A very unique feature to the writing, at the beginning, is the self-assessment. This awareness tool helps teachers and administrators better understand their current mindset in the school. As Todd states, “It will help you see how you relate to yourself first before you relate to the students and teachers (and before you read the book).”

The writing is based on more than twenty years of research, personal anecdotal records, observations, and conversations from people who have served in the classroom for many years, led school buildings and school districts, and, simultaneously, raised their own families. Though the focus is centered on refocusing a task-driven mind in the classroom, the book aims to establish a deeper...

I am grateful for my mother and father, Elisabeth and John Franklin, who provided me an education and an open platform to pursue my passion around writing and working to provide support for others. The countless failed writing attempts in high school, where my mother would proofread and mark up my papers, served as motivation to constantly try to get it right the next time and the next time.

Section I

In order for you to become emotionally wedded to the concepts and behaviors discussed in this book, it is critical to understand some of the science behind the writing. Possessing some introductory information about the brain and a term called neuroplasticity will help you develop the emotional tools that are required to reframe how you might think and feel. Thus, for this opening chapter,...

In this chapter, you will learn more about the importance of re-establishing your habits of the mind and how the triangle concept for mindset solutions was created. Highly motivated educators set the table each morning for how they are going to approach and interpret the events of the day.

In this chapter, you will learn how, at times, some people may try to influence or control your behaviors. Learning how to recognize when this is happening and having the emotional tools to overcome those actions by another is critical to reestablishing a sense of control over your moods. Understanding how to preserve your autonomy and creativity in the classroom starts with navigating around...

Understanding how to change your view before the school year begins starts with building expectations. In this chapter, you will learn how highly successful educators conduct this process and what works best. You need to really know, intimately, how powerful your internal conversations are when September rolls around and you begin the school year: “I’m running late. I can’t...

Learning how to monitor your self-talk and reframe your mental dialogue for a more positive approach to the day is the focus of this chapter. On a daily basis, a lot of material needs to be covered and smaller windows of time exist. Todd and Beth Whitaker stress these points as well in their book Teaching Matters: Motivating and Inspiring Yourself (2002): “How can someone who is in...

Section II

In this section, you will learn how to redraw your line of resistance where you can better address certain situations/stressors and alleviate the ruminating habit. You will learn how to truly confront your resistance to change and become more open to a different line of thinking. Resetting the bar of contentment means you are taking action that goes against the conventional wisdom you have...

Getting to the root cause of problems is a skill. In this chapter, you will learn a very effective method for how to get to the bottom of an issue. Before jumping into problem-solving schematics, however, you must understand how to outline specifically what is inhibiting your personal momentum. The ingredients to building a resilient mindset (growth mindset), one for the better, begins with...

In this chapter, you will learn the difference between fixating on your problems and focusing on your problems. Fixation and focusing are two very different concepts to problem solving and must be clearly defined.

Aside from the many mindset strategies discussed in this book about how to reframe your mental approach to problem solving, your ability to work proactively at becoming your own innovator is key to your success. In this chapter, you will learn how to foster an innovative mindset for yourself by exploring, experimenting, and rediscovering the idea of play.

Section III

In this section of chapters, you will begin to learn how to apply the mindset strategies and mental tools that have been discussed in real-world settings. Strategies and solutions are only effective if you, as the reader, can learn how these suggestions and concepts can be applied to everyday life in the schools.

Grading and reporting is always a consistent deadline and responsibility that all educators encounter every nine weeks. After all of the work of each quarter is complete, there is always a time when marks need to be issued to symbolize how each student is progressing in the classroom.

Professional development (PD), just like social networking, is constantly changing and needs to be met, by school- and district-wide leaders, with a great sense of flexibility and exploration. Because of the online tools now readily available for PD, it is incumbent upon every educator in and outside of the classroom to view these opportunities through a lens of how to meet the immediate needs of...

Conflict resolution in the workplace is something that is always difficult and uncomfortable, especially between colleagues who need to work together every day. In this chapter, both as teachers and administrators, you will learn how to best resolve conflict so everyone can move forward in a manner that is best for students and the culture of the school.

Section IV

Social networking and the variety of technology tools at the educator’s disposal are growing at a rapid pace. Today’s learners are begging for more autonomy through learning by doing and exploring the myriad of tech tools to help them research, decipher information, and learn on a different teaching continuum from the past. As constructive as these tools can be for the teaching...

Questioning if you are in the right profession is common for anybody working in any organization. Almost everyone asks themselves these questions throughout their working life. It is no different in the schools. This chapter will focus on how one teacher reframed her disposition around the profession with the support of her administrator, essentially flipping her mindset upside down.

The “Don’t Let You Beat You” philosophy is based on the premise that the person you are with the most in life—the one you spend the most time with—is yourself. It will always be your number one job, your number one responsibility, to make that person proud. Other people’s opinions are important, but they should not author your emotions. This chapter will discuss...

In this final chapter, you will learn how to use a very common educational term to see how you can apply it to personal growth. In addition, the term pride will be discussed in great detail. As discussed, prior to beginning any type of self-improvement regimen, your ability to look at yourself is the first step. Taking pride in what you do each and every day should be part of that...

Understanding the concepts within the book is not enough. Retention rates drive the effectiveness of professional development. It is not the speaker, the author, the content, or the “take-aways” that make a difference. There have been many professional development symposiums that you have been exposed to in your career. How many of them have not stuck? Many individuals are motivated to...

Todd has also served, in the central office, as a special projects administrator for the teacher evaluation team in Fairfax County. In this role, he led both personal and online professional development around the instructional and leadership standards for teachers and administrators. His work also included training administrators and central office personnel on how to conduct online observations...