Breaking Bold: Dare to Defy the Tyranny of Trends and Live the Relationship Habits of a Master Educator

by Weston Kieschnick

Are the kids OK? There may be no more essential question for educators today. In a moment when mental health issues are bearing down on our students, the role of educators must expand to meet not only the academic needs but also the social and emotional needs of our students. On the heels of his best-selling book, Bold School, Weston Kieschnick and co-author Molly Kieschnick offer Breaking Bold as a manifesto for all educators hungry for both permission and a path to prioritize and cultivate positive relationships with ALL students in future focused learning environments. 
 
Determined not to contribute confusion to the conversation around how to build relationships, Weston and Molly—educators, co-hosts of the “Teaching Keating” podcast (downloaded by more than 60k listeners every week), and spouses—seek to provide a way forward. Poring over the research from leading educators, neuroscientists, and psychologists, Weston and Molly have culled from it the twelve habits for cultivating meaningful relationships, as well as strategies, tools, and assessments teachers can use to grow masterful in each. Those who fold into their practice any or all of these twelve habits will be better equipped to break from the tyranny of trends and tests and towards what matters most to our students—reaching the whole child so that our children can learn from us, develop SEL skills, and prepare for long, happy, fruitful careers and futures. 
 

Genres: Nonfiction

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2020

Reviews

[Tweller83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked these reminders that relationships with students need to come first and then the breakdown of what goes into building those relationships. I had a little bit of a hard time with the colored ink, just physically reading it. While I understood the purpose of it, it was still just a tad bit difficult, especially reading the red. Really waffling between a 4 and a 5 so we'll say a 4.5 rounded up to a 5 for Goodreads. I would highly recommend.

[Luci Bowers]

Great reminders of instructional strategies for this time of hybrid teaching and learning.

[Beth Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful approach to teach educators how to really be there for their students. Social emotional learning is more important now than ever.

[Kate Steinheimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few interesting stories and some good tidbits/reminders. Nothing groundbreaking.

[Sarah Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

it has good reminders but is written in the most annoying way as a conversation between Molly & Weston. Full of his characteristic anecdote-heavy style.