Going into the school day with inspiration and reflection can help you feel more empowered and ready to take on the joys and challenges of teaching. In this refreshing book, Julie Hasson and Laura Estes-Swilley provide 185 brief stories shared by former students about their most impactful teachers. With a different story for every day of the school year, the authors illuminate the many ways teachers shape students’ lives. You can use them to set your intention for the day, to reflect on your teaching in the evening, or to infuse meetings and professional development with encouragement and affirmation. Hasson and Estes-Swilley concisely unpack each story and pose questions to help you consider the meaning it holds for your own work. While the stories themselves are inspirational, they also provide models to help you make a greater (and more consistent) impact on your students’ lives. Through these daily reflections, you’ll have the space to contemplate your practice and consider new perspectives and possibilities. With regular reflection, you can find greater satisfaction in teaching, particularly during challenging times. And as you grow, you'll have more capacity to help your students grow, too.

How can educators find joy in the midst of seemingly overwhelming challenges? Researcher Julie Schmidt Hasson interviewed hundreds of people about their most impactful teachers and shares her findings in this unique and powerful book. She lays out a three-step process that leads to greater peace, and greater impact on students. This three-step framework involves pausing, pondering, and persisting. First, teachers pause before reacting to an unexpected challenge, so they can intentionally choose a response. Next, they suspend assumptions and approach the challenge from a place of curiosity. Finally, they persist in this dance of patient inquiry and thoughtful responses in a way that leads to better outcomes for students. The stories integrated throughout the book provide evidence of the many ways teachers make a difference in students’ lives. It is a challenging time to be a teacher, and this book provides the inspiration and information teachers need to stay longer, grow stronger, and continue making an impact.

Going into the school day with inspiration and reflection can help you feel more empowered and ready to take on the joys and challenges of teaching. In this refreshing book, Julie Hasson and Laura Estes-Swilley provide 185 brief stories shared by former students about their most impactful teachers. With a different story for every day of the school year, the authors illuminate the many ways teachers shape students’ lives. You can use them to set your intention for the day, to reflect on your teaching in the evening, or to infuse meetings and professional development with encouragement and affirmation. Hasson and Estes-Swilley concisely unpack each story and pose questions to help you consider the meaning it holds for your own work. While the stories themselves are inspirational, they also provide models to help you make a greater (and more consistent) impact on your students’ lives. Through these daily reflections, you’ll have the space to contemplate your practice and consider new perspectives and possibilities. With regular reflection, you can find greater satisfaction in teaching, particularly during challenging times. And as you grow, you'll have more capacity to help your students grow, too.

How can educators find joy in the midst of seemingly overwhelming challenges? Researcher Julie Schmidt Hasson interviewed hundreds of people about their most impactful teachers and shares her findings in this unique and powerful book. She lays out a three-step process that leads to greater peace, and greater impact on students. This three-step framework involves pausing, pondering, and persisting. First, teachers pause before reacting to an unexpected challenge, so they can intentionally choose a response. Next, they suspend assumptions and approach the challenge from a place of curiosity. Finally, they persist in this dance of patient inquiry and thoughtful responses in a way that leads to better outcomes for students. The stories integrated throughout the book provide evidence of the many ways teachers make a difference in students’ lives. It is a challenging time to be a teacher, and this book provides the inspiration and information teachers need to stay longer, grow stronger, and continue making an impact.

Written by popular consultant Julie Hasson Contains powerful stories and takeaways for teachers Provides research-based advice on effective teaching

Written by popular consultant Julie Hasson Contains powerful stories and takeaways for teachers Provides research-based advice on effective teaching