Author Lead Book Study
In November, The Commons had the privilege of hosting executive functioning coach Tricia Underwood at our first virtual event. Tricia shared insights from her latest book, “Happy Grades.” Her focus on cultivating personal joy not only resonates with The Commons’ mission of fostering meaningful connections in the educational community but also aligns with our vision of combatting educator isolation and burnout. Through Tricia’s approach, we explored how infusing joy into teaching can create vibrant learning environments, furthering our commitment to enhancing educational experiences. In case you missed it, you can watch Tricia’s session here.
The session began with a clear message: the cultivation of personal joy is essential for educators who aim to make a lasting impact on their students. Instead of teaching about joy, Tricia focused on helping participants find joy in their own experiences, believing that a more joyful teacher can create a more positive and effective learning environment.
Tricia led the group in a "play audit" - a reflective and experiential process to identify and understand the role and presence of joy and play in one's life. The play audit encouraged participants to be introspective and recognize what types of play resonate most with their personality and well-being. By identifying obstacles that hinder joy, acknowledging the emotional responses that lead to procrastination, and exploring the benefits of play for adults, such as increased trust, flexibility, and optimism, participants can effectively enhance both their personal and professional lives. In essence, the play audit serves as a tool for personal growth and well-being, enabling people to deliberately create spaces in their lives for joy.
Tricia went on to explain that by understanding one's play personality, individuals can make small, incremental changes—what she terms "one degree turns"—towards incorporating more joy and playfulness into their daily routines. Rooted in the belief that joy is not static but dynamic, even minor changes can have profound effects. This process is not just about adding new activities, but also about eliminating those that do not contribute to one’s sense of joy. A key takeaway is the ripple effect of joy; by integrating these subtle shifts towards a more joyful demeanor, educators can become unwitting catalysts for creating a positive and vibrant atmosphere in their school communities.
Tricia's workshop served as a reminder that seeking joy is not just beneficial for personal growth but can also be a powerful tool in shaping a nurturing educational environment. Participants were encouraged to reflect on how they can incorporate joy into their daily lives, recognizing that this choice can enhance not only their own experiences but also those of their students.
So, let's ask ourselves: How will we choose joy today? How will we let it guide our teaching, our learning, and our living? The answers may just lead us to a more fulfilling path.
About Tricia
Tricia Underwood, M.A.T., is a joy-centered executive functioning specialist and writer. She has been an inclusion teacher and professional development facilitator in public, private, and charter schools for 20 years and currently serves as a Director of Academic Coaching at Creating Positive Futures. She loves to learn, read, and write about the art and science of the pursuit of joy. Her interest lies in how to use that to help students become mindfully productive in reaching meaningful goals for themselves. When she’s not working and brainstorming her next book projects, she has as much fun as she can manage with friends and family in Atlanta, being a joyful dork reading and doing puzzles, and taking her clumsy dog on walks. You can find out more and sign up for her 3 Good Things newsletter at triciaunderwood.com.
