Overview

In Tips for Teaching in America, Joshua Roark delivers a sharp, unflinching poetry collection drawn from the lived realities of the classroom. Written from the perspective of a teacher navigating the emotional, political, and deeply human terrain of American education, these poems capture moments of humor, grief, resistance, and unexpected grace.Set against the backdrop of the Mississippi Delta, Roark's work explores the fragile rituals of school life, the language students and teachers use to survive, and the quiet relationships that shape a generation. Blending narrative clarity with lyrical urgency, the collection reflects on what it means to guide young voices while confronting the limits of institutions and the weight of personal responsibility.Previously released under the title Put One Hand Up, Lean Back, this Special SXSW Edition arrives alongside the premiere of Roark's film Dead Deer High, where the book itself appears as part of the story's creative world. Together, the poems form a powerful meditation on teaching, storytelling, and the search for connection in a complicated America.Honest, intimate, and socially aware, Tips for Teaching in America speaks to educators, artists, and readers drawn to poetry that listens closely to the voices inside and outside the classroom.

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9781969421983

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Joshua Roark received his MFA in poetry and works as a writing professor at Antioch University. His book of sonnets about teaching middle school as an alumnus of Teach for America was published by Unsolicited Press. In addition to his poetry, Joshua is a screenwriter and filmmaker in Los Angeles, collaborating frequently with his wife, Jo Rochelle. Their most recent project, Dead Deer High, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2026 and is Joshua's debut screenplay.

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