Teaching with Vitality: Pathways to Health and Wellness for Teachers and Schools

by Peggy D. Bennett

Overview

Perhaps more than any other experience, conflict in schools and workplaces can zap our energy and steal our vigor as teachers. If we knew ways to minimize conflict and maximize vitality, would we use them? Teaching with Vitality offers specific behaviors and attitudes to reframe conflict by diluting and dissolving it. Organized into brief topics for busy readers, Teaching with Vitality combines common experiences and practical options for lessening the turmoil that is inevitable in schools. As beneficent stewards of our children, educators are priceless contributors to the quality of our lives. The main goal of Teaching with Vitality is to elevate teachers in their day-to-day lives by deconstructing the major and minor conflicts that sap their peace and dampen their power. School wellness is contagious. And, this book aims to offer daily pathways to health, wellness, and vigor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190674007
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/10/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Professor Emerita of Music Education at Oberlin Conservatory, Peggy D. Bennett has spent over 40 years studying the processes of learning and living. Certifications in teaching, mediation, and life-coaching further stimulated interest in how we can, day-by-day, make choices that contribute to wellness for educators, students, parents, administrators, and staff. Author and co-author of 6 books and over 50 pedagogical and research articles, Dr. Bennett has presented her unique brand of teacher education in nearly every state and four continents.

Table of Contents

Contents Introduction 1. The Gift of Teaching 2. Rethinking Student Success 3. A Metaphor for Teaching 4. Attaching to the Outcome 5. Behaving Respect 6. Ten Minute Makeover 7. Praise in the Classroom 8. Real Moments 9. I Is Just I 10. Accepting Change 11. Assertiveness as Necessity 12. Assertiveness Level 1 13. Assertiveness Level 2 14. Assertiveness Level 3 15. Assertiveness Level 4 16. Assertiveness Level 5 17. Honor in Being Honest 18. Facing Fear 19. Valuing Your Voice 20. Teachers Creed 21. Profanity 22. Embracing Mistakes in Learning 23. Administrator Appreciation 24. Misbehavior & Behavior 25. Eye Expressions 26. Acknowledging Boundaries 27. Cooperation in the Classroom 28. Cleaning the Clutter 29. Stay You 30. Five Questions 31. Feedback that Feeds 32. Personality Preferences 33. Virtue of Listening 34. Musicality in Every Subject 35. Conflict Happens 36. Freezing Images 37. The Toll of Disruptions 38. Hurting in Schools 39. My Word! 40. Context Effect 41. Leave It 42. Teachers Being Friendly 43. Self Talk 44. Just Breathe 45. Being Liked 46. Downshifting 47. Confidentiality 48. Art of Reprimand 49. Pitfalls of Assuming 50. Time to Beware 51. Two Word Cues 52. Rankism in Schools 53. Students Being Friends 54. Ambiance of Singing 55. Neutral Responsiveness 56. Converting Stress to Pressure 57. Privacy 58. Wisdom of Delay 59. Sensory Thresholds 60. Teacher as Entertainer 61. Valuing the Volley 62. Cultivating Curiosity 63. Aspire to Excel 64. Someone Loves Them 65. Problem Solving 66. Allowing Upset 67. I Could Be Wrong 68. Take Your Best Self to School 69. Defining Trust 70. Jumping to Conclusions 71. Resilience 72. Beware of Experts 73. Being a Responsive Professional 74. Teacher Friendships 75. Compassion & Happiness 76. Contagion of Behavior 77. Aim for Understanding 78. Persevere 79. Principles of Teaching and Learning 80. Introverts & Extroverts 81. A Practice of Playfulness 82. Competition in the Classroom 83. Annoyance Anomaly 84. Being a Beneficent Observer 85. Gumption, Grit & Gaiety 86. When We Are What We Do 87. Interpreting Behavior 88. On Second Thought 89. Compassion Fatigue 90. Catastrophizing 91. Moments of Grace 92. Positional & Personal Power 93. Look for the Charm 94. Civility 95. Bounce 96. Paranoia Pandemic 97. Be Impeccable with Your Word 98. Don't Make Assumptions 99. Don't Take Anything Personally 100. Always Do Your Best 101. Peaceful, Powerful You! References

Editorial Reviews

"New teachers will benefit from the countless practical tips on topics ranging from daily interactions in schools to personal health and wellness provided throughout the book. Seasoned teachers will find a renewed sense of purpose and will be inspired to pause to reflect on their daily practices in their schools and their lives. This book is easy to read and digest yet packed with great ideas. Impressively, the text would be equally appropriate if integrated into a student teacher seminar or included as a choice for a teachers' book club in a school community." — Lori T. Gray, Music Educators Journal

"This is helpful reading for teachers looking for a quick motivational thought, those who are feeling weighed down mentally and physically by the teaching occupation, anyone trying to find balance in their work and home life, parents and community members seeking to understand more thoroughly the stresses encountered in the teaching profession, educators such as specialists and administrators whose jobs require them to interact with large numbers of colleagues, and new teachers looking for advice and wisdom as they enter the field." — Orff Echo Review

"Educators looking for challenging ideas packaged in an easy-to-read format need to read this book." — Kelly McGurgan, Forum of the American Journal of Education

"In Peggy Bennett's new book Teaching with Vitality, the sage advice offers a permanent spot on the educator's desk. Each short and concise chapter is as practical as it is renewing. Her perspective from obvious years of experience is a welcome reminder of the joy of teaching and how that joy is dependent upon professional behavior and lofty hopes." — Michigan Music Educator

"Peggy Bennett offers advice and insight to navigate the challenges of teaching and nourish the spirit. Teaching with Vitality provides beginning teachers, as well as seasoned educators, wisdom and solutions in a way that creates positive momentum which fuels the soul while providing motivation to continue in a challenging profession. Readers will appreciate the significance of the teaching profession and be reminded why we became educators through the positive uplifting series of topics containing thought provoking ideas and reminders." -Jayne Ellspermann - NASSP National Principal of the Year (2015)

"How we teach is sometimes more important that what we teach as we strive to ensure student success in the classroom. Peggy Bennett, veteran Texas music educator and former TMEA Executive Board member, has provided us a collection of health and wellness gems that serve as practical and inspirational guides to assist the teacher every day in the classroom. This book should be required reading and serve as a resource for survival for every first-year or veteran teacher." -Bob Floyd

How can educators maintain and create Vitality in the challenging and complex educational environment of today? Peggy Bennett's Vitality is a must read. Vitality promotes the need for educators to build leadership resilience and competence and to continue to be passionate advocates for their students. Vitality provides practical internal resources to stay the course, grow, revive and thrive!" -Lisa Ciaranca Kaplan, The BestSchool's National Principal of the Year, Escalante- Gradillas Prize for Best in Education

"Clearly, the lifelong enthusiasm, focus and gifted insights are provided by Peggy Bennett within the pages of "Vitality." For a teacher of any vintage, practical aphorisms abound. When combined with the innate personality of an educator "called" to the profession, the wisdom contained in these pages will flow to the student, and increased competency and joy of learning will result. A rare accomplishment, and gift to the profession." -Stuart Brown MD Founder and President, The National Institute for Play

"Vitality is a book of hope and inspiration. Especially for new teachers or teachers who have lost their way."-Dr. Richard L. Curwin, Co-author of Discipline with Dignity

From the Publisher