Here are the first few pages with my new topic (I changed it a few days ago) to better reflect my interest in...
Here are the first few pages with my new topic (I changed it a few days ago) to better reflect my interest in teacher well-being. I learned today that well-being is spelled with a hyphen in Canadian English.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwo_ITamV68qbWdacEUzT0w5bUk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwo_ITamV68qbWdacEUzT0w5bUk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwo_ITamV68qbWdacEUzT0w5bUk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwo_ITamV68qbWdacEUzT0w5bUk/view?usp=sharing
I've read this so far, and have made some minor editing comments. As a general feedback comment - I like your cover and layout. As far as having only Seligman as a source - have you considered including others who are also writing and working in this area? Other wise it may come across as a limited viewpoint and I believe this needs to be something that academics like myself will take seriously.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your quick feedback. Seligman is the father of PP so he is "the" most reliable source. There are others that have come after him. They may get a mention in some of the 50 ways.
ReplyDeleteAhh - I think then that you should somehow work that in - I know you mention it but it wasn't clear to me that he is the founder/father of the movement. Maybe I missed it?
ReplyDeleteJust went back and see that you do call him the founder! Duh! Reading past things....sorry!
ReplyDeletePatrice Palmer, OCELT, MEd MA
ReplyDeleteI was reading and thinking: did she write this for me? Or maybe ABOUT me (the only difference being that I have never been to Hong Kong :D)??? Seriously now, I think this is the right reading for so many people like you and me. I have made the exactly same mistakes and I have also decided to strike a much better balance. You missed your son's basketball shoots, I missed my son's soccer goals ...I think your publication will be really inspiring for many many teachers out there. It may change lives even.I like the sub-title of one of the sections "My Story of Un-Well-Being" - it will make your readers think: "is this my story?"
I want to read the rest of it :)
P.S.
I tend to agree with Leonie Overbeek that more academic references might convince those who are not easily convinced by personal inspirational stories.
Darn - I wrote a long reply and forgot to click POST. I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read what I have written so far. I think your comment about striking a balance should be included. It is about balance, isn't it and making good decisions with the time we have (like spending one hour watching our children play sports and not marking papers!) If you would like to provide a short blurb about what you do personally for your well-being as a teacher, that would be great! Thanks again for your valuable comments.
ReplyDeleteLeonie Overbeek I should be clear about who he is exactly. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Patrice - thank you! I'm very lucky in being talented in many diverse areas. So here goes my blurb about balance.
ReplyDeleteI remember Prof. Zlotnick with great fondness - besides teaching us the fundamentals of physical chemistry, he also taught us about balance.
He likened life to a three legged stool. If all three legs are the same length, the stool is stable. If one leg is shorter, the stool wobbles, and may actually fall over.
For him the three legs were work, leisure and relationships.
I have tried to practice his precepts in my own life as a teacher, where so much energy is demanded of me.
Work is of course the time I put into preparation, presentation and feedback for my students and I have a budgeted time for that. And if I can't mark everything on time, I'm honest with the students. And I explain why I need another day. In return, I will extend them the courtesy of a day or two for assignments. But I always make it clear that this the exception, not the rule.
Leisure, for me, is a good book, a good movie, painting a picture that I'm happy with, or even just lying back and listening to an audio book or some music.
Finally relationships. I have a number of really good friends, friends I can talk to about my frustrations, my dreams, me fears and my joys, and whose ramblings I will listen to. These are people who are there when you need them to lean on, and who will lean on your shoulder when they need to. I nurture these friendships with love and kindness.
But there are times I just need to shut the door and work on the most important relationship - the one with myself. Time spent thinking - thinking about me, getting to know me. Some may call it meditation, or awareness, or reflection but you need to do it in order to be kind to yourself.
Catherine - I feel you (in the parlance of youth). The word you were looking for is cameraderie. As for gardening with other teachers - aaaaggggghhhhh! I personally hate it. But spending time with others, being able to discuss and vent and share is important, which is why my times with my KOTESOL friends is great.
ReplyDeleteLeonie Overbeek I love the analogy of the 3 legged stool. It is simple but powerful at the same time. Thank you for sharing your own personal well-being plan.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Noble Thank you so much Catherine for your insightful comments. The example of the sewing teacher is wonderful. I often have EAP students email saying that they don't understand the assignment even though they came to class and didn't ask either in class or stay after class. They may have missed the class and then want me to explain the assignment via email because they didn't bother to read the handout posted online or emailed to them. Your comment about students not needing many things reminds me of a child getting a gift in a big box. Then end up playing with the box and creating all kinds of interesting things instead of playing with the toy.
ReplyDeleteDo we as teachers value our personal time or feel we can have personal time and just be a non-teacher? or do we blurr the lines when it comes to work and non-work time?
Patrice Palmer, OCELT, MEd MA I was once asked a similar question in an interview: Do you make the time to pursue passions outside the realm of ELT? And here is what I said: "I always do. I believe that pursuing passions makes us happier. We become better parents, better partners, better friends and definitely better professionals if we allow ourselves the time to do what we truly love. In practical terms, your passions help you cope with job stress and prevent or reduce burnout. I dance. Dance is more than a hobby. It is my therapy :) My other passion is photography. I don’t carry a handbag; I carry a camera bag. And I will pull over when I see a spot, a view or a... twig that I want to capture." (Interview for The Teacher: http://www.teacher.pl/online/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#65). So that's what I do trying to restore balance ...
ReplyDeleteI truly believe you are writing a very important publication here.
teacher.pl - The Teacher 05(139)2016
I wrote "for" and "to". Not sure what is right.
ReplyDelete