Recommended Reading & Listening
Recommended Reading for Adult and Student SEL
Onward
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.
Accompanying website with many types of supportive resources:
UnSelfie
Hailed as “an absolute must-read” (Jean Twenge) and a book that “will change your kids’ lives” (Jack Canfield), UnSelfie by Dr. Michele Borba explains what parents and educators MUST do to combat the growing empathy crisis among children today—including a 9-step empathy-building program with tips to guide kids from birth through college, and beyond.
Teens today are forty percent less empathetic than they were thirty years ago. Why is a lack of empathy—which goes hand-in-hand with the self-absorption epidemic Dr. Michele Borba calls the Selfie Syndrome—so dangerous? First, it hurts kids’ academic performance and leads to bullying behaviors. Also, it correlates with more cheating and less resilience. And once children grow up, a lack of empathy hampers their ability to collaborate, innovate, and problem-solve—all must-have skills for the global economy.
The good news? Empathy is a trait that can be taught and nurtured. Dr. Borba offers a framework for parenting that yields the results we all want: successful, happy kids who also are kind, moral, courageous, and resilient. UnSelfie is a blueprint for parents and educators who want to kids shift their focus from I, me, and mine…to we, us, and ours
Recommended Listening
The Mindful Schools Podcast
By educators, for educators, The Mindful Schools Podcast supports listeners in resourcing inspiration from within.
We share practices to help you reconnect with your own strengths and passion for teaching, as well as give concrete examples of what mindfulness looks like in action, both for your work with students and for your own self-care.
Our intention is to be responsive to what is happening in schools in real time, from the vantage point of our team of mindful educators, and create discussion, community and support for those working in the field. We look forward to connecting with you.
In partnership with the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, Gale has created Cameron’s Collection, a collection of eBooks, to help academic libraries privately support students mental health with health and wellness information—including where to find professional help, mental health services, support groups for mental health issues, and counseling.
The professional development titles that support Cameron’s Collection features titles that are for teachers who have students struggling with mental health issues, how to create a peaceful and safe classroom, as well as how to manage their own stress and anxiety. Included in the collection are 39 titles that focus on SEL, mindfulness, resilience, trauma-informed practices, restorative practices, etc.
Thank you to Nevada County Superintendent of Schools for connecting our students and staff to these resources.
Staff PD
