Well Being
[3 Credits] | ▪ Teaching is one of the most noble jobs one can hold, but with great rewards come immense challenges. This Thinking Out of the Box class will give different toolkits for teachers to unwind and return to homeostasis.
▪ It is equally important for teachers to understand the determinants of children’s well-being, but also to be mindful of their own.
▪ Course will cover a blend of theory, practical strategies, and reflective exercises to help trainees manage their mental, emotional, and physical health, while navigating the specific demands on teachers from students, parents, and school administrators.
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| Topics | ▪ Understanding the diverse aspects of Well-Being: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, occupational
▪ How Well-Being affects teacher effectiveness
▪ Mental and Emotional Health: stress triggers, rest and relaxation/meditation, breath work, Mental Presence
▪ Physical Being: Exercise & Proper Nutrition, Posture and Ergonomics, Movement (stretches, exercises, walking)
▪ Professional and Social Well-Being: Classroom management, Work Life Balance, Fun
▪ Accessing support and resources: school-based and external resources, reducing stigma around mental health
▪ Harmony with the environment
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Further
Reading | ▪ Day, C., & Gu, Q. (2014). Resilient Teachers, Resilient Schools: Building and Sustaining Quality in Testing Times. Routledge.
▪ Jennings, P. A. (2015). Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom. W.W. Norton & Company.
▪ Parker, P. D., & Martin, A. J. (2009). "Coping strategies and positive affect in the workplace: Evidence from a national survey of teachers." Educational Psychology, 29(2), 187–205.
▪ Hakanen, J. J., Bakker, A. B., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). "Burnout and work engagement among teachers." Journal of School Psychology, 43(6), 495–513.
▪ Gold, E., Smith, A., Hopper, I., et al. (2010). "Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for primary school teachers." Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 184–189.
▪ Ratey, J. J., & Hagerman, E. (2013). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Little, Brown and Company.
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