This book offers a critical discussion on the necessity for 'difficult conversations' to take place in education, drawing on studies from across the UK. The editors and contributors address three key questions: - How can 'difficult conversations' be theorised? - What transformations in thinking and practice can occur through 'difficult conversations'? - What value do 'difficult conversations' have in enabling understanding and compassion between the diverse communities of today? The chapters cover a range of topics including supporting children with SEND, parent and carer engagement, childhood trauma, race, disability, the climate emergency, and the researcher's positionality. The contributors draw on the theoretical work of bell hooks, Linda Alcoff, Paulo Freire, Victor Turner, Homi Bhabha, Nel Nodings, Melanie Nind, Emile Bojesen, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Mathew Lipman, and other contemporary theories. They argue against the prevailing deficit-based perspectives about marginalized communities and invite deep thinking about the nature of oppression experienced in many spheres of education and therefore in our society. Ultimately, the book advocates for the empowerment and agency of anyone facing social inequalities through engagement in 'difficult conversations' as a means of transformation and social change.

"This book offers critical discussion on the necessity for 'difficult conversations' to take place in education, drawing on studies from across the UK. The chapters cover a range of topics including: supporting children with SEND, parent and carer engagement, childhood trauma, race, disability, the climate emergency, research methods and draw on the theoretical work of Linda Martin Alcoff, Maurice Blanchot, Paulo Freire, and Maureen Lipman. The contributors argue against the prevailing deficit-based perspectives about marginalized communities and students, and invite deep thinking about the nature of oppression and the complicity of many education professionals in it"--

In times of increasing pressure on schools and teachers, it is essential that teachers are equipped to understand the emotional and relational factors in learning and teaching. Vulnerable and disaffected children need understanding and nurture rather than reactive management, which can easily exacerbate their difficulties, leaving them unheard and defensive, and even undermine teacher confidence and effectiveness. Understanding, Nurturing and Working Effectively with Vulnerable Children in Schools offers a comprehensive and accessible exploration of the difficulties faced by teachers and schools from at-risk and disaffected children, including repeated trauma and insecure attachment patterns. The book describes how a thoughtful ‘relationship-based’ approach can both alleviate such difficulties and offer a second chance attachment experience, enabling students to discover it might be safe to let down their all consuming defences a little; thus freeing them to begin to learn. It offers: practical suggestions in note form – making them easy to use, refer to and assimilate; numerous case examples and teacher friendly theoretical background material; a wealth of ideas for ways forward, including differentiated responses to children in the light of their particular patterns, developmental stages and unmet needs. Written from extensive professional experience, this is an essential handbook and resource book for trainers, schools, teachers and school staff, and also for educational psychologists and those in children’s services working with vulnerable children in pre and primary schools, as well as those in special schools and units. Angela Greenwood has produced a series of educational posters to support teachers in understanding the emotional and relational factors involved in teaching and learning, freely available for download from: https://www.angelagreenwood.net/Posters.html

Whether you are a Head or Deputy Head, a Head of Department or Year 3 Teacher, this book is an invaluable read. It is full of practical ways to help you, when facing one of `those' conversations with a colleague or parent, you know in your heart you need to have, but would rather avoid having, because you don't really know what to say or how to say it.

Behaving Together provides teachers with frameworks and processes to help them identify, understand and support the issues children bring to the classroom. Using a clear five step formula, the book explores the perspectives of children, to guide teachers as they support them within the school environment. The book explores the nature of emotional health and well-being and the real implications of this on the way children are seen to act within the school. Rather than punishing unwanted behaviour, the book begins with the assumption that behaviour is our innate form of communication, that should be supported rather than controlled. It recognises the network of relationships within a school’s community and provides helpful resources to support a child’s inclusion in school life, including: •Case studies highlighting the potential complexities of children’s lives •Perspectives on a range of educational contexts, including Pupil Referral Units and schools outside the mainstream •Clear definitions explaining common technical or medical jargon •Reflection points to develop teaching practice and confidence Behaving Together is a key reflective tool for teachers and those interested in the pastoral care of children. "This book is full of practical strategies outlining collaborative approaches to supporting positive behaviours." Cath Kitchen, BSc, MSc, NPQH, NLE, CEO of The Skylark Partnership "Reading it would make any mainstream teacher a better professional. I felt cleansed by it." Phil Beadle, Teacher and Author "Drawing on her substantial experience of working in Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision, Sarah Dove provides a helpful and wide-ranging overview of the factors - personal and organisational - that can affect pupils' behaviour." Steve Waters Founder and Director: Teach Well Alliance Sarah Dove is an experienced educator and industry leader with over eighteen years of teaching experience. Her specialist experience in Pupil Referral Units, in-patient psychiatric services, care homes and hospital schools has enabled her to support mainstream schools and local authorities to support children and reduce exclusions. Behaving Together in the Classroom has been shortlisted for the NASEN Award for Publication and the BESA Educational Book Award!

Holding difficult conversations well is the key to successful leadership in schools - this book is for both experienced and new leaders.

Death. Sex. Money. Tricky subjects we’re taught to avoid in polite conversation. But if they’re so unpleasant, why do so many people tune in regularly to hear Anna Sale asking perfect strangers about them? What if, rather than declaring them off-limits, we could all benefit from discussing them more? In Let’s Talk About Hard Things, Sale — the host of cult podcast Death, Sex & Money, which tackles life’s hard questions — takes her quest for more honest communication into her own life. She considers her history of facing (and sometimes avoiding) difficult subjects, both personal and cultural; she reflects on race, wealth, inequality, love, grief, death, power — all the things that shape our daily lives, the things we should be talking about, but often struggle to. She tracks down people whose stories best illuminate the transformative power of tough conversations, and offers, with her trademark empathy and insight, different ways of approaching these tricky topics with family, friends, loved ones, and strangers alike. Part treatise, part how-to, and part memoir, Let’s Talk About Hard Things is candid, unflinching, and entertaining in its quest to make everyone more comfortable with the uncomfortable realities of life.

Be prepared to manage stressful situations before they happen with proven, constructive strategies! The second edition of this best-selling resource provides new and updated content influenced by the feedback of over 250 school administrators. Managing Difficult, Frustrating, and Hostile Conversations uncovers safe and effective strategies for dispelling common sensitive situations such as handling legitimate complaints, controlling those under the influence, combating charges of discrimination, serving as the mediator, and diffusing abrasive conversations. Each chapter highlights situations identified by school administrators as most stressful; tips for managing these situations are followed by suggestions and questions for the reader that highlight how to: Understand the motives and actions behind hostile adults Become proactive rather than reactive Maintain control over volatile conversations Communicate effectively with all types of upset individuals Use this text to constructively address sensitive issues and prevent stressful circumstances from evolving into dangerous situations.

From a leading Harvard expert on stress comes a book--now in paperback--that gives women permission to take care of themselves in a world of overwhelming demands. Readers will also find the tools they need to reclaim their capacity for inner peace.

This collection of 17 papers focuses on the important role of service-learning in the education of students at liberal arts colleges, drawing on the activities of the Learning and Service Alliance sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). They include: (1) "An Introduction to Service-Learning" (Robert L. Sigmon); (2) "The Problem of Definitions in Service-Learning" (Robert L. Sigmon; (3) "Design Considerations" (Robert L. Sigmon); (4) "The Reflective Arts" (Robert L. Sigmon); (5) "Among True Partners" (Judy Harvey); (6) "Voices from the Citizens in the Community" (Damita J. Dandridge and Barbara S. Frankle); (7) "The Community and Service-Learning" (Thomas Plaut and others); (8) "The Voice of Students in Service-Learning" (Ralph Corrigan); (9) "Faculty on Service-Learning" (John Reiff and others); (10) "Linking Service and Scholarship" (John W. Eby); (11) "Connecting Head, Heart, and Hands" (Richard Slimbach); (12) "Philosophy 115: Ethical Practice" (Yoram Lubling); (13) "Service-Learning and Career Development" (Matthew R. Berndt); (14) "Evaluating a New Service-Learning Program" (Grace Ann Witte and others); (15) "Suggestions from Practitioners"; (16) "College/Workplace Service-Learning Connections" (Robert L. Sigmon); and (17) "Continuing the Journey to Service-Learning: A Fable" (Robert L. Sigmon). Three appendixes provide a service-learning timeline, a summary of CIC's service-learning initiative, and selected service-learning resources. (MDM)