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The Peak Performing Teacher

Five Habits for Success

By: Michael S. Kuczala

Kuczala guides educators to embrace the critical practices and habits proven to significantly increase productivity and decrease anxiety and implement an action plan for self-care.

Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9781071853252
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2022
Page Count: 128
Publication date: February 17, 2022

Price: $28.95

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Description

Develop and implement an action plan for self-care

Cultivating focus, re-energizing oneself, and improving daily habits are essential for educators’ well-being and the good that they pass along to students. Mike Kuczala asserts that educators’ greatest tool is a mirror—in it, teachers will find their greatest advocate for personal growth, power, wellness, and vision: themselves.

However, finding the time to implement new habits can be hard. Because small changes are easier to plan for and realize, Kuczala concentrates on the habits that are most likely to yield significant improvements. This book guides educators in meaningful self-reflection by providing:

Five critical practices to increase productivity and decrease anxiety
Reflection prompts and vignettes to guide readers in developing self-care strategies
Practical checklists and templates to help educators maintain goals

Grounded in new research connecting personal change to professional improvement, Kuczala’s approach to well-being builds a bridge between mind and body to create a comprehensive path for success.

Author(s)

Michael S. Kuczala

Mike Kuczala has delivered keynotes, given presentations, facilitated professional development and taught graduate courses on 4 continents. His presentations, courses, books and videos have reached more than 100,000 teachers, trainers, corporate executives and parents. He is also the coauthor of the Corwin Bestseller and Association of Educational Publishers’ Distinguished Achievement Award nominated, The Kinesthetic Classroom: Teaching and Learning through Movement, a book and philosophy that has changed the view of teaching and learning around the world. Mike’s 2nd book, Training in Motion: How to Use Movement to Create an Engaging and Effective Learning Environment, was released in 2015 (AMACOM) and Ready, Set, Go! The Kinesthetic Classroom 2.0 (Corwin) was released in the summer of 2017. His 4^th book, The Peak Performing Teacher: 5 Habits for Success (Corwin) will be released on February 22. President of Kuczala Consulting and Academic Director for the Regional Training Center, Mike's SRO presentations have been experienced in such diverse settings as The Educational Collaborative for International Schools, The East Asia Regional Council of Schools, The Francis Marion University Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty Summer Institute, The American Society for Training and Development, The Forum for Innovative Leadership, The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Society for Health and Physical Educators.

In his role with Regional Training Center, Mike leads a cadre of about 100 graduate instructors who regularly provide graduate coursework to thousands of teachers across Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and beyond in partnership with The College of New Jersey and La Salle University. During his tenure, he has overseen the development of RTC’s online and virtual course offerings as well the design and implementation of new coursework, certificate programs and master degree concentration options. Mike also manages college and university partnerships.

For more information, please visit www.mikekuczala.com or www.thepeakperformingteacher.com

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

The Most Important Piece of Equipment

The ABCs of Achievement

The Power of “Must”

Pain/Pleasure in Practice

Habit #1: Live the Physical Life

A Paradigm Shift

Embracing the Physical Life Does Much More Than Raise Your Level of Fitness

Exercise Is Life’s First Answer to This Essential Question: How Do I Create a Life Worth Living?

Simply . . . Walk

Where Are Your Sneakers?

Vary the Environment

The Benefits Don’t Stop at School (a Word About the Physical Classroom)

Habit #2: Change Your Mind

Challenge Your Thinking

Same Story, New Moral

Fifty States of Mind Where Stress Cannot Exist

Just Breathe

The Powerhouse

A Quick Revisit to the Brain/Body Connection

One Man’s Insight

Stress in the Classroom

Habit #3: Sharpen Your Mental Focus: Creating Mission and Purpose

Part 1: The Personal Mission Statement

Creating Your Personal Mission Statement

Personal Mission Statement Rough Draft

Completed Mission Statement

Part 2: Setting Goals

Understanding the Difference Between a Good Idea and Writing a Goal

Creating the Future Now

Creating a Transformational Goal

The Rocking Chair Test

Goal Setting in the Classroom

Habit #4: Power Up Gratitude

Who Doesn’t Want These Benefits for So Very Little Effort?

In the Business of Gratitude

Making It Real

Who Deserves Your Letter?

Gratefulness in the Classroom

One More Gratitude Quote for the Teacher Lounge

Habit #5: Make the Morning Count

The Morning Routines of Real Teachers

My Morning Routine

Putting It All Together

Understand the Power of the Moment

Create a Plan

Change Your Limiting Beliefs

Enjoy the Process

Start Now

Surround Yourself With Success and Positivity

A Final Word

References

Index

Reviews

"What an incredible, practical road map to spark and guide teachers on how and why it is important to take care of ourselves and develop healthy habits. This book created a real shift in how I view myself and the world. The Peak Performing Teacher unites a lot of discreet ideas and connections that make a lot of sense. I am getting a copy for my principal and looking forward to putting my energy into change instead of fighting just to maintain."

Jenny Boulianne
Physical Educator, Finstead State Montessori Academy, Wilmington, DE