To thrive is to continually grow and flourish. Thriving in our current educational landscape is exceedingly challenging. Teachers are facing unprecedented demands and expected to do more with less. Why do some teachers thrive throughout their teaching careers while others succumb to the ever-changing pressures of the job? Why do some teachers embrace the challenges in their schools as opportunities while others begin to experience symptoms of burnout in as little as five years? The answer, in large part, is teacher self-efficacy. This book serves as a travel guide for teachers to grow their self-efficacy and thrive. Teachers require different supports and opportunities as they progress through their career. Teachers and those who support teachers can use this book to illuminate their path to ever increasing levels of self-efficacy throughout their career. They will learn about the four domains of teacher self-efficacy including instruction, engagement, classroom community, and self-care efficacy. Furthermore, they will explore the Five Thrive Factors that contribute to self-efficacy development including self-reflection, feedback, collaboration, inclusion, and student relationships. Thriving teachers access all of these factors but the way they employ these factors evolves as they gain experience. They will learn how refining their focus on students and expanding their influence can fuel their self-efficacy development. Readers will personalize their journey by completing two inventories that will provide a Thriving Teacher Profile describing their affinities and skills related to the factors and domains described in the book. All teachers deserve a long and rewarding career. Teachers Who Thrive can help us all realize this goal that is more important than ever.
David Grambow has served as a classroom teacher, technology coach, special educator, principal, and director of instruction. He and his wife have three wonderful children, a backyard full of grandchildren, and a faithful dog, Moose.
Acknowledgements Chapter 1: The Transformative Power of Teacher Self-Efficacy Chapter 2: The Five Thrive Factors Chapter 3: The Habits of Thriving Teachers Chapter 4: Focus of Thriving Teachers Chapter 5: The Self-Care Paradox Section II: The Career Stages of a Thriving Teacher Chapter 6: The Thriving Teacher Career Stages Chapter 7: Self-Reflection Career Stages Chapter 8: Feedback Career Stages Chapter 9: Collaboration Career Stages Chapter 10: Student Relationship Career Stages Chapter 11: Inclusive Practice Career Stages Appendix: Thrive Tools About the Author
The best way to learn about the power and stages of growing teacher self-efficacy throughout their careers is to read Teachers Who Thrive: Navigating the Self-Efficacy Career Journey. Teacher self-efficacy refers to teachers' beliefs in their ability to reach and teach students as well the use of high-payoff learning strategies to support student success. Teachers Who Thrive offers practical advice regarding how to identify teachers' career stage and support increases in teacher self-efficacy tat every stage. Knowledge of the sources and effects of teacher self-efficacy increases teacher retention, reduces burnout, and teachers' continued engagement in learning. The best advice offered: one size does not fit all teachers. It's time to design professional development experiences based teacher career stages to support "thriving" teachers. This book offers a roadmap for teachers, principals, professors in teacher education, administrators, and professional development directors to plan learning opportunities based on career stage, helping teachers on their journey to become and be a professional teacher. -- Sarah J. Noonan, Professor Emerita, University of St. Thomas Whether you are a novice or a veteran teacher, you may find yourself asking Am I good enough, effective, and making a difference? Grambow takes you on a journey of self-discovery and gives you the tools to declare, Indeed I am!Teachers Who Thrive: Navigating the Self-Efficacy Career Journey is a game-changer for all teachers and the administrators who support them. -- Michelle Kramer Grambow not only explains the concept of teacher self-efficacy with clarity, he creates a practical roadmap for teachers and leaders to support the conditions necessary for teachers to thrive. This is a great resource for teachers to acknowledge the challenges they face, and empower them to thrive. -- Tony Frontier, PhD, Professor of Leadership Studies, Cardinal Stritch University; author, "Five Levers to Improve Learning: Prioritizing for Powerful Results in Your School"
