Combines theory and practice to inspire teachers to embrace a sense of surprise in their classrooms.

What would your classroom be like if you could see it as something surprising, novel, and fresh in every moment? What are the unique gifts that students and teachers alike bring to classrooms? Through a combination of robust theory, in-depth scholarship, and practical exercises for teachers, A Pedagogy of Surprise is a vital resource that allows teachers to explore how they can bring a sense of wonder, surprise, and gratitude into their experiences of the classroom. It will delight and inspire anyone with an interest in using contemplation, mindfulness, and reflection to enhance teacher wellness. Topics include how a phenomenology of surprise can inform and enhance the teaching and curricular experience, the gift economy as applied to the classroom, the meaning and scope of gratitude practices in curricular settings, and applications of surprise, gifts, and gratitude to teaching. The final chapter includes inspiring visualizations that teachers of any grade can apply to feel more gifted, surprised, and connected within their classroom milieu.

"In A Pedagogy of Surprise, Brown invites teachers to reflect, rethink, and reimagine what it means to teach through a surprise-based pedagogy that fosters joyful and meaningful learning. He offers a fresh perspective on incorporating surprise, gifts, and gratitude into teaching practice … The discussion and reflection questions at the end of each chapter serve as valuable tools for educators to enhance their comprehension and effectively apply the insights they gain to their teaching practice." — CHOICE

"A Pedagogy of Surprise offers a needed reframing of what education is and does, away from the idea of workforce preparation and competition, and toward the facilitation of human flourishing. The book considers teaching as a spiritual endeavor, examining the deep significance of classroom interactions and relationships." — Isabel Nuñez, Department of Teacher Education, Purdue University Fort Wayne

"Ideal for Professional Development workshops, faculty book groups, courses on curriculum development, and pedagogy of practice." — Ritu Radhakrishnan, Curriculum and Instruction Department, SUNY Oswego