The Care and Feeding of Teachers of Gifted Mary Schmidt, MAE, NBCT Gifted Education Consultant Heartland AEA ext ext

Sources of Energy  Where do you get your energy? (People, events, ways of thinking, etc.)  Sticky note 3  Share and chart  categorize Energy Depleters  What saps your energy?  Sticky note 3  Share and chart  categorize

Brainstorming What factors (+ or -) influence your outlook and approach to life?

Quadrant Analysis

Spheres

The Power of Full Engagement Principles:  Full engagement requires drawing on four separate but related sources of energy: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual  Because energy capacity diminishes both with overuse and with underuse, we must balance energy expenditure with intermittent energy renewal.  To build capacity, we must push beyond our normal limits, training in the same systematic way that elite athletes do.  Positive energy rituals – highly specific routines for managing energy – are the key to full engagement and sustained high performance.

The Dynamics of Energy HIGH High Negative Angry Fearful Anxious Defensive Resentful High Positive Invigorated Confident Challenged Joyful Connected NEGATIVE (unpleasant) POSITIVE (pleasant) Low Negative Depressed Exhausted Burned out Hopeless Defeated Low Positive Relaxed Mellow Peaceful Tranquil Serene LOW The Power of Full Engagement

Finding Balance Work Home/Family Self

Too little…too much

What Am I?  I am present in your life in forms both positive and negative.  I am a normal response to certain kinds of life events.  Everyone experiences me but in very different ways and at varying levels of tolerance.  I come in forms both physical and psychological, but you’ll react to both in the same way.  I am necessary on some level because I’m what allows you to rise up and meet challenges.  I can raise blood pressure, compromise the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process.  In some cases I even have the power to rewire your brain!  My presence will exacerbate digestive problems, sleep disorders, depression, obesity, skin conditions, and autoimmune disorders.

What Am I?  Your response to me depends on relationships, outlook on life, emotional intelligence, and genetics.  I’m what keeps you on your toes and helps you make choices.  Your tolerance for me depends on your support system, sense of control, attitude and outlook, ability to deal with emotions, and knowledge and preparation.  I can be very dangerous because of my ability to creep up on you and lull you into a false sense of “normal.”  I can be managed by changing a situation, changing your reaction to a situation, taking care of yourself, and making time for rest and relaxation.

What am I?

Strategies  Brainstorm strategies to help manage the stress you experience as a teacher of gifted.  Long-term  Short-term  Your own responses  Administrators  Other teachers  Kids  Time

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie Robinson, Ken. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie Loehr, Jim and Tony Schwartz. The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie Izzo, John. The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die.

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie Rubin, Gretchen. The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. And be sure to catch the Happiness Project blog!blog

Resources from a Self-Help Junkie St. James, Elaine. Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter.

Here’s My Plan…  What’s one thing you’ll do to energize by winter break? …and I’m Sticking with It!  By spring break?  By the end of the school year?

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