Michelle L. Trujillo

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." —Maya Angelou Adversity is all around us. Although we can't always avoid it, we can prepare ourselves and our students to respond in a healthy and hopeful way. Teaching and Learning in the Face of Adversity is a practical and heartfelt book that empowers educators with applicable strategies to respond to challenges, inspire students, and foster a positive school environment. The authors share the critical skills that educators and students can cultivate to elevate the ability to respond to barriers, challenges, and setbacks, plus: Practical strategies, insights, and reflection promptsMenus of practices to promote student agency, belonging, relationships, and repair harmThe voices of real teachers, students, and educational leadersThe range of challenges that can arise in our work and effective ways to respond Adversity may be ever-present, but with the resources in this book, we can empower ourselves, our colleagues, and our students to persevere in the face of it.

Learn how to take self-care off your to-do list! It’s been a rough couple of years for teachers and school leaders. Your ability to be resilient and concentrate on social-emotional learning has been put to the test and now you deserve relief—without the pressure of having yet one more thing piled on your plate. This book’s unique and compelling framework empowers you to practice self-care through thoughts and actions that are within your control, enhancing your well-being without taking on extraneous responsibilities. Features include A checklist for determining your baseline of strengths and needsSelf-reflection questions, journaling opportunities, and action-planning exemplarsA process for tracking, celebrating, and revising your own tangible objectivesTeaching guidance for distance or hybrid educationStrategies to share with your students It’s right there in the word: well-being! It isn’t a thing to do, but a way to be. When you integrate the principles of SEL into your everyday life, you’ll be a person of joy, peace, and gratitude — and a more inspired and empowered educator.

Start with the heart to build a school climate in which achievement will flourish. You can build an empathetic school culture that promotes genuine acceptance of one another, an appreciation for diversity, and an intrinsic desire to contribute and grow academically—a school environment that is inviting, positive, and engaging! In this easy-to-read, inspiring book, educational consultant and former high school principal Michelle Trujillo shows how positive school culture is anchored in social and emotional learning as a way of being. Through explanation, personal anecdotes, and the demonstration of problem-solving through intentional connection, she guides educators to explore their own SEL aptitudes. In doing so, she inspires a schoolwide investment in a philosophy of connection—with students and each other—that ignites a climate in which every individual is seen, heard, and valued, and academic achievement has an opportunity to thrive for all. Drawing in readers through story and reflection, the book defines the challenges educators face and offers ample tools, strategies, and solutions for integrating 5 SEL competencies into schools. It includes Concrete examples of relationship-building in action in schools by modeling, integrating and explicitly teaching social and emotional learning (SEL) to studentsPractical, evidence-based strategies for explicit teaching of each SEL competency to students Opportunities for reflection, brainstorming, and classroom planning Stories that bring the student experience of empathetic school culture to life References to programs and practices that meet Tier 1 and 2 evidence-based curriculum requirements. Jumpstart conscientious connections in your school community and create a foundation for trust that allows students and educators to feel appreciated, effective, and productive. "This is a powerful and moving resource to inspire every educator who wants to make a difference!" – Eric Jensen, Author, Brain-Based Learning and Teaching With the Brain in Mind