Hello everyone! Today I have a special announcement: Teach Me, Teacher: Life Lessons That Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher is now available for purchase! To celebrate, I took some time to talk about the book, and read a few pages from the opening chapter. I hope that you'll take the time to listen and read the book. I wrote it for you. Buy on Amazon Buy on B&N ABOUT THE BOOK: Jacob Chastain grew up in an environment filled with drugs and violence. Inside the home that should have felt safe, fear and anxiety were the desperate norm. Stability and security eluded him as he was shuffled between family and friends that would take him in. But at school, things were different. There, day after day, year after year, Chastain's teachers saved him. Teach Me, Teacher is the true story of a childhood marked by heartache—a story that may be similar to that of the children sitting in your classroom. It's the story that shaped Jacob Chastain into the educator he is today. Lessons learned from his experiences as a child and as a growing educator offer reflections on the trials and triumphs facing teachers and students everywhere. From these lessons, we learn that one's darkest moments can ultimately lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life when someone cares enough to step in and make a difference. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. ———————————————— PRAISE FOR TEACH ME, TEACHER "Jacob Chastain pours his heart out on the pages of Teach Me, Teacher by sharing his personal journey through childhood trauma. His message that "action is the antidote to suffering" is a powerful reminder to us all to do more, be more, understand more, and care more for our students." —Kim Bearden, co-founder and executive director, The Ron Clark Academy, author of Talk to Me "Teach Me, Teacher is one of the most courageous, heartbreaking, hopeful books I've ever read." —Regie Routman, author of Literacy Essentials "Jacob Chastain's raw honesty is something that we need more of in the education world." —Halee Sikorski, A Latte Learning "Teach Me, Teacher is both an uplifting memoir and a message to all of us in education of the power we have to build relationships and make a difference for all of our students." —Dr. Sue Szachowicz, senior fellow, Successful Practices Network "Jacob Chastain takes us on a transformational journey where past and present converge into possibility. His story of resilience and hope is a celebration of the impact each of us can have when professional purpose leads the way." —Dr. Mary Howard, author of Good to Great Teaching "Everyone has their past, and Jacob's had challenges. At times raw and emotional, this book allows you to experience Jacob's journey towards understanding, acceptance, and redemption. Jacob shares example after example of how negatives in life can open doors, and his experiences can help the reader to better define a sense of purpose." —Evan Robb, author of The Ten-Minute Principal and coauthor of TeamMakers "My heart bled for children of shattered and dysfunctional families when I read Jacob Chastain's Teach Me, Teacher. Jacob has an insight many of us don't inherently have as teachers. His powerful story is a reminder that as teachers, we can and do make major impacts in the lives of our students. I applaud Jacob's willingness to be open and share his story. His book is filled with life lessons for us all, both in and out of the classroom." —Haley Curfman, elementary educator, The Weary Teacher "Jacob Chastain has done something that is extremely difficult—he has shared parts of his abusive childhood as well as his teaching experiences to show how he transformed negatives into positives to create a meaningful life, start his own family, and becoming a reflective teacher who responds to his students' needs. By sharing his painful memories,