What Had Happened

If you've ever been a teacher who thought, "why am I doing this?" Or a student who asked, "why does this matter?" Or a parent who wondered why it's so hard to keep really good teachers in the classroom...here's your answer. -John Lackey (Teacher) Ryan Neumann's focus and writing style are unique and pioneering in conveying his reflections on teaching. Much literature about teaching centers on the technical aspects of how to work with students. Ryan advances readers’ understanding of what a teacher’s life is like from an affective standpoint. Ryan shows, not tells. But in so doing, he tells us much, and his stories make an indelible impression because of his ability to render reality into story, and story into meaning. I think that What Had Happened is as compelling as just about anything I’ve read about life as a teacher. -Peter Smagorinsky (Distinguished Research Professor of English Education)