving away any spoilers here, you will have to read the book.  Yeah, I can hear you now, “but a book about teaching must be boring!” Well, I am here to tell you, not this book, not ‘Dragons In My Classroom’!

Ms. Kennard writes with poetic prose that is anything but boring.  She writes lovingly about her students, about Boston, and Oxford.  I felt like I was there, as her friend and assistant teacher. You don’t have to be a teacher, parent, or student to love this memoir!  It has something to teach everyone while entertaining at the same time.  She has achieved so much, especially for someone with dyslexia!

Kennard writes from the heart and I cannot recommend ‘Dragons In My Classroom’ highly enough.  If you do read it, please come back and share your thoughts.  In fact, I think it would make for excellent book club discussion!

5 stars

I received the eBook for my honest review.


<h2>About Barbara Kennard

(c) Cedric Buard

Barbara Kennard taught English and performing arts to elementary, middle, and high school students from 1980 to 2015 and has received two teaching awards: The Christa McAuliffe Award for Teaching Excellence and The Barbara Kennard Sixth Grade English Prize, established in her name at The Fessenden School by a Fessenden family.

Barbara lives in Texas with her husband, pianist Brady Millican, and their cat, Piper.

Website: barbarakennardauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/barbara.kennard.167
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraKennard7

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