Please post your thoughts about this course below.What did you like about it?What didn’t you like about it?Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
This course was one of my favorites so far. So many of the topics are beneficial to my personal and professional life. It is a book I will recommend to others.
I like how this class is very self-paces. I feel like I have moved my priorities of my work-life balance in the past few years. I do not put in extra hours to do my job. I work smart and hard when I am there and then enjoy my life when I leave at 4:00. I think this book study has verified that it is alright to have a life outside of the classroom.
I do enjoy the self pacing of the class. I am able to do a little or a lot of work at one time. This book study is an easy read and can pertain to everyone whether in the classroom or not. I would recommend this book study to fellow educators.
I would 100% recommend this book to another teacher. This was eye-opening to me. Especially the fact that some of my stress is truly created by ME! This book makes you take a deep look at yourself and your practices to see what is truly worthy of your time and talent. And it made me realize how much time I waste on silly or needless things. Ugh. Fighting back against school norms seems like such a no-no, but when you really think about a lot of them....why do we do things like that?! So this book gave me a lot of food for thought and I liked all of it and the TED talk videos as well.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I have really enjoyed this book and the Ted Talks included. I would 100% recommend this book to another teacher, and others, I think other professionals could benefit form some of the practices as well. I felt that this book has helped me reevaluate some of my habits and time wasting activities that i do. And gave me some ammunition to successfully tackle some problem areas in school and my personal life that may need addressing.
I enjoyed this book study and would recommend it. There was so much self help information. This book is helpful in deciding if all my daily task are important, or is it because it is just the way I always did it. I will definitely be taking a step back and re evaluating some of the way I do things in my classroom and my personal life.
I have read a lot of "teacher self help" books over the years, I think this is one of my favorites. It was an easy read. I also took the podcast study of hers before the book and I would recommend that one as well.
I kind of wish I had chosen to do this book study first out of all of them! I very much needed to hear all of this book. I like how relevant it was for me, and I would recommend it to any teacher because I think the vast majority of us (teachers, especially) need to learn to do fewer things, better. I plan on visiting the book/author website and downloading the workbook, too, to maybe get more down in writing. The only thing I would have changed, on my end, was buying the hard copy book instead of the audio copy. I was trying to save a little money, but it was so good I wish I had the pages to mark and revisit.
This book hit home for me. It has reminded me that it is okay to give myself what I need, to say no, and get things off my plate if it's what's best. I feel like this is one of those books that I will re-read a year from know to remind myself to prioritize. I would recommend this book to my colleagues.
I really liked this book study and would recommend it to other teachers, as well as people in other professions. I think most of us could learn something from the material and reflections. I really enjoyed the TED talks that were part of the lessons as well. I don’t think there is anything that I didn’t like.
I really liked this book study as it was different than a lot of the other books I have read about education. It is refreshing to read something that isn't pushing more, but instead pushing prioritizing the most important.
I do not know that there was anything I didn't like about this book study.
Yes, I will be recommending this book study to my friends and colleagues.
Callie Dutenhoffer I truly enjoyed this book study and it was more than just a credit to me at the end. Although I’m not actively teaching in a classroom, I found that I learned a lot about prioritizing my time and my needs by this book. I have already found myself thinking about the topics in this book when it has come to doing certain things and saying "no" to some tasks. I even recommended this to a friend who has been struggling with work/home balance. There truly wasn’t anything I disliked about it.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? I found the book to be very interesting. When I started teaching over 20 years ago, I remember feeling many of the pressures that were mentioned in the book.
What didn’t you like about it? I can't think of anything I didn't like.
Would you recommend this book study to a colleague? Yes, I would!!
I love that the class is self-paced. I like to work when I have the time and can fit it in my schedule, much like this book has talked about. I didn't have to stress about finishing something on a certain day, or rushing to get it complete. I really liked this book and found it very easy to read and helpful as a teacher and a mom. I would definitely recommend this book, in fact I already have to a few people. There is nothing that I did not like.
I loved this book! I think it is a good reminder to everyone it's ok to put your needs first sometimes and establish boundaries. It was definitely a much needed mental refresher/breather and made me feel like I'm not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day sometimes. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the course. I would definitely recommend it colleagues!
I read the book and then went back to it for the class. I like the self pace of the class. It is very applicable to me in that I am a teacher, vice-principal and athletic director. Also it has me thinking about my core 5 and what is important, non-negotiable, especially outside of the class. It was a good reminder that I don't have to do everything, but focus on doing few things good. I would not change anything. I am going to recommend the book to my faculty, as well as tell them about the class.
It is too bad I didn't come across this book a couple of years ago! She has a lot of good "stuff" that is important for teachers (and others) to hear. I have to say that I was a bit irritated after the first few chapters of the book, but that passed once she got into the meat of her message and what she really meant. Despite my initial feelings, I would recommend the book to others! As always, the self-paced format for these book studies is awesome! I can be an example reader at school and then work on quizzes, blog posts, and videos as I have time at home - it all comes together nicely!
I like that the course was self -paced and easy to complete over a few weeks time. I like that this book helped me as both an individual and a teacher. Sometimes content driven text gets to be so heavy but I wanted to return to this text because I knew it was building within me a mindset that would help me an individual.
I wish there was an interactive checklist that clicked it's self off once our assignment was completed. That would make me feel better knowing each piece had been completed and submitted. I did print off the paper checklist and then drew lines to mark off each major area in to chunks.
This book was a great way to help prioritize my time and help me remember that self care and a work life balance are important, that I don't have to say yes to everything or run myself ragged to prove that I'm a good teacher. I would recommend this book study to my colleagues.
This book study was truly what I needed at this point. It wasn't about something else I needed to implement into my classroom but more about myself as a teacher. I liked how this book and book study was done with know pressure. I felt relaxed while doing the Blogs and quizzes as I knew it was really about making me a better teacher and person. No dislikes and I would absolutely recommend to others!
I can’t say I’m big into self-help books that are not faith-based, however, I did find this book to be an enjoyable read. I also really enjoy the videos that you both choose to play alongside various chapters. It became clear while participating in this course, how I need to stop striving for perfection for myself and have unrealistic high expectations of others. The book and videos were very thought provoking. I can’t say there was anything that I didn’t like about the course, I felt like it was well paced. Yes, I would recommend this book study to a colleague, as I would with most of these book studies that I have participated in. I find them very enjoyable.
This is an excellent book for educators, especially young people starting out in the profession. I really enjoyed reading it, and I would highly recommend it to others.
I loved this course! The book was great and had practical strategies to implement into my life. I liked that the book study assignments are all work at your own pace. I have already recommended this book study to colleagues! Thanks
I would definitely recommend this book study to colleagues. I appreciate the flexibility of the self-paced course, allowing me to complete it over a few weeks. This book has been beneficial for me both personally and professionally as a teacher. While some content-heavy texts can feel overwhelming, I found myself drawn back to this one because I recognized it was shaping my mindset in a positive way.
I do wish there was an interactive checklist that automatically marked tasks as completed once finished. This feature would provide me with reassurance that each part of the assignment was done and submitted. Overall, this book study was exceptional and I really enjoyed the blog posts and the quizzes that were given for reflection.
I really enjoyed this book. I think it's a good reminder to us educators that we need to set boundaries and be able to rid ourselves of the mindset where we have to work late and be exhausted to feel satisfied with our jobs. Our personal time is important and this book does a nice job of helping us work through what our priorities are and how we should use our time effectively.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I enjoyed this course as it was my first book study. My favorite part was the fact that I could do it at my own pace. With a busy schedule, I sat down whenever I had time and got a couple things checked off the list. I was able to relate and learn from a lot of the content throughout the book. I feel as if I have been able to implement some of the strategies given already. I would recommend this course to someone as it was recommended to myself.
I enjoyed this book study, probably more in relation to my personal life than my professional life. I thought there were a lot of good tips to evaluate priorities and simplifying to do lists.
I enjoyed this course. I thought the book was full of great reminders on why doing less is important and ways that I can focus on doing just that. I love the self-paced nature of the course as well. I would recommend it to colleagues for sure. There wasn't really anything I didn't like about it.
I really enjoyed this course and found it reflective with this season in my personal life. I unconsciously do most of this already to make the flow of the week less stressful, but it's great to be reminded to make sure that I do self-care for myself as well. I can tell when I don't prioritize my self-care and I'm giving a lot at home and at work, it can be mentally exhausting. This book was a good example of how to do better at the work/home life balance. The blog posts and Ted Talks on this course was interesting and easy to follow along. I would recommend this book to colleague or anyone really!
I enjoyed this course. The book and additional materials were relevant and helpful to where I am at in my quest for work/life balance. It's helpful to have a self-paced course that is relevant and doesn't add stress to my life. I would (and have!) recommend these book studies to colleagues.
I truly enjoyed this course! It was laid-out in an easy-to-follow way, and had so much beneficial material! I have already incorporated new routines into my work/life world that have allowed me to be more organized, healthy, and happy--both at work and in my personal life. I would definitely recommend this book and ,course to other educators!
I have done a few of these book studies, and enjoyed this one as well. I appreciate the concept. For me, I'm not currently in the classroom and I found this topic to be able to easily carry-over into my current role in "corporate" world. So I appreciate that this is applicable to multiple areas and time well spent. I always appreciate that this is self-paced. I would absolutely recommend this course to others! Thanks for putting this course together.
This course was very beneficial for my personal and professional life. It was a great reminder of how to spend my time and how important it is. I love the flexibility of these book studies. Yes I would recommend this course to others.
This course was one of my favorites. It really had me thinking about my daily practices and lifestyle and what I could do to help improve. I like that all of these books studies allow me to take it at my own pace and that we are able to reflect rather than just take a quiz!
I like that these courses are self-paced. I like that I can complete them as time allows. I will recommend this course to my colleagues. It provides a good reminder that we are not super heroes and we need to allow time for ourselves.
This is a great book. I have already recommended it for a building book study next school year. I like how it gives value to what teachers and teaching is truly like. The book study is great because I can do it on my time! Thank you.
This is one of the best books I've ever read for professional practice. It aligns with my beliefs for the education profession and how to navigate it. I have already recommended it to colleagues! I thought the TED talks were well chosen as well.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I agree that this is one of the most relevant books I've read for professional development. There were a lot of tips I could use directly from the book. I will probably re-visit sections of this book in the future. I would definitely recommend this book study to my colleagues.
I did enjoy this class. I liked being able to go at my own pace. I also have many new ideas I plan to try this fall. Most of all I learned that I can be just as good at my job without dedicating my entire life to it. I know I can be replaced easily at school so my priorities need to be where my time is more valuable and I will leave a good legacy. I would recommend this book!
I enjoyed this book study and would recommend it to others. I liked that the chosen book was not specific to the ins-and-outs of teaching, but rather the ins-and-outs of being a teacher and how we feel as educators. It was reassuring to read what I have been thinking on my own for years, and the author gave a lot of great insights.
I was really excited to read this book and I'm so glad I did! I honestly think any profession could be substitute into this book instead of teaching -- we all need help balancing work and life no matter what profession we are in. Thank you for creating this study!
*Miranda Fox* I really enjoyed this book study because it was self-paced and SO relatable to any job, any personal life situation, and every person that reads it. I loved all the real-world applications that I can implement NOW to try to change my life balance and have already begun doing! If I had to pick one thing that I didn't like in this course, I would say I didn't love the Tony Robbins video. He talked fast, he seemed to kind of jump around in his story/points, and I didn't love the cursing. I had to watch this video twice (with captions on) to try to get the message and meaning behind his talk, and I still didn't feel like I really fully got it, compared to the other videos that I was drawn in and felt immersed in their message. Overall, a great class!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I just really enjoyed this book, the insight, and the feeling of not being alone. I feel like this author "gets it". Teaching is the hardest, most underpaid job but this book allows us to feel heard and understood. But it also pushes us to put ourselves first. And we all know teachers don't choose the career for themselves, they were called, and because teaching takes a special kind of person; usually someone who puts themselves last. But that needs to change. I would recommend this book study. There was nothing I didn't like about this book study.
This was my favorite book study I have taken so far! They book was so relatable and had such great thought provoking information. Honestly, there was nothing I didn't like about it. I am going to definitely recommend this book study to my principal and colleagues!
This was the first book study I have done, and I loved it. I enjoyed that it was self-paced. I have so many take aways from the book itself that are applicable to both my personal and professional life, I do wish I had read it earlier. There honestly wasn't really anything I didn't like about it. Yes, I'd definitely recommend this book study to a colleague. Thank you!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I enjoyed this book study as it helped me understand so much more about work-life balance and school structure. I can't think of anything I didn't like about the book study, and I will recommend this to my colleagues as it is tremendously beneficial.
This was a great course for the frazzled teacher! It gives real tips on how to destress your life if you purposefully want to make changes. Honestly, there wasn’t anything I didn’t like. I felt the information was very useful. I will recommend this book study to colleagues.
I enjoyed this book the further I got into it. At times I felt like there was a lot of ranting and some things could have been said in fewer words. Now that I have finished the book I feel that I have a much better thought process about how I can deal with my days. I don't feel like things will bother me as much if they do not go as planned. I will not feel selfish or guilty spending needed time with myself. I would recommend this book to anyone, not just teachers.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I enjoyed this book study a lot! It hit home in a lot of ways and offered realistic plans of action to guide me through the solution as to HOW to do fewer things better without feeling guilty or less adequate as a person. I would highly recommend. It is an easy read and down to earth -written by someone with true experiences. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this book. I have said more than once I wish I had read this before I decided to leave eduation. I do believe however that I am a different person than I was five years ago when I left teaching. I have been able to see that I am a truer version of myself and I can take what I learned from this book into my daily life with my family and friends.
I liked this book. It isn't earth-shattering new ideas, it is common sense that we forget. I appreciated the reminders to say no to doing too much, prioritize, give up some of the tasks to my students, and take care of myself without guilt. I like the format of these book studies because the quizzes pull out important points, and the blogs allow you to reflect on the important points. The videos are also great because I would never find them myself. I think this is a book I should recommend to some of the younger teachers at school who are struggling with feeling overwhelmed.
This was a short read, but filled with so many things to think about, many that I hadn't thought of like some of the myths that I believed about teaching. I used to be the teacher that got there first in the morning and the last one to leave at the end of the day as I felt that made me look better. This year I started some self-care ideas that I read the summer before to help with burn-out and feeling like my to-do list never finished. While I had some ideas, this book gave me more to try and have more success with. I liked the fact that it gave simple advice that seems easy to do with huge benefits. I liked the fact that it explained that there is not a one size fits all approach to this. I would definitely recommend this book study to a colleague and already have!
I enjoyed this book study because the infomation presented could be related not only to my teaching career, but to my personal life as well. I would recommend this class to anyone looking for a credit toward renewal or salary advancement.
I enjoyed this book study! It was applicable in all areas of my life. I think many educators struggle with work-life balance, because it's a job that never feels like it's completely "done"; you could work endless hours of overtime and still not feel satisfied. It was helpful to many of the things I've already thought be put into better words. :) I look forward to applying this book study to my everyday life.
I thought this was a great book study. It is so difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance as a teacher. I think most teachers are caretakers and want to do their best to help others and often put themselves last. This book has given me so many great ideas that I can use to reduce my stress and focus on the important things, while also taking care of myself. I would definitely recommend this study to others.
This was a great book study! After just finishing the school year, it rejuvenated my soul and really got me thinking about what changes I need to make in my work-life balance. When there were times of overwhelming stress this year, I could've really used some of these core ideas to help me create peace.
I enjoyed this course! I thought this was a really great book overall, and I enjoyed the video choices, too. I appreciate that the author mentioned a number of online resources on her website, and I plan to utilize some of those tools in the future. I have been trying for a while to do “fewer things, better,” and I felt that this book/book study provides a lot of helpful tools and tips. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it, and I would definitely recommend this book study to a colleague.
I enjoyed this book! It's really made me think about how I'm prioritizing some things in my life and some adjustments I need to make. I love the pacing of this book study. I just happened to be sick the past 3 days, and I didn't fall behind on anything.
This was a great course and a good reminder for me to keep my priorities in check so I can give my best self at work and at home. I would recommend this to my co workers and even shared some information with my husband as well.
The course was helpful and timely. I can continue to think about the ideas and suggestions and work toward implementing them in the fall. The ONLY part of the course that I personally did not enjoy was the talk by Tony Robbins. It felt quite slick and commercial and was kind of a turn-off for me (although I read in the blog posts that others enjoyed it). Yes, I would (and in fact already have) recommend this study to my peers.
I enjoyed this book study. I enjoyed the self-pacing of the class because I was able to do a little or a lot of work depending on the day. I thought the book was full of great reminders on why doing less is important and ways that I can incorporate these philosophies into my daily life. I struggle with and have been told by colleagues that I need to build confidence so after reading this, I feel my confidence growing. I would recommend it to colleagues for sure. There wasn't really anything I didn't like about it.
I really liked this book study. I was able to take things from the book and immediately incorporate it into my life. I like that I can do the book study as fast or as slow as I want. I would recommend this book study to other colleagues.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I thoroughly enjoyed this course! There were so many things I could relate to in the book and the TedTalk videos. Sometimes I forget about some of the things in the course and it made me realize them and take a step back to think about what is important and what I need to focus on in the future. I would 100% recommend this book study to others!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
Full disclosure: I procrastinated this class/book study because I knew that I would feel convicted about how unbalanced my life is. It was a good book that provided some practical suggestions that I do think that I can implement. I enjoyed the TED talks in this one too. I appreciate that it's self-paced, as well.
I didn't particularly like how personal some of the blog posts were, but I understand why the questions/prompts were posed. I am not one to post personal things like that, as I hate being vulnerable.
I would definitely recommend the book to my colleagues so that maybe we can collectively make a change together and push back against unrealistic expectations from the school district.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? I enjoyed this book study, as I enjoyed all of the book studies that you offer. I always learn something new, and it offers new insights on various topics. For one thing, the word 'no'. I have battled with this for years, and realized it is okay to say 'no'. This has helped me to eliminate the 'burn out' stage in my career. This book awakened my own thoughts and made me reflect on how I budget my time and energy on certain things in my classroom and so on. I would certainly recommend this book to my colleagues to exchange ideas. I wish I had a book study like this to help me with my teaching career in helping me to prioritize my job and my family. I believe more new teachers should read this book as it is a great source.
I enjoyed this book study and feel I received beneficial information and strategies that will help my professional and personal life. I did not like the final Ted Talk, with Tony Robbins. It was a long video for what the purpose of his talk was and I didn't appreciate his swearing. I would recommend this book study to a colleague!
I really enjoyed this book study. It's been quite some time since I have read a book that truly made me think about myself. I have so many take aways, but the biggest being is finding balance between my work life and my family life...just having a life in general outside of work activities. Ha! I would certainly recommend this book to my colleagues...I'm going to be offering this as a book study amongst our teacher group this school year!
This book had so many great things to remind myself of. I liked the goals the author had in this book. Many teachers struggle with balance and self care and should be reading this book. Teachers would be much better off if we had PD about these topics and were told to prioritize yourself! Great personal discussions that I enjoyed thinking about. I would recommend this book to a friend!
This book has probably been my favorite involving the book studies I've done (I think I've done 4 total). I thought the course content creators did an amazing job tying in Ted Talks with the EXACT theme from the chapters we read. I like that I can get this done at my own pace - when I start to read a book, I like to get it done in a couple of days and this course gives me the flexibility to do that. There is NOTHING that I did not like about this course. I plan to send a staff email offering my book out to others who would like to take the course.
I really enjoyed this book study a lot. This is the first book study I have ever done and didn't know what to expect. I liked the fact that it was self-paced, the subject matter of the book was really interesting and helpful to me as a teacher, the quizzes were short and straightforward, the Ted Talks were interesting and on point, and the blogs helped me reflect on what I had read and how it related to my personal situation. There is really nothing I did not like about the course. I was given this book from a co-worker who took and recommended this course, and I definitely plan on doing the same!
I enjoyed this course! I feel like the information was very relevant and is something that I can easily apply to my teaching and personal life. I would absolutely recommend this book study to a colleague.
I enjoyed this book and the format for the book study. It allowed me to set things aside as other things popped up in my life, and I was able to jump back in when I had the time. I thought the book was phenomenal and very timely for my situation. I would have liked to have some interaction with other people and their thoughts in real-time, but I'm not sure how that would be accomplished while providing flexibility to all who participated. Overall, I would recommend the book and the study. Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading the book and felt it was a great time of my life to read it. I have been getting overrun with new things to add into the mix and this book really helped me take a step back to figure out what is most important in my life. I thought the videos throughout the course supplemented the book very well. I will be telling my crew on the 3rd floor at the high school about this book study when we start back up in August. Thank you
This book really made me think about how I am starting to have this need to be constantly productive-even at home. I am starting to not be able to sit and not produce anything or have anything to show for it. I need to slow down to be able to focus my energy and time on the most important things. Also, a big take away is just doing things so that I am ok with them rather than needing others to be ok. I believe that some of the good information in the book is easier with age. But the book provided several good examples of people from all stages of their lives. Professional, this book gives me back a little bit of confidence to know that what I am doing is effective and that I don't have to seek approval from coworkers. I need to trust in my own abilities and do the tasks that I know will have the biggest impact on my students.
First, I liked this book - it is exactly what I needed as I finished up this last school year. Rather than just saying "practice self-care", it gave steps I can take and lists I made along with her to think about my priorities in life. I am hoping this book/course can help do something I have not been able to do on my own for the last 21 years of teaching - set boundaries and take care of me! I like the set up of these book study courses (this is the third one I have done). I like the straightforward To Do list, the combination of reading, videos, and responding to them, and how the quizzes were not too stressful.
I cannot think of anything that I didn't like about the book or the course. I will definitely recommend this book and book study to colleagues! Thank you!
This is probably one of my favorite book studies and have already recommended it to my other teacher friends! I think this book is a good reminder to just take a few steps back and remember that putting in countless hours of unnecessary things isnt worth it! I think now that I have kids its way easier for me to not put in all the extra unnecessary work bc I would rather spend time with my kids and husband. Prioritizing and making lists is one thing I am going to start my new school year out doing. I also enjoyed listening to the ted talks.
I always enjoy my Transform Your Classroom courses. I love that they are self-paced and cover topics that relevant to my teaching career. Fewer Things Better was one of my favorites.
This course was one of the best courses I have done in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had so many great ideas to try and simplify what is stressing me out at school. I really hope that implementing some of these ideas will help make this year great. I have no suggestions. I will be recommending this book to other colleagues. So many great lessons and not just for educators.
This is the first book study I have done with you guys and I am kicking myself that I hadn't done one sooner. I really enjoy that I can do the work and assignments in the pockets of time that fit my day. I really enjoyed most of the TED talks that we were to watch and respond to. I think that they are great reminders and wonderful at getting us thinking about how to make some positive life changes. This course is definitely one that I will be recommending to others. While it is important to keep learning about how we can be better in our classrooms with curriculum or other practices, we must first put the time in effort into ourselves. This book is a great reminder of that.
I did like this book! Some of the books and speakers I’ve heard and read make me feel like I’m doing things wrong or not trying hard enough as an educator when in reality my heart and soul goes in to it. This book actually made me feel like I’m not alone in my feelings and gave some good advice on how to prioritize things in both my work and personal life. I would recommend this book to a friend!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
This is the first book by Angela Watson that I have read. I have seen her 40-hour work week advertised on social media a zillion times, but I have yet to dive in and purchase it. After reading this book, I just might do that! I appreciate Watson's style of writing and how she states things quite directly and doesn't sugar coat things. At times, I chuckled while reading the chapters because it felt like she was speaking directly to me or calling me out. Ha! I would definitely recommend this book study to colleagues, both new teachers and veterans. I appreciate that this book study was structured like the last book study I participated in so I knew what to expect. I also appreciate the videos that accompanied each section of reading. Thank you for hosting this book study for credit!
I enjoyed the self-paced nature of the course and the book itself. While I didn't agree with everything in the book, a lot of it was stuff that I was already trying to do or wanting to do. That means that the book was both great encouragement and gave me good concrete ways of moving forward with the goals that I had for finding better balance and use of my time.
I find this course eye opening and gave me quite a bit of pause to reflect. I am looking forward to making changes in my life to be better in taking care of myself and my priorities in my life. I would definitely recommend this book study to just about anyone who wants to be better in all aspects of their life!
I ordered this book last year after I had resigned and then changed my mind. Teaching is exhausing. I don't think people who don't teach realize how hard it is to be present and leading all day, everyday. Teachers need to be able to take care of themselves and this book helps! I would recommend this book study to my colleagues
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague? I enjoyed this course. I feel that the topics are beneficial not only to teaching but to our personal lives. I could have used these topics years ago! Some of the things I have figured out on my own over the many years of teaching, but this book was a really good read and good information that you can use at any stage of teaching or your life. I will definitely recommend this book to others and will definitely be working on prioritizing my time. I can't say that there was anything I disliked about the course! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this course - I loved the ted talk by Tony Robbins and many of the others. It gave me a better outlook at taking care of myself and balancing work/personal life. Would definately recommend this to others!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I really appreciated that the course was work at your own pace. I did not have many expectations going into reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised with the content and how much I enjoyed and connected with her insights. Some of the content I have incorporated into my practices on my own, but it is always good to have reminders and a fresh perspective. It was a good reminder and focus shift on countering feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt as well as a great exercise in figuring out our priorities to create more meaningful experiences for our students and ourselves. I did not find anything I disliked about this course, and I have already recommended it to colleagues!
I enjoyed this book. I have done other similar self help work but this brought in some new ideas and in other ways was good reminders of things we forget. You read a book or listen to a speaker and have all these grand plans and then eventually they kind of slip away until you get the next little burst/reminder. For me the biggest thing is to remember you can't do everything at once. One little change at a time.
I found the course quite pleasurable. The best part is just how easy it really is to make the changes listed in the book. It doesn't take a bunch of money or time to do fewer things better. Coming up with my core 5 was a useful process for me. A teacher friend recommended the class and I will do the same for others.
This was an easy read that truly had something to offer. I like the self paced course and would recommend it to friends. It caused self reflection that will help me make more self aware decisions both at work and home.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
I really enjoyed this book study. I felt like so many tips were given for both my personal and professional life. It also made me step back and really reflect on some things that needed to be reflected on. It also released some pressure that I need to do everything all of the time. It reinforced for me that I need to step away, take breaks, and take care of myself as well.
I thought having the course be self-paced is another great idea for busy educators. I will absolutely be taking more of these book study courses in the future. I love to continue my own learning, right alongside my students.
I have already begun sharing these courses with my colleagues. I cannot wait to see what the future brings with other book studies!
I love that this course is self-paced allowing time for reflection and growth while putting the new ideas to use. I loved the Ted Talks I think they added so much to the course. Honestly, there isn’t anything I didn’t like about the course. I appreciated being able to do it on my own time around my schedule. I am sending out an all-school email tomorrow to recommend this course. I have been debating this since the first Ted Talk. It has done so much for me. I am refreshed and ready to take on life as I want to live it.
I really enjoyed this book - the information and ideas presented are beneficial for one's personal life and professional life. I also really like how the book study is self paced. The Ted Talks were all really good to listen to and the blog posts are a good time to reflect on the key topics. I look forward to doing more book studies.
I have taken several book studies. This is a really good book and would benefit any educator at any stage of teaching. I liked that there were specific strategies to make changes in my life. I always have a fresh outlook on my career when I finish a book study. I don't enjoy listening to the Ted Talks. Some are a bit too long. I have recommended these book studies many times to other teachers looking for renewal credits or just for a way to become a better teacher.
This course was my second book study from this website. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so incredibly relatable and honestly made me feel a lot better about being an educator. I would highly recommend any educator to read this book because it really puts a lot of things in perspective. I liked the self-pacing of this course and the blog posts and the youtube videos corresponded well with the sections assigned. The quizzes also followed the information from the assigned sections as well.
After completing this course, I have shifted my priorities regarding my work-life balance. I no longer want to put in extra hours to complete my job; instead, I want to focus on working smarter and harder during my time at work. Once it hits contract time, I want to make sure to enjoy my life outside the classroom. I believe this book study has confirmed that it's perfectly acceptable to have a life outside of the classroom.
I loved this. I'm learning lot and honestly plan to go back through the book to read slower and more for myself vs. an academic mindset with it. I will be rating the book at 5 stars on Good Reads and recommending it to colleagues.
When you learn that sometimes you are truly the cause of your own unhappiness, that is a book that needs to be recommended to others. Figuring out how to deal with stress, prioritize activities, and be sure to think of myself as a priority were all things I will use daily. This is a great book, a quick read, and one I will be suggesting to fellow educators. I like these book studies because they are self-paced, which is an amazing thing for busy teachers! We can focus in the class in the moments we are not prioritizing other things that need our attention at the time.
I enjoyed this book study and would recommend it to others. I liked how I could apply what I learned to school and home. I will definitely take things from this book into making my life better.
I enjoyed this course. I liked the ideas presented in managing fewer things better as a lifestyle change to help in all areas at work and home. Also, challenging myself to know what is or is not important in my work and at home. To help in better decisions for students in general. It can seem daunting to starting changing things quickly, but can be necessary when proper slow steps are taken. I would recommend this book study to colleagues.
I really enjoyed this book study! I feel like it really spoke to a lot of things that I have struggled with while being a teacher the last 5 years. I also really loved the tips that this book gave for ways that we can focus on doing less things and really prioritize the things that are most important to us. I will definitely recommend this book study to colleagues.
I really enjoyed this book study on a professional and personal level. I think it taught me that there is no 1 answer to time management or prioritizing but that these things need to be fluid and constantly changing at our digression as our life changes. A lot of things we read/see as educators tell of to take care of ourselves or have good self-care but they don't give a lot of solutions nor do they often tell you that sometimes "less is more". I love how this book focusing on making sure we are doing what matters most and that sometimes doing more isn't always better.
I think it would be helpful to have the video times on the check list just to make laying out time to complete these tasks easier.
I really enjoyed this book study. It made me think about my own practices and gave suggestions on how to make them better. Everything in the course was easy to follow. I have already recommended this to others!
I would recommend this book study to others. I like the way the book is laid out and the manner in which she covers/explains the content. I like the accompanying videos as well. I will return to it to make an even better schedule for myself.
I love how this book is about empowering yourself not only as an educator but as a person in day to day life. I really enjoyed this course and would 110 percent recommend to anyone. I definitely took a lot away from this course that I will continue to use daily.
I loved how this book had me thinking about work and home at the same time. Teachers struggle with putting their self-care before others and want to help their students and coworkers succeed. I liked having to think of the Core 5 and put those in line of importance to me. I always hold family and faith together, because it is very important to me to show my family that Jesus is the Key to everything that is important to us. I am very lucky to teach in a religious school and get to talk to the students about Jesus and how he loves us.
This course was one of my favorites so far. So many of the topics are beneficial to my personal and professional life. It is a book I will recommend to others.
ReplyDeleteI like how this class is very self-paces. I feel like I have moved my priorities of my work-life balance in the past few years. I do not put in extra hours to do my job. I work smart and hard when I am there and then enjoy my life when I leave at 4:00. I think this book study has verified that it is alright to have a life outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy the self pacing of the class. I am able to do a little or a lot of work at one time. This book study is an easy read and can pertain to everyone whether in the classroom or not. I would recommend this book study to fellow educators.
ReplyDeleteI would 100% recommend this book to another teacher. This was eye-opening to me. Especially the fact that some of my stress is truly created by ME! This book makes you take a deep look at yourself and your practices to see what is truly worthy of your time and talent. And it made me realize how much time I waste on silly or needless things. Ugh. Fighting back against school norms seems like such a no-no, but when you really think about a lot of them....why do we do things like that?! So this book gave me a lot of food for thought and I liked all of it and the TED talk videos as well.
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed this book and the Ted Talks included. I would 100% recommend this book to another teacher, and others, I think other professionals could benefit form some of the practices as well. I felt that this book has helped me reevaluate some of my habits and time wasting activities that i do. And gave me some ammunition to successfully tackle some problem areas in school and my personal life that may need addressing.
I enjoyed this book study and would recommend it. There was so much self help information. This book is helpful in deciding if all my daily task are important, or is it because it is just the way I always did it. I will definitely be taking a step back and re evaluating some of the way I do things in my classroom and my personal life.
ReplyDeleteI have read a lot of "teacher self help" books over the years, I think this is one of my favorites. It was an easy read. I also took the podcast study of hers before the book and I would recommend that one as well.
ReplyDeleteI kind of wish I had chosen to do this book study first out of all of them! I very much needed to hear all of this book. I like how relevant it was for me, and I would recommend it to any teacher because I think the vast majority of us (teachers, especially) need to learn to do fewer things, better. I plan on visiting the book/author website and downloading the workbook, too, to maybe get more down in writing. The only thing I would have changed, on my end, was buying the hard copy book instead of the audio copy. I was trying to save a little money, but it was so good I wish I had the pages to mark and revisit.
ReplyDeleteThis book hit home for me. It has reminded me that it is okay to give myself what I need, to say no, and get things off my plate if it's what's best. I feel like this is one of those books that I will re-read a year from know to remind myself to prioritize. I would recommend this book to my colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this book study and would recommend it to other teachers, as well as people in other professions. I think most of us could learn something from the material and reflections. I really enjoyed the TED talks that were part of the lessons as well.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think there is anything that I didn’t like.
I really liked this book study as it was different than a lot of the other books I have read about education. It is refreshing to read something that isn't pushing more, but instead pushing prioritizing the most important.
ReplyDeleteI do not know that there was anything I didn't like about this book study.
Yes, I will be recommending this book study to my friends and colleagues.
Callie Dutenhoffer
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed this book study and it was more than just a credit to me at the end. Although I’m not actively teaching in a classroom, I found that I learned a lot about prioritizing my time and my needs by this book. I have already found myself thinking about the topics in this book when it has come to doing certain things and saying "no" to some tasks. I even recommended this to a friend who has been struggling with work/home balance. There truly wasn’t anything I disliked about it.
What did you like about it?
ReplyDelete-The book! such a powerful piece, I resonated with so many of the principles
-The simple quizzes
What didn’t you like about it?
-using BlogSpot(comments from a few years ago on the same thread as the current term)
Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
- most definitely!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? I found the book to be very interesting. When I started teaching over 20 years ago, I remember feeling many of the pressures that were mentioned in the book.
ReplyDeleteWhat didn’t you like about it? I can't think of anything I didn't like.
Would you recommend this book study to a colleague? Yes, I would!!
I love that the class is self-paced. I like to work when I have the time and can fit it in my schedule, much like this book has talked about. I didn't have to stress about finishing something on a certain day, or rushing to get it complete. I really liked this book and found it very easy to read and helpful as a teacher and a mom. I would definitely recommend this book, in fact I already have to a few people. There is nothing that I did not like.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! I think it is a good reminder to everyone it's ok to put your needs first sometimes and establish boundaries. It was definitely a much needed mental refresher/breather and made me feel like I'm not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day sometimes. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the course. I would definitely recommend it colleagues!
ReplyDeleteI read the book and then went back to it for the class. I like the self pace of the class. It is very applicable to me in that I am a teacher, vice-principal and athletic director. Also it has me thinking about my core 5 and what is important, non-negotiable, especially outside of the class. It was a good reminder that I don't have to do everything, but focus on doing few things good. I would not change anything. I am going to recommend the book to my faculty, as well as tell them about the class.
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad I didn't come across this book a couple of years ago! She has a lot of good "stuff" that is important for teachers (and others) to hear. I have to say that I was a bit irritated after the first few chapters of the book, but that passed once she got into the meat of her message and what she really meant. Despite my initial feelings, I would recommend the book to others!
ReplyDeleteAs always, the self-paced format for these book studies is awesome! I can be an example reader at school and then work on quizzes, blog posts, and videos as I have time at home - it all comes together nicely!
I like that the course was self -paced and easy to complete over a few weeks time. I like that this book helped me as both an individual and a teacher. Sometimes content driven text gets to be so heavy but I wanted to return to this text because I knew it was building within me a mindset that would help me an individual.
ReplyDeleteI wish there was an interactive checklist that clicked it's self off once our assignment was completed. That would make me feel better knowing each piece had been completed and submitted. I did print off the paper checklist and then drew lines to mark off each major area in to chunks.
This book was a great way to help prioritize my time and help me remember that self care and a work life balance are important, that I don't have to say yes to everything or run myself ragged to prove that I'm a good teacher. I would recommend this book study to my colleagues.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThis book study was truly what I needed at this point. It wasn't about something else I needed to implement into my classroom but more about myself as a teacher. I liked how this book and book study was done with know pressure. I felt relaxed while doing the Blogs and quizzes as I knew it was really about making me a better teacher and person. No dislikes and I would absolutely recommend to others!
I can’t say I’m big into self-help books that are not faith-based, however, I did find this book to be an enjoyable read. I also really enjoy the videos that you both choose to play alongside various chapters. It became clear while participating in this course, how I need to stop striving for perfection for myself and have unrealistic high expectations of others. The book and videos were very thought provoking. I can’t say there was anything that I didn’t like about the course, I felt like it was well paced. Yes, I would recommend this book study to a colleague, as I would with most of these book studies that I have participated in. I find them very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent book for educators, especially young people starting out in the profession. I really enjoyed reading it, and I would highly recommend it to others.
ReplyDeleteI loved this course! The book was great and had practical strategies to implement into my life. I liked that the book study assignments are all work at your own pace. I have already recommended this book study to colleagues! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend this book study to colleagues. I appreciate the flexibility of the self-paced course, allowing me to complete it over a few weeks. This book has been beneficial for me both personally and professionally as a teacher. While some content-heavy texts can feel overwhelming, I found myself drawn back to this one because I recognized it was shaping my mindset in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteI do wish there was an interactive checklist that automatically marked tasks as completed once finished. This feature would provide me with reassurance that each part of the assignment was done and submitted. Overall, this book study was exceptional and I really enjoyed the blog posts and the quizzes that were given for reflection.
I really enjoyed this book. I think it's a good reminder to us educators that we need to set boundaries and be able to rid ourselves of the mindset where we have to work late and be exhausted to feel satisfied with our jobs. Our personal time is important and this book does a nice job of helping us work through what our priorities are and how we should use our time effectively.
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course as it was my first book study. My favorite part was the fact that I could do it at my own pace. With a busy schedule, I sat down whenever I had time and got a couple things checked off the list. I was able to relate and learn from a lot of the content throughout the book. I feel as if I have been able to implement some of the strategies given already. I would recommend this course to someone as it was recommended to myself.
I enjoyed this book study, probably more in relation to my personal life than my professional life. I thought there were a lot of good tips to evaluate priorities and simplifying to do lists.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the course. I would recommend it to colleagues. I usually enjoy the TED talks but did not enjoy all of them this time.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course. I thought the book was full of great reminders on why doing less is important and ways that I can focus on doing just that. I love the self-paced nature of the course as well. I would recommend it to colleagues for sure. There wasn't really anything I didn't like about it.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this course and found it reflective with this season in my personal life. I unconsciously do most of this already to make the flow of the week less stressful, but it's great to be reminded to make sure that I do self-care for myself as well. I can tell when I don't prioritize my self-care and I'm giving a lot at home and at work, it can be mentally exhausting. This book was a good example of how to do better at the work/home life balance. The blog posts and Ted Talks on this course was interesting and easy to follow along. I would recommend this book to colleague or anyone really!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course. The book and additional materials were relevant and helpful to where I am at in my quest for work/life balance. It's helpful to have a self-paced course that is relevant and doesn't add stress to my life. I would (and have!) recommend these book studies to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed this course! It was laid-out in an easy-to-follow way, and had so much beneficial material! I have already incorporated new routines into my work/life world that have allowed me to be more organized, healthy, and happy--both at work and in my personal life. I would definitely recommend this book and ,course to other educators!
ReplyDeleteI have done a few of these book studies, and enjoyed this one as well. I appreciate the concept. For me, I'm not currently in the classroom and I found this topic to be able to easily carry-over into my current role in "corporate" world. So I appreciate that this is applicable to multiple areas and time well spent. I always appreciate that this is self-paced. I would absolutely recommend this course to others! Thanks for putting this course together.
ReplyDeleteThis course was very beneficial for my personal and professional life. It was a great reminder of how to spend my time and how important it is. I love the flexibility of these book studies. Yes I would recommend this course to others.
ReplyDeleteThis course was one of my favorites. It really had me thinking about my daily practices and lifestyle and what I could do to help improve. I like that all of these books studies allow me to take it at my own pace and that we are able to reflect rather than just take a quiz!
ReplyDeleteI like that these courses are self-paced. I like that I can complete them as time allows. I will recommend this course to my colleagues. It provides a good reminder that we are not super heroes and we need to allow time for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great book. I have already recommended it for a building book study next school year. I like how it gives value to what teachers and teaching is truly like.
ReplyDeleteThe book study is great because I can do it on my time! Thank you.
This is one of the best books I've ever read for professional practice. It aligns with my beliefs for the education profession and how to navigate it. I have already recommended it to colleagues! I thought the TED talks were well chosen as well.
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is one of the most relevant books I've read for professional development. There were a lot of tips I could use directly from the book. I will probably re-visit sections of this book in the future. I would definitely recommend this book study to my colleagues.
I did enjoy this class. I liked being able to go at my own pace. I also have many new ideas I plan to try this fall. Most of all I learned that I can be just as good at my job without dedicating my entire life to it.
ReplyDeleteI know I can be replaced easily at school so my priorities need to be where my time is more valuable and I will leave a good legacy.
I would recommend this book!
I enjoyed this book study and would recommend it to others. I liked that the chosen book was not specific to the ins-and-outs of teaching, but rather the ins-and-outs of being a teacher and how we feel as educators. It was reassuring to read what I have been thinking on my own for years, and the author gave a lot of great insights.
ReplyDeleteI was really excited to read this book and I'm so glad I did! I honestly think any profession could be substitute into this book instead of teaching -- we all need help balancing work and life no matter what profession we are in. Thank you for creating this study!
ReplyDelete*Miranda Fox*
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book study because it was self-paced and SO relatable to any job, any personal life situation, and every person that reads it. I loved all the real-world applications that I can implement NOW to try to change my life balance and have already begun doing! If I had to pick one thing that I didn't like in this course, I would say I didn't love the Tony Robbins video. He talked fast, he seemed to kind of jump around in his story/points, and I didn't love the cursing. I had to watch this video twice (with captions on) to try to get the message and meaning behind his talk, and I still didn't feel like I really fully got it, compared to the other videos that I was drawn in and felt immersed in their message.
Overall, a great class!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI just really enjoyed this book, the insight, and the feeling of not being alone. I feel like this author "gets it". Teaching is the hardest, most underpaid job but this book allows us to feel heard and understood. But it also pushes us to put ourselves first. And we all know teachers don't choose the career for themselves, they were called, and because teaching takes a special kind of person; usually someone who puts themselves last. But that needs to change. I would recommend this book study.
There was nothing I didn't like about this book study.
This was my favorite book study I have taken so far! They book was so relatable and had such great thought provoking information. Honestly, there was nothing I didn't like about it. I am going to definitely recommend this book study to my principal and colleagues!
ReplyDeleteThis was the first book study I have done, and I loved it. I enjoyed that it was self-paced. I have so many take aways from the book itself that are applicable to both my personal and professional life, I do wish I had read it earlier. There honestly wasn't really anything I didn't like about it. Yes, I'd definitely recommend this book study to a colleague. Thank you!
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study as it helped me understand so much more about work-life balance and school structure. I can't think of anything I didn't like about the book study, and I will recommend this to my colleagues as it is tremendously beneficial.
This was a great course for the frazzled teacher! It gives real tips on how to destress your life if you purposefully want to make changes. Honestly, there wasn’t anything I didn’t like. I felt the information was very useful. I will recommend this book study to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book the further I got into it. At times I felt like there was a lot of ranting and some things could have been said in fewer words. Now that I have finished the book I feel that I have a much better thought process about how I can deal with my days. I don't feel like things will bother me as much if they do not go as planned. I will not feel selfish or guilty spending needed time with myself.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend this book to anyone, not just teachers.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study a lot! It hit home in a lot of ways and offered realistic plans of action to guide me through the solution as to HOW to do fewer things better without feeling guilty or less adequate as a person.
I would highly recommend. It is an easy read and down to earth -written by someone with true experiences.
Thank you!
I really enjoyed this book. I have said more than once I wish I had read this before I decided to leave eduation. I do believe however that I am a different person than I was five years ago when I left teaching. I have been able to see that I am a truer version of myself and I can take what I learned from this book into my daily life with my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI liked this book. It isn't earth-shattering new ideas, it is common sense that we forget. I appreciated the reminders to say no to doing too much, prioritize, give up some of the tasks to my students, and take care of myself without guilt. I like the format of these book studies because the quizzes pull out important points, and the blogs allow you to reflect on the important points. The videos are also great because I would never find them myself. I think this is a book I should recommend to some of the younger teachers at school who are struggling with feeling overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteThis was a short read, but filled with so many things to think about, many that I hadn't thought of like some of the myths that I believed about teaching. I used to be the teacher that got there first in the morning and the last one to leave at the end of the day as I felt that made me look better. This year I started some self-care ideas that I read the summer before to help with burn-out and feeling like my to-do list never finished. While I had some ideas, this book gave me more to try and have more success with.
ReplyDeleteI liked the fact that it gave simple advice that seems easy to do with huge benefits. I liked the fact that it explained that there is not a one size fits all approach to this. I would definitely recommend this book study to a colleague and already have!
I enjoyed this book study because the infomation presented could be related not only to my teaching career, but to my personal life as well. I would recommend this class to anyone looking for a credit toward renewal or salary advancement.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study! It was applicable in all areas of my life. I think many educators struggle with work-life balance, because it's a job that never feels like it's completely "done"; you could work endless hours of overtime and still not feel satisfied. It was helpful to many of the things I've already thought be put into better words. :) I look forward to applying this book study to my everyday life.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a great book study. It is so difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance as a teacher. I think most teachers are caretakers and want to do their best to help others and often put themselves last. This book has given me so many great ideas that I can use to reduce my stress and focus on the important things, while also taking care of myself. I would definitely recommend this study to others.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great book study! After just finishing the school year, it rejuvenated my soul and really got me thinking about what changes I need to make in my work-life balance. When there were times of overwhelming stress this year, I could've really used some of these core ideas to help me create peace.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course! I thought this was a really great book overall, and I enjoyed the video choices, too. I appreciate that the author mentioned a number of online resources on her website, and I plan to utilize some of those tools in the future. I have been trying for a while to do “fewer things, better,” and I felt that this book/book study provides a lot of helpful tools and tips. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it, and I would definitely recommend this book study to a colleague.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book! It's really made me think about how I'm prioritizing some things in my life and some adjustments I need to make. I love the pacing of this book study. I just happened to be sick the past 3 days, and I didn't fall behind on anything.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great course and a good reminder for me to keep my priorities in check so I can give my best self at work and at home. I would recommend this to my co workers and even shared some information with my husband as well.
ReplyDeleteThis book was a good reminder of how much choice we all have in our lives. I liked her tone and her strength. She was fair, firm, and honest.
ReplyDeleteThe course was helpful and timely. I can continue to think about the ideas and suggestions and work toward implementing them in the fall. The ONLY part of the course that I personally did not enjoy was the talk by Tony Robbins. It felt quite slick and commercial and was kind of a turn-off for me (although I read in the blog posts that others enjoyed it). Yes, I would (and in fact already have) recommend this study to my peers.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study. I enjoyed the self-pacing of the class because I was able to do a little or a lot of work depending on the day. I thought the book was full of great reminders on why doing less is important and ways that I can incorporate these philosophies into my daily life. I struggle with and have been told by colleagues that I need to build confidence so after reading this, I feel my confidence growing. I would recommend it to colleagues for sure. There wasn't really anything I didn't like about it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this book study. I was able to take things from the book and immediately incorporate it into my life. I like that I can do the book study as fast or as slow as I want. I would recommend this book study to other colleagues.
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this course! There were so many things I could relate to in the book and the TedTalk videos. Sometimes I forget about some of the things in the course and it made me realize them and take a step back to think about what is important and what I need to focus on in the future. I would 100% recommend this book study to others!
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteFull disclosure: I procrastinated this class/book study because I knew that I would feel convicted about how unbalanced my life is. It was a good book that provided some practical suggestions that I do think that I can implement. I enjoyed the TED talks in this one too. I appreciate that it's self-paced, as well.
I didn't particularly like how personal some of the blog posts were, but I understand why the questions/prompts were posed. I am not one to post personal things like that, as I hate being vulnerable.
I would definitely recommend the book to my colleagues so that maybe we can collectively make a change together and push back against unrealistic expectations from the school district.
Please post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study, as I enjoyed all of the book studies that you offer. I always learn something new, and it offers new insights on various topics. For one thing, the word 'no'. I have battled with this for years, and realized it is okay to say 'no'. This has helped me to eliminate the 'burn out' stage in my career. This book awakened my own thoughts and made me reflect on how I budget my time and energy on certain things in my classroom and so on.
I would certainly recommend this book to my colleagues to exchange ideas. I wish I had a book study like this to help me with my teaching career in helping me to prioritize my job and my family. I believe more new teachers should read this book as it is a great source.
I enjoyed this book study and feel I received beneficial information and strategies that will help my professional and personal life.
ReplyDeleteI did not like the final Ted Talk, with Tony Robbins. It was a long video for what the purpose of his talk was and I didn't appreciate his swearing.
I would recommend this book study to a colleague!
I really enjoyed this book study. It's been quite some time since I have read a book that truly made me think about myself. I have so many take aways, but the biggest being is finding balance between my work life and my family life...just having a life in general outside of work activities. Ha! I would certainly recommend this book to my colleagues...I'm going to be offering this as a book study amongst our teacher group this school year!
ReplyDeleteThis book had so many great things to remind myself of. I liked the goals the author had in this book. Many teachers struggle with balance and self care and should be reading this book. Teachers would be much better off if we had PD about these topics and were told to prioritize yourself! Great personal discussions that I enjoyed thinking about. I would recommend this book to a friend!
ReplyDeleteThis book has probably been my favorite involving the book studies I've done (I think I've done 4 total). I thought the course content creators did an amazing job tying in Ted Talks with the EXACT theme from the chapters we read. I like that I can get this done at my own pace - when I start to read a book, I like to get it done in a couple of days and this course gives me the flexibility to do that. There is NOTHING that I did not like about this course. I plan to send a staff email offering my book out to others who would like to take the course.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book study a lot. This is the first book study I have ever done and didn't know what to expect. I liked the fact that it was self-paced, the subject matter of the book was really interesting and helpful to me as a teacher, the quizzes were short and straightforward, the Ted Talks were interesting and on point, and the blogs helped me reflect on what I had read and how it related to my personal situation. There is really nothing I did not like about the course. I was given this book from a co-worker who took and recommended this course, and I definitely plan on doing the same!
ReplyDeleteThis was a wonderful book study. There were so many great strategies to help me in my life. I would recommend the book to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course! I feel like the information was very relevant and is something that I can easily apply to my teaching and personal life. I would absolutely recommend this book study to a colleague.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book and the format for the book study. It allowed me to set things aside as other things popped up in my life, and I was able to jump back in when I had the time. I thought the book was phenomenal and very timely for my situation. I would have liked to have some interaction with other people and their thoughts in real-time, but I'm not sure how that would be accomplished while providing flexibility to all who participated. Overall, I would recommend the book and the study. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the book and felt it was a great time of my life to read it. I have been getting overrun with new things to add into the mix and this book really helped me take a step back to figure out what is most important in my life. I thought the videos throughout the course supplemented the book very well. I will be telling my crew on the 3rd floor at the high school about this book study when we start back up in August. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThis book really made me think about how I am starting to have this need to be constantly productive-even at home. I am starting to not be able to sit and not produce anything or have anything to show for it. I need to slow down to be able to focus my energy and time on the most important things. Also, a big take away is just doing things so that I am ok with them rather than needing others to be ok. I believe that some of the good information in the book is easier with age. But the book provided several good examples of people from all stages of their lives. Professional, this book gives me back a little bit of confidence to know that what I am doing is effective and that I don't have to seek approval from coworkers. I need to trust in my own abilities and do the tasks that I know will have the biggest impact on my students.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I liked this book - it is exactly what I needed as I finished up this last school year. Rather than just saying "practice self-care", it gave steps I can take and lists I made along with her to think about my priorities in life. I am hoping this book/course can help do something I have not been able to do on my own for the last 21 years of teaching - set boundaries and take care of me! I like the set up of these book study courses (this is the third one I have done). I like the straightforward To Do list, the combination of reading, videos, and responding to them, and how the quizzes were not too stressful.
ReplyDeleteI cannot think of anything that I didn't like about the book or the course. I will definitely recommend this book and book study to colleagues! Thank you!
This is probably one of my favorite book studies and have already recommended it to my other teacher friends! I think this book is a good reminder to just take a few steps back and remember that putting in countless hours of unnecessary things isnt worth it! I think now that I have kids its way easier for me to not put in all the extra unnecessary work bc I would rather spend time with my kids and husband. Prioritizing and making lists is one thing I am going to start my new school year out doing.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed listening to the ted talks.
I always enjoy my Transform Your Classroom courses. I love that they are self-paced and cover topics that relevant to my teaching career. Fewer Things Better was one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this book study! A great reminder of what truly matters as we enter a new school year. Will be recommending it!
ReplyDeleteThis course was one of the best courses I have done in a while. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It had so many great ideas to try and simplify what is stressing me out at school. I really hope that implementing some of these ideas will help make this year great. I have no suggestions. I will be recommending this book to other colleagues. So many great lessons and not just for educators.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first book study I have done with you guys and I am kicking myself that I hadn't done one sooner. I really enjoy that I can do the work and assignments in the pockets of time that fit my day. I really enjoyed most of the TED talks that we were to watch and respond to. I think that they are great reminders and wonderful at getting us thinking about how to make some positive life changes. This course is definitely one that I will be recommending to others. While it is important to keep learning about how we can be better in our classrooms with curriculum or other practices, we must first put the time in effort into ourselves. This book is a great reminder of that.
ReplyDeleteI did like this book! Some of the books and speakers I’ve heard and read make me feel like I’m doing things wrong or not trying hard enough as an educator when in reality my heart and soul goes in to it. This book actually made me feel like I’m not alone in my feelings and gave some good advice on how to prioritize things in both my work and personal life. I would recommend this book to a friend!
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteThis is the first book by Angela Watson that I have read. I have seen her 40-hour work week advertised on social media a zillion times, but I have yet to dive in and purchase it. After reading this book, I just might do that! I appreciate Watson's style of writing and how she states things quite directly and doesn't sugar coat things. At times, I chuckled while reading the chapters because it felt like she was speaking directly to me or calling me out. Ha! I would definitely recommend this book study to colleagues, both new teachers and veterans. I appreciate that this book study was structured like the last book study I participated in so I knew what to expect. I also appreciate the videos that accompanied each section of reading. Thank you for hosting this book study for credit!
I enjoyed the self-paced nature of the course and the book itself. While I didn't agree with everything in the book, a lot of it was stuff that I was already trying to do or wanting to do. That means that the book was both great encouragement and gave me good concrete ways of moving forward with the goals that I had for finding better balance and use of my time.
ReplyDeleteI find this course eye opening and gave me quite a bit of pause to reflect. I am looking forward to making changes in my life to be better in taking care of myself and my priorities in my life. I would definitely recommend this book study to just about anyone who wants to be better in all aspects of their life!
ReplyDeleteI ordered this book last year after I had resigned and then changed my mind. Teaching is exhausing. I don't think people who don't teach realize how hard it is to be present and leading all day, everyday. Teachers need to be able to take care of themselves and this book helps! I would recommend this book study to my colleagues
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course. I feel that the topics are beneficial not only to teaching but to our personal lives. I could have used these topics years ago! Some of the things I have figured out on my own over the many years of teaching, but this book was a really good read and good information that you can use at any stage of teaching or your life. I will definitely recommend this book to others and will definitely be working on prioritizing my time. I can't say that there was anything I disliked about the course! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this course - I loved the ted talk by Tony Robbins and many of the others. It gave me a better outlook at taking care of myself and balancing work/personal life. Would definately recommend this to others!
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated that the course was work at your own pace. I did not have many expectations going into reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised with the content and how much I enjoyed and connected with her insights. Some of the content I have incorporated into my practices on my own, but it is always good to have reminders and a fresh perspective. It was a good reminder and focus shift on countering feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt as well as a great exercise in figuring out our priorities to create more meaningful experiences for our students and ourselves. I did not find anything I disliked about this course, and I have already recommended it to colleagues!
I enjoyed this book. I have done other similar self help work but this brought in some new ideas and in other ways was good reminders of things we forget. You read a book or listen to a speaker and have all these grand plans and then eventually they kind of slip away until you get the next little burst/reminder. For me the biggest thing is to remember you can't do everything at once. One little change at a time.
ReplyDeleteI like that these classes are self paced.
I would recommend these book studies and I like that the classes are self paced.
ReplyDeleteI found the course quite pleasurable. The best part is just how easy it really is to make the changes listed in the book. It doesn't take a bunch of money or time to do fewer things better. Coming up with my core 5 was a useful process for me. A teacher friend recommended the class and I will do the same for others.
ReplyDeleteThis was an easy read that truly had something to offer. I like the self paced course and would recommend it to friends. It caused self reflection that will help me make more self aware decisions both at work and home.
ReplyDeletePlease post your thoughts about this course below. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend this book study to a colleague?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book study. I felt like so many tips were given for both my personal and professional life. It also made me step back and really reflect on some things that needed to be reflected on. It also released some pressure that I need to do everything all of the time. It reinforced for me that I need to step away, take breaks, and take care of myself as well.
I thought having the course be self-paced is another great idea for busy educators. I will absolutely be taking more of these book study courses in the future. I love to continue my own learning, right alongside my students.
I have already begun sharing these courses with my colleagues. I cannot wait to see what the future brings with other book studies!
I love that this course is self-paced allowing time for reflection and growth while putting the new ideas to use. I loved the Ted Talks I think they added so much to the course. Honestly, there isn’t anything I didn’t like about the course. I appreciated being able to do it on my own time around my schedule. I am sending out an all-school email tomorrow to recommend this course. I have been debating this since the first Ted Talk. It has done so much for me. I am refreshed and ready to take on life as I want to live it.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book - the information and ideas presented are beneficial for one's personal life and professional life. I also really like how the book study is self paced. The Ted Talks were all really good to listen to and the blog posts are a good time to reflect on the key topics. I look forward to doing more book studies.
ReplyDeleteI have taken several book studies. This is a really good book and would benefit any educator at any stage of teaching. I liked that there were specific strategies to make changes in my life. I always have a fresh outlook on my career when I finish a book study. I don't enjoy listening to the Ted Talks. Some are a bit too long. I have recommended these book studies many times to other teachers looking for renewal credits or just for a way to become a better teacher.
ReplyDeleteThis course was my second book study from this website. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so incredibly relatable and honestly made me feel a lot better about being an educator. I would highly recommend any educator to read this book because it really puts a lot of things in perspective. I liked the self-pacing of this course and the blog posts and the youtube videos corresponded well with the sections assigned. The quizzes also followed the information from the assigned sections as well.
ReplyDeleteAfter completing this course, I have shifted my priorities regarding my work-life balance. I no longer want to put in extra hours to complete my job; instead, I want to focus on working smarter and harder during my time at work. Once it hits contract time, I want to make sure to enjoy my life outside the classroom. I believe this book study has confirmed that it's perfectly acceptable to have a life outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI love just taking the title of the book as a growth mindset...Fewer Things Better.
ReplyDeleteI loved this. I'm learning lot and honestly plan to go back through the book to read slower and more for myself vs. an academic mindset with it. I will be rating the book at 5 stars on Good Reads and recommending it to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteWhen you learn that sometimes you are truly the cause of your own unhappiness, that is a book that needs to be recommended to others. Figuring out how to deal with stress, prioritize activities, and be sure to think of myself as a priority were all things I will use daily. This is a great book, a quick read, and one I will be suggesting to fellow educators. I like these book studies because they are self-paced, which is an amazing thing for busy teachers! We can focus in the class in the moments we are not prioritizing other things that need our attention at the time.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book study and would recommend it to others. I liked how I could apply what I learned to school and home. I will definitely take things from this book into making my life better.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this course. I liked the ideas presented in managing fewer things better as a lifestyle change to help in all areas at work and home. Also, challenging myself to know what is or is not important in my work and at home. To help in better decisions for students in general. It can seem daunting to starting changing things quickly, but can be necessary when proper slow steps are taken. I would recommend this book study to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book study! I feel like it really spoke to a lot of things that I have struggled with while being a teacher the last 5 years. I also really loved the tips that this book gave for ways that we can focus on doing less things and really prioritize the things that are most important to us. I will definitely recommend this book study to colleagues.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this book study on a professional and personal level. I think it taught me that there is no 1 answer to time management or prioritizing but that these things need to be fluid and constantly changing at our digression as our life changes. A lot of things we read/see as educators tell of to take care of ourselves or have good self-care but they don't give a lot of solutions nor do they often tell you that sometimes "less is more". I love how this book focusing on making sure we are doing what matters most and that sometimes doing more isn't always better.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be helpful to have the video times on the check list just to make laying out time to complete these tasks easier.
I would recommend this book to colleagues!
I really enjoyed this book study. It made me think about my own practices and gave suggestions on how to make them better. Everything in the course was easy to follow. I have already recommended this to others!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend this book study to others. I like the way the book is laid out and the manner in which she covers/explains the content. I like the accompanying videos as well. I will return to it to make an even better schedule for myself.
ReplyDeleteI love how this book is about empowering yourself not only as an educator but as a person in day to day life. I really enjoyed this course and would 110 percent recommend to anyone. I definitely took a lot away from this course that I will continue to use daily.
ReplyDeleteI loved how this book had me thinking about work and home at the same time. Teachers struggle with putting their self-care before others and want to help their students and coworkers succeed. I liked having to think of the Core 5 and put those in line of importance to me. I always hold family and faith together, because it is very important to me to show my family that Jesus is the Key to everything that is important to us. I am very lucky to teach in a religious school and get to talk to the students about Jesus and how he loves us.
ReplyDelete