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Onward. Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators. Edition No. 1

  • Book

  • 384 Pages
  • August 2018
  • John Wiley and Sons Ltd
  • ID: 4423557

A practical framework to avoid burnout and keep great teachers teaching

Onward tackles the problem of educator stress, and provides a practical framework for taking the burnout out of teaching. Stress is part of the job, but when 70 percent of teachers quit within their first five years because the stress is making them physically and mentally ill, things have gone too far. Unsurprisingly, these effects are highest in difficult-to-fill positions such as math, science, and foreign languages, and in urban areas and secondary classrooms - places where we need our teachers to be especially motivated and engaged. This book offers a path to resiliency to help teachers weather the storms and bounce back - and work toward banishing the rain for good.

This actionable framework gives you concrete steps toward rediscovering yourself, your energy, and your passion for teaching. You’ll learn how a simple shift in mindset can affect your outlook, and how taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally is one of the most important things you can do. The companion workbook helps you put the framework into action, streamlining your way toward renewal and strength.

  • Cultivate resilience with a four-part framework based on 12 key habits
  • Uncover your true self, understand emotions, and use your energy where it counts
  • Adopt a mindful, story-telling approach to communication and community building
  • Keep learning, playing, and creating to create an environment of collective celebration

By cultivating resilience in schools, we help ensure that we are working in, teaching in, and leading organizations where every child thrives, and where the potential of every child is recognized and nurtured. Onward provides a step-by-step plan for reigniting that spark.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

Resilience: The What, Why, and How 2

What Informs This Book? 10

Who is This Book For? 11

How is This Book Organized? 12

An Invitation to a Journey 13

Habits and Dispositions of Emotionally Resilient Educators 15

A Calendar of Learning 17

The Resilience Manifesto 19

1 Know Yourself: June 21

Self-Knowledge is True Power 22

Acknowledging Context: Dominant Culture 34

A Dive into Vulnerability 38

Disposition: Purposefulness 40

When the Earth Shakes Under Your Feet 42

2 Understand Emotions: July 45

What are Emotions? 47

Understanding Emotional Intelligence 50

“I’m So Stressed and Overwhelmed” 54

This Body We Live In 56

A Dive into Anger 60

Disposition: Acceptance 64

Reclaim Your Right to Emotions 66

3 Tell Empowering Stories: August 69

The Promise and Pitfalls of Storytelling 70

Digging to the Roots of Interpretation 72

Crafting New Stories 80

Storytelling for Collective Empowerment 83

Acknowledging Context: Organizational Narratives 86

A Dive into Love 88

Disposition: Optimism 90

Choose Your Stories with Care 92

4 Build Community: September 95

Why Focus on Community Building? 96

Trust: The Foundation of a Healthy Community 100

How to Build Community 104

A Dive into Fear 119

Disposition: Empathy 121

Toward a Beloved Community 122

5 Be Here Now: October 125

Mindfulness: What, How, and Why 126

Meditation Changes Your Brain, Body, and Classroom 131

Mindfulness as a Tool for Cultural Competence 134

A Dive into Joy 140

Disposition: Humor 143

Those 65,000 Daily Thoughts 144

6 Take Care of Yourself: November 147

When Disillusionment Sets In 148

To Hell with Martyrdom 153

What Your Body Desperately Needs 157

Learn to Say No 164

A Dive into Perfectionism 166

Disposition: Positive Self-Perception 169

Strive for Balance 170

7 Focus on the Bright Spots: December 173

A Strengths-Based Approach 175

Why It’s Hard to Focus on the Bright Spots 178

Training the Brain 181

Acknowledging Context: Leadership Development Matters 187

A Dive into Sadness 188

Disposition: Empowerment 191

Look for the Light 194

8 Cultivate Compassion: January 197

What Compassion Offers 199

Self-Compassion 204

Compassion Fatigue 209

Forgiving Yourself and Others 211

A Dive into Envy 214

Disposition: Perspective 215

Love is the Only Way 217

9 Be a Learner: February 221

Learn About Learning So That You Can Learn 223

Sad Sundays and How to Stop Having Them 234

Acknowledging Context: On the Conditions for Learning 239

A Dive into Shame 242

Disposition: Curiosity 243

A Beginner’s Mind 244

10 Play and Create: March 247

Why We Need to Play Every Day 249

Art: Where Play Can Take Us 255

Creativity as a Habit and Disposition 258

A Dive into Flow 261

Disposition: Courage 262

The Healing Salves 264

11 Ride the Waves of Change: April 267

Change is Here to Stay 268

How to Deal with Unwanted Change 272

The Secret to Leading Change 278

Acknowledging Context: When Do We Fight the Good Fight? 283

A Dive into Patience 284

Disposition: Perseverance 286

Waves Can Be Fun 287

12 Celebrate and Appreciate: May 289

The Benefits of Appreciation 291

How to Practice Gratitude 293

It’s Okay to Go 300

Acknowledging Context: Spirituality 301

A Dive into Awe and Wonder 306

Disposition: Trust 308

Underground Rivers 309

Conclusion: Onward to Freedom 311

On Freedom 311

Onward: The Movement 314

Appendix A: The Habits and Dispositions of Resilient Educators: A Self-Assessment 317

Appendix B: How to Make Lasting Change 323

Appendix C: The Core Emotions 329

Appendix D: Depression and Anxiety Scales 333

Appendix E: Common Problematic Core Beliefs 337

Appendix F: Resources for Further Learning 341

Acknowledgments 353

About the Author 357

References 359

Index 365

Authors

Elena Aguilar