What Keeps Teachers Going?
By Sonia Nieto (Teachers College Press, $18.95).
Drawing on a solid grounding of multicultural education principles, including the premise that "autobiography is part of teaching," Nieto delves deeply into the personal and professional lives of successful urban teachers. At the center of her research is a year-long inquiry group who discuss tough issues such as anger, democracy, and intellectual challenges. Their candid exploration illustrates the need for teachers to form communities of learning.

The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn from Each Other
By Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot (Random House, $24.95).
When young Sara's second-grade teacher told her parents that she might not be college material, the child was more surprised by their reaction—quiet acceptance. That silence haunted the author through all subsequent parent-teacher conferences, including those when she was the parent. Written from a personal perspective, The Essential Conversation is a painfully honest account of what goes on beneath the surface on both sides. Lawrence-Lightfoot, a sociologist and professor of education at Harvard (guess she was college-ready after all), offers lucid observations, keen analysis, and recommendations for parents and teachers alike to transform the classic ritual dialogue into a productive one.

Retirement Straight Talk: Stories and Wisdom from Educators
By Donald R. Draayer (Scarecrow Press, $24.95).
Several hundred participants speak for themselves in this congenial account of retired educators' experiences, compiled by a former National Superintendent of the Year. The interviewees describe the typical stages of retirement—defining success, staying involved, maintaining financial security—from an educator's perspective. Each chapter in this practical guide focuses on a particular milestone and poses exploratory questions for the reader.

www.aarp.org
February 2004

Multiple Intelligences and Adult Literacy: A Sourcebook for Practitioners
By Julie Viens and Silja Kallenbach; foreword by Howard Gardner (Teachers College Press, 2004).
Howard Gardner's groundbreaking multiple intelligences (MI) theory challenged traditional notions of a single "general" intelligence. Educators of nearly every stripe interpreted Gardner's ideas for kids' classrooms. But until now, no book showed how to integrate MI basics into adult literacy classes. Rich with practical lesson plans, Multiple Intelligences and Adult Literacy does just that.

Teachers already know that any group of students has diverse talents and weaknesses. Viens and Kallenbach walk the reader through the basics of MI theory, and supply ample vignettes to illustrate how different students process information. Practical considerations—such as the pros and cons of explicitly discussing the approach with students, curriculum planning guides, and lesson plans—immediately serve teachers' needs. This long-awaited tool is a must for those who teach English as a second language or adult basic education classes.