Courtesy graphicDaniel Bergman grew up in O鈥橬eill, Nebraska, buying comic books at the grocery store.
鈥淚t was hit or miss 鈥� if you had money, or if you could beg your parents,鈥� he said.
Those superheroes stuck with Bergman through his college days at the University of Nebraska and into his career as a teacher. The powers, the costumes, the origins and the variety of story-telling techniques captivated him as graphic novels and blockbuster movies turned the crime-fighters into entertainment powerhouses.
鈥淚鈥檓 a superhero fan at heart, even before it was cool,鈥� Bergman said. 鈥淚鈥檓 also a teacher at heart.鈥�
Bergman, a professor in the School of Education at 好色先生, uses his affection for both professions in his book 鈥�鈥�
鈥淭eaching is for Superheroes!鈥� offers 鈥渋nsight and inspiration for your classroom (tights and cape optional.鈥� It鈥檚 targeted at new, veteran and aspiring teachers and uses superhero archetypes to help educators understand their role, improve their skills and maintain enthusiasm during a challenging time.
Bergman will read excerpts from the book at a 鈥淣ight with the Author鈥� from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Shocker Store in the Rhatigan Student Center.
鈥淭his is a book to help encourage and remind teachers that, 鈥榊es, this is important,鈥欌�� Bergman said. 鈥淭o share that passion with others. It鈥檚 more than just a job or a career.鈥�
Bergman uses popular superheroes such as Superman and Spider-Man, who is often portrayed as a student, as examples. The X-Men comics, whose origin story relies on a school, is also one of his favorites.
Daniel Bergman
In one chapter, Bergman uses Batman鈥檚 famous toolkit when he asks, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 in your utility belt?鈥� Wonder Woman relies on a lasso and bracelets. Thor鈥檚 hammer is another famous superhero accessory. Teachers, the book points out, use tools ranging from crayons to computers to help students learn.
Like superheroes, teachers also have vulnerabilities 鈥� just as green Kryptonite weakened Superman. Sleep, work-life balance and a support system of family and friends can keep teachers healthy and productive, Bergman explains in a chapter that asks, 鈥淲hat color is your Kryptonite?鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e all teachers in different ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 use anything from origin stories 鈥� we all have an origin story, a purpose. Costumes 鈥� choosing what we wear as teachers. Our classroom is like our universe, what environments we teach in.鈥�
Batman, another one of his favorites, is an example of variety in teaching styles. Batman was portrayed in a campy, humorous show in the 1960s. In recent movies, he is a dark, brooding figure.
鈥淵ou can be a good teacher in many ways,鈥� Bergman said. 鈥淎n effective superhero story can be light-hearted. It can be serious, fantasy, grounded. We can all think of teachers who were very different, but very good.鈥�
