Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School

For my PLC's book group, we decided to read the book Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School by author and former elementary school teacher Carla Shalaby. I originally had the book assigned to me for another education class I'm currently enrolled in, but after reading the foreword, I realized that this book would be a great tool and resource for this Adolescent Development class. The book discusses the roles that separation, erasure, love, and freedom play within school settings, and focuses on the stories of four "troublemakers" in classrooms. It doesn't focus solely on why these kids are labelled as troublemakers, but instead follows their navigation of home life, school, and relationships with their peers and teachers. I look forward to seeing life from the point of view of the four "troublemakers" as well as seeing what I can do as a future educator to create a positive, sustainable learning environment for all my learners.