Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

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

About the Author :
ELENA AGUILAR is the founder and president of Bright Morning Consulting, an educational consulting group that works around the world supporting educators to meet the needs of children. She is the author of The Art of Coaching and The Art of Coaching Teams and a longtime contributor to Edutopia and EdWeek.