Ian Berger (R) at work, teaching Shakespeare at Garrison School
This afternoon, Saturday, June 25 at 2 p.m., at the Desmond-Fish Library, Garrison School English teacher Ian Berger will give a free talk entitled “Teaching the Fantastic: Explore the Realms Unknown and Learn How to Lead Others There.” Many of the books Berger will be discussing, such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, can be borrowed from the library.
Berger has found over the years that all the “geeky activities and conversations he did in his youth ended up being assets in the classroom.” No matter if he’s talking about the finer points of battling with medieval weaponry or discussing the logic of alien ecosystems, he’s sharing what interested him the most. He’s joyfully learned that becoming an adult doesn’t mean giving up the silly things of youth; it just means you do those activities better. One of Berger’s greatest joys now is to teach the books he loved as a child with the young people of today.
Berger lives in Peekskill with his wife Kirsten and three children: Gabriel, Miranda, and Guinevere. Any resemblance of his children’s names to characters of mythology or literature is a coincidence, he swears! When he’s not pounding computer keys, teaching, or being with his family, he can usually be found somewhere on the Hudson River on his windsurfer or standup paddleboard. He’s currently writing the non-fiction book Teach the Fantastic as well as a dystopian novel of the future. For more information, visit the library’s website or call 845-424-3020.
Photo by A. Rooney
