Teaching with Vitality
Pathways to Health and Wellness for Teachers and Schools
Peggy D. Bennett
Reviews and Awards
"New teachers will benefit from the countless practical tips on topics ranging from daily interactions in schools to personal health and wellness provided throughout the book. Seasoned teachers will find a renewed sense of purpose and will be inspired to pause to reflect on their daily practices in their schools and their lives. This book is easy to read and digest yet packed with great ideas. Impressively, the text would be equally appropriate if integrated into a student teacher seminar or included as a choice for a teachers' book club in a school community." -- Lori T. Gray, Music Educators Journal
"This is helpful reading for teachers looking for a quick motivational thought, those who are feeling weighed down mentally and physically by the teaching occupation, anyone trying to find balance in their work and home life, parents and community members seeking to understand more thoroughly the stresses encountered in the teaching profession, educators such as specialists and administrators whose jobs require them to interact with large numbers of colleagues, and new teachers looking for advice and wisdom as they enter the field." -- Orff Echo Review
"Educators looking for challenging ideas packaged in an easy-to-read format need to read this book." -- Kelly McGurgan, Forum of the American Journal of Education
"In Peggy Bennett's new book Teaching with Vitality, the sage advice offers a permanent spot on the educator's desk. Each short and concise chapter is as practical as it is renewing. Her perspective from obvious years of experience is a welcome reminder of the joy of teaching and how that joy is dependent upon professional behavior and lofty hopes." -- Michigan Music Educator
"Peggy Bennett offers advice and insight to navigate the challenges of teaching and nourish the spirit. Teaching with Vitality provides beginning teachers, as well as seasoned educators, wisdom and solutions in a way that creates positive momentum which fuels the soul while providing motivation to continue in a challenging profession. Readers will appreciate the significance of the teaching profession and be reminded why we became educators through the positive uplifting series of topics containing thought provoking ideas and reminders." -Jayne Ellspermann - NASSP National Principal of the Year (2015)
"How we teach is sometimes more important that what we teach as we strive to ensure student success in the classroom. Peggy Bennett, veteran Texas music educator and former TMEA Executive Board member, has provided us a collection of health and wellness gems that serve as practical and inspirational guides to assist the teacher every day in the classroom. This book should be required reading and serve as a resource for survival for every first-year or veteran teacher." -Bob Floyd
How can educators maintain and create Vitality in the challenging and complex educational environment of today? Peggy Bennett's Vitality is a must read. Vitality promotes the need for educators to build leadership resilience and competence and to continue to be passionate advocates for their students. Vitality provides practical internal resources to stay the course, grow, revive and thrive!" -Lisa Ciaranca Kaplan, The BestSchool's National Principal of the Year, Escalante- Gradillas Prize for Best in Education
"Clearly, the lifelong enthusiasm, focus and gifted insights are provided by Peggy Bennett within the pages of "Vitality." For a teacher of any vintage, practical aphorisms abound. When combined with the innate personality of an educator "called" to the profession, the wisdom contained in these pages will flow to the student, and increased competency and joy of learning will result. A rare accomplishment, and gift to the profession." -Stuart Brown MD Founder and President, The National Institute for Play
"Vitality is a book of hope and inspiration. Especially for new teachers or teachers who have lost their way."-Dr. Richard L. Curwin, Co-author of Discipline with Dignity