Mindfulness and Critical Friendship: A New Perspective on Professional Development for Educators

(Hardback)

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Mindfulness and Critical Friendship: A New Perspective on Professional Development for Educators assembles an international community of scholar-practitioners from multiple disciplines who utilize different methodologies and ideological perspectives to reflect on and interrogate contexts that situate mindfulness and critical friendship as constructs which support professional development for educators. Mindfulness and critical friendship connect critically and creatively like-minded colleagues and enable the facilitation and promotion of transformative pedagogy and practice. Supported by a robust set of evidence-based research, the contributors to this collection consider the ways in which educators can develop habits of mind and courses of action which will support them as they cultivate their ability to thrive and cope with the modern demands of their personal and professional lives. This edited collection is recommended for educators of all disciplines and for scholars of education, social science, and psychology.

Reviews

Teaching is a relational activity in which educators are most effective when they are mindful of their identities, the needs of students, and the dynamics of classroom learning. Mindfulness and Critical Friendship is an informative and practical collection that conveys the power of mindfulness, self-study, and critical friendship as relational approaches to professional development. These stories will guide my professional development as I reflect and prepare for the coming year, and will continue to inspire me as I strive to be more mindful and relational alongside my students and colleagues. -- Julian Kitchen, Brock University
Mindfulness and Critical Friendship provides a refreshing perspective on learning and renewal through a series of chapters that describe intentional professional development with a focus on both critical self-reflection and the importance of relationship building with colleagues and students. This edited collection is a clear reminder of the need to keep kindness, caring, and humanity at the center of the educational experience. With chapters written by international scholars from a wide range of backgrounds, readers will find a common thread throughout the book in the emphasis on the importance of paying close attention to each other as we individually and collectively find our way as teachers. -- Lynn Thomas, Universit de Sherbrooke

Author Bio

Karen Ragoonaden is professor in the Faculty of Education of the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus. Shawn Michael Bullock is assistant professor of science education at Simon Fraser University.