The Skillful Teacher

V
Vaage, S., 3
Van Ments, M., 127
W
Weinstein, C. E., 75, 155
Welsch, K. A., 84
When Students Have Power (Shor),
104–105
Women faculty, junior, credibility of,
62–63
Working philosophy of teaching:
development and effect on learn-
ers, 253–259; as hedge against
institutional pressures, 257;
implicit beliefs in, 254; and justifi-
cation of new learning, 265; as
rationale for practice, 255–159;
and teacher credibility, 259; value
of, 255–259
Working-class students, higher 
education’s emotional impacts on,
84–85
Z
Zittle, F. J., 200
Index
297
20_980668 bindex.qxp  7/27/06  3:28 PM  Page 297

---

The 
Skillful 
Teacher
In this second edition of the book that has 
become a classic in the fi eld, award-winning 
author Stephen D. Brookfi eld offers inspira-
tion and down-to-earth advice to new and 
seasoned teachers. The Skillful Teacher is 
a comprehensive guide that shows how to 
thrive on the unpredictability and diversity 
of classroom life and includes insights de-
veloped from the hundreds of workshops 
conducted by the author. This new edition 
also refl ects the  many changes  that have 
come about in the decade since the book 
was fi rst published and includes new chap-
ters that deal with emerging topics such as 
classroom diversity and teaching in online 
learning environments.
The Skillful Teacher explores the assump-
tion that skillful teaching is grounded in 
constant research into how students expe-
rience learning. The book explores the three 
R’s of skillful teaching: respect, research, 
and responsiveness. Brookfi eld offers prac-
tical guidance on aspects of the teach-
ing experience that range from lecturing 
creatively to giving helpful evaluations. 
The book also lays out a plan for constantly 
renewing one’s engagement in teaching.
Brookfi eld draws on decades of profes-
sional experience and research on teach-
ing and learning to identify key concerns 
in the teacher-learner relationship, such as 
building trust with students and overcoming 
resistance to learning. Readers will also fi nd 
practical advice on lecturing, discussions, 
role-playing, simulation, and other instruc-
tional techniques. Written for the thoughtful 
professional, The Skillful Teacher is a hands-
on survival manual for restoring confi dence, 
effectiveness, and vigor to the critical prac-
tice of teaching.
The Author