Educating with Passion and Purpose: Keep the Fire Going without Burning Out
Description
In an era of sky-high burnout, Educating with Passion and Purpose gives veteran teachers everything they need to thrive in their profession. This book will help you avoid the disenchantment and frustration that can come from doing the difficult work of K-12 education. You are in this field because you want to make a difference, but you often lack the support you need to do that amid overwhelming demands. Experienced educators themselves, authors Meredith Matson and Rebekah Shoaf speak the truth about what today's teachers confront-and how you can navigate the changing landscape to face the challenges and opportunities we encounter.
Inside, you'll find frequent opportunities for self-reflection on the topics that matter most to educators, including race, privilege, wellbeing, mentorship, and how to rise to the social-emotional demands that teaching asks. At a time when many teachers are leaving the field within the first years of their careers, Educating with Passion and Purpose offers you a way forward, so you can nurture your students and professional self.
Gain perspective on why you teach and what matters most to you in your career
How race and identity influence classroom interactions
Learn practical strategies for protecting your social and emotional energy and seeking help from outside the classroom
Find a new sense of inspiration in your teaching practice with hands-on activities and tools
This book is perfect for teachers with three or more years of experience, and it also offers crucial insights for pre-service educators, staff developers, and experienced teachers looking for ways to avoid pitfalls traditional teacher-training programs do not prepare them for and to overcome career burnout.
<b>Stay engaged with your purpose to better serve your students-and yourself</b>
In an era of sky-high burnout, <i>Educating with Passion and Purpose </i>gives veteran teachers everything they need to thrive in their profession. This book will help you avoid the disenchantment and frustration that can come from doing the difficult work of K-12 education. You are in this field because you want to make a difference, but you often lack the support you need to do that amid overwhelming demands. Experienced educators themselves, authors Meredith Matson and Rebekah Shoaf speak the truth about what today's teachers confront-and how you can navigate the changing landscape to face the challenges and opportunities we encounter.
Inside, you'll find frequent opportunities for self-reflection on the topics that matter most to educators, including race, privilege, wellbeing, mentorship, and how to rise to the social-emotional demands that teaching asks. At a time when many teachers are leaving the field within the first years of their careers, <i>Educating with Passion and Purpose</i> offers you a way forward, so you can nurture your students and professional self.
<ul><li>Gain perspective on why you teach and what matters most to you in your career</li><li>How race and identity influence classroom interactions</li><li>Learn practical strategies for protecting your social and emotional energy and seeking help from outside the classroom</li><li>Find a new sense of inspiration in your teaching practice with hands-on activities and tools</li></ul>This book is perfect for teachers with three or more years of experience, and it also offers crucial insights for pre-service educators, staff developers, and experienced teachers looking for ways to avoid pitfalls traditional teacher-training programs do not prepare them for and to overcome career burnout.
More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Rebekah Shoaf has been an educator for twenty years and is the CEO of the educational consulting firm What If Schools. She is also founder and owner of Boogie Down Books, a bookstore-without-walls (R) for kids, teens, families, and educators.
<b>Meredith Matson </b>is Principal at the Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction in New York. In her twenty-one years as an educator, she has also been a teacher, assistant principal, mentor to new teachers, history department chair, and grade-team leader.
<b>Rebekah Shoaf </b>has been an educator for twenty years and is the CEO of the educational consulting firm What If Schools. She is also founder and owner of Boogie Down Books, a bookstore-without-walls<sup> (R)</sup> for kids, teens, families, and educators.
Content
<i>Introduction</i>
<b>Why We Wrote This Book</b>
<b>Who This Book Is For</b>
<b>How to Use This Book</b>
<b>Why Reflection Matters</b>
<i>Chapter 1: Finding Your Purpose</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
My Why, My Drive
Pain and Loss
Becoming Invisible
My Drive for Leadership
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Schooling vs. Learning
Finding My "Why"
<b>Your Turn</b>
Research to Help Excavate Your Purpose
Excavating Your Why
Refining Your Why
Amplifying Your Why
Connecting Your Why to Your Work
Exploring Your Ikigai
Meditating to Discover Your Why
Personality Tests and Purpose
The Roots of Your Purpose
Troubleshooting Your Purpose
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
Helping Your Community Articulate Their Why
Finding Your Purpose as a Leader
Supporting Teachers in Understanding Purpose
Your School or District's Purpose
Asserting an Equity Stance
<i>Chapter 2: Purpose and Burnout</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
When Your Work Becomes a Job Rather than a Profession
What Feels Like Burnout But Isn't?
Searching for an Identity
What Do You Do When All You Do Is Complain?
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Shift Happens
Losing My Prep Periods and My Purpose
<b>Your Turn</b>
Identifying Your Why Nots
Burnout Self-Assessment I
Burnout Self-Assessment II
Using the Burnout Spectrum
Identifying Possible Contributors to Burnout
Visualizing Your Own Fire
How Burnout Impacts BIPOC Educators
How Burnout Impacts Antiracist Educators
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
Is Distributive Leadership Leading to Burnout?
What About Leader Burnout?
<i>Chapter 3: What You Teach</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
Bringing My Why Out on Day One
Developing Daily Lessons Infused with My Why
When Your Curriculum Leads You To Be Misaligned
Coaching Teachers Using Their Why
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Designing for My Why
The Hazards of "High Expectations"
Designing for Transformation
<b>Your Turn</b>
Assessing Your Curriculum
Analyzing the Lessons that Resonate
What If You Hate Your Curriculum?
Standardized Tests Aren't Everything...But They Are Something
What If You're Still Learning Your Curriculum?
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
Professional Development
Curriculum Design and Support
<i>Chapter 4: How You Teach</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
Gaining Respect and Building Authentic Relationship
Systems and Structures that Empower
Take Control of Planning
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Keeping My Students' Reading Fires Going
Reframing Resistance
<b>Your Turn</b>
Assess Your Instruction
What If You Have to Use Mandated Instructional Methods?
Listening to Your Students
How's Your Sleep?
Connecting Instruction and Classroom Management
What If You're Still Learning How To Teach?
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
Clear Structures and Expectations Help Everyone
Feedback Is Essential
<i>Chapter 5: Being the Lead Learner</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
Pushing Myself as a Learner
Professional Development Within the School Setting
My First Lesson as a Principal
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Professional Learning that's Personal and Purposeful
Summer Schooling
<b>Your Turn</b>
Who Are You As a Learner?
What Do You Need to Learn to Fuel Your Purpose? How Do You Need to Learn It?
What Do You Have Control of When It Comes to Your Learning?
What if the PD at Your School Isn't Adequate?
What If You Just Need a Break?
What If You Need Time to Reconnect with Family and Friends?
What If You Need a Change of Scenery?
What If You Need to Earn Extra Money?
What If You Need to Provide Childcare?
What If You've Been Assigned a Mentor You're Not Learning From?
What If the PD Is Causing Your Burnout?
Reading to Learn
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
<i>Chapter 6: Finding Your Professional Home</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
The Interview Process Can Tell You About Your New Community
Finding My Home
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Doing the Hiring
Aligning People, Positions, and Purpose
<b>Your Turn</b>
Reflecting on Purpose
People, Not Positions
When You Want To Be Hired
Change Is Hard
<b>Additional Consideration for Leaders</b>
Creating Space to Connect and Explore Identities
Knowing What You're Looking For
The Transformative Process
Reflective Prompts for School Leaders
Building a Bench
<i>Chapter 7: Nourishing Your Network</i>
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
Being the Younger Sister to a True Inspiration
Challenging Patriarchal Norms
The Power of Mentors Who Believe in You
Cultivating a Team and Helping Leaders Rise
My Teacher Champions
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Team You
Who I Learn From
Who I Learn With
Who I Teach
<b>Your Turn</b>
People Plus Purpose
A Framework for Thinking About Your Network
What If You're Having Trouble Finding Mentors?
<b>Additional Considerations for Leaders</b>
Supporting Teachers Through Community
Make Coaching a Priority
The Staff Lounge
Conclusion
<b>Meredith's Turn</b>
The School Leader Within Me
<b>Rebekah's Turn</b>
Why I Left
Where We Go From Here
<b>Your Turn</b>
Where Do You Go From Here?
Appendix
<b>Beginning of the Year Teacher Reflection Tool</b>
<b>Burnout Self-Assessment Checklist</b>
<b>Burnout Spectrum</b>
<b>Connecting School-wide Policies to Your Purpose</b>
<b>Excavating Your Why Reflection Tool</b>
<b>Fire Visualization Tool</b>
<b>The Five Whys</b>
<b>Intentional Summer Planning Protocol</b>
<b>Job Search Preparation Tool</b>
<b>Mentor Matching and Reflection</b>
<b>Modifying for Misalignment Tool</b>
<b>Network Reflection Tool</b>
<b>Planning Tool for a Sustainable Hiring Process</b>
<b>Preparing for Conversations about Equity</b>
<b>Professional Learning Reflection Tool</b>
<b>Purposeful Planning Tool for Professional Learning</b>
<b>Purposeful Planning Tool for Units and Lessons</b>
<b>Reflecting on Community Spaces for Collaboration</b>
<b>Reflection Tool for Burnout Factors</b>
<b>Reflective Tool for Designing Classroom Systems</b>
<b>Sample Student Feedback Survey</b>
<b>Staff Member Community Involvement Survey</b>
<b>Teacher-Led Inquiry Cycle for Professional Development</b>
<b>Time Management Tool</b>
Back Matter
Acknowledgements
Meredith's Turn
Rebekah's Turn
Our Turn
About the Authors