Book Review: Good Morning, Children: My First Years in Early Childhood Education by Sophia Pappas, MPP ’10
by Sabrina Roshan on April 29, 2009 in Culture
In her new book, Good Morning, Children: My First Years in Early Childhood Education, Sophia Pappas (MPP’10) exposes the challenges and joys faced by a young Teach For America (TFA) pre-K teacher in Newark, NJ. The book includes a collection of blog entries that detail Sophia’s experiences as a recent college graduate working through the early childhood education system in an urban setting, and provides insight into her approach towards assessment, planning and instruction – tools she used as foundational pieces for a successful classroom initiative. Pappas details her efforts in shifting from a high achieving government student at Georgetown to a struggling role model for a group of children who have left their homes for the first time.
Pappas writes that she was “a leader on the first line of defense against educational inequity” as a teacher at Carter Elementary School. Her narration focuses on her struggle to battle injustices stemming from unequal opportunity by learning to take on a strong leadership position. She is fighting the good fight on a daily basis on behalf of the students, parents, the administration, and her teaching assistant. The striking resemblance between private sector-like management initiatives and Pappas’ recounting of her TFA leadership model truly exposes the unique approach the organization takes in seeking to improve the quality of education for disadvantaged American public school students.
Pappas details the importance of her mentor throughout her leadership journey, from failed 4th grade teacher to a pre-K teacher who gains control of her leadership path, and therefore her classroom. Her mentor displays the traits of a guiding force that all young professionals – whether in the teaching field or on the Hill – yearn for. Pappas’ description of this relationship provides a powerful connecting force for the average reader: everyone needs and can relate with the importance of having a strong figure to provide earnest advice and positive reinforcement.
When initially sitting down to read this book, I feared that details of curriculum development and teacher training methodology would supersede my ability to understand Pappas’ journey. Instead, through the fluidity of her writing and the exploration of universal themes, I found myself engrossed in her day-to-day activities, curious to see how she would face her next battle – whether it be the potential confrontation with the teaching aid over a simple desk placement averted, the student who cries endlessly when dropped off at school every morning, or simple changes that could dramatically affect her school year (e.g., picking up breakfast for the students instead of having older students drop it off in a disorganized and chaotic fashion).
The importance of organizational leadership that is stressed throughout the core at the Kennedy School proves to be the make or break factor for Pappas as a TFA teacher. The success in her approach with these young children is not only based on her ability to prepare effectively, but on her ability to implement her ideas with power and prowess. She outlines this realization by comparing it to her experience in college:
“The diligent student in me that had wowed professors with well-crafted essays quickly mastered the art of designing a five-step lesson plan. My fledgling management skills, however, undermined any chance these plans had for successful implementation.”
The book provides great insight for recent college graduates facing a classroom environment or any other position in which they aim to harness their leadership skills and adjust to life post-college: all environments where accountability and management plays a central role in success. Pappas continuously references the contrast between college life and her first years in the teaching field, allowing young readers to relate to her experience.
In all, Good Morning, Children: My First Years in Early Childhood Education is an informative yet entertaining read that allows for a bird’s eye view of the experiences and struggles of a young, hopeful advocate whose main objective is to fight for a seemingly forgotten population.
If you are interested in finding out more about Sophia’s work, please visit http://www.sophiapappas.com.
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