The Energy to Teach

Over the course of a year ,you and thousands of other teachers will spend countless hours with children and experience the full range of emotion associated with parenting. Every day you will be second-guessed by parents, administrators, and pundits who have never taught. Standardized tests will be mandated that try to govern the teaching transactions you make with children. It's no wonder that many teachers these days are feeling drained and it's no surprise that Don Graves is ready to offer his uncommon insight, unwavering support, and unbounded hope for the future. "The idea for  The Energy to Teach," Don relates, "began with the startling contrast I noted between much of the fatigue in the profession and the promised energy in curriculum." This led to eighteen months of extensive interviews, with educators and others across the country, beginning with the questions: What gives you energy, what takes energy away, and what, for you, is a waste of time?

Based on these interviews, plus Don's extensive experience as a teacher and researcher, this book offers groundbreaking insight on how highly effective teachers deal with emotional demands, and how they gain help and support from their colleagues and administrators. It explains what gives them energy, how they handle energy-draining situations, and how they cope with this never-ending emotional roller coaster. 

What's more, Don offers proven-effective techniques. You'll discover how to find out exactly when energy is added, expended, or wasted; conserve more energy; build energy with colleagues; induce an energy surge when it's urgently needed; transform energy-draining situations into energy-giving events; and much more. Just as important, you'll find comfort and encouragement from someone who for two decades has served as a wise and compassionate mentor to thousands of educators.