When Teaching Gets Tough:
Smart Ways to Reclaim Your Game

Allen N. Mendler

Table of Contents

Reviews  |  About the Author  |  Comments

About This Book

Are you overwhelmed by unruly students, difficult parents, and never-ending classroom distractions? Are you tired of scavenging and pleading for basic school supplies? Do you wonder if anyone notices or cares how much effort you put into teaching every day? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this book is for you

When Teaching Gets Tough offers practical strategies you can use to make things better right away. Veteran educator Allen Mendler organizes the discussion around four core challenges:

• Managing difficult students.
• Working with unappreciative and irritating adults.
• Making the best of an imperfect environment.
• Finding time to take top-notch care of yourself.

When Teaching Gets Tough is there when you need help to reclaim and sustain your energy and enthusiasm for teaching. Written with a deep understanding of the issues that teachers face every day, the book also includes sections for administrators who want to help teachers stay at the top of their game.

See the book's table of contents and read excerpts.

Reviews and Testimonials 

"Al Mendler has done it again, writing the right book at the right time. His usual style of explaining concepts and providing ample practical suggestions, strategies, and techniques is blended to reach all educators. This is a must-read book not only for teachers who are having difficulties, but for all educators who wish to become even better at what they do: educate children."

—Richard Curwin, director of the master's program in behavior disorders at David Yellin College and author of Meeting Students Where They Live: Motivating Urban Youth

"I highly recommend When Teaching Gets Tough as a practical guide to have on your bookshelf as you start the school year. Pick it up and look through it as the year progresses to remind yourself that part of your best practices are about sustaining yourself.

—Cari Harris, The Educator's Room blog

Reprinted with permission from The Educator's Room blog.

"The book contains practical solutions to some common problems but also serves as a reminder as to the importance of attitude, why we are teaching and the importance of taking care of ourselves."

—Valerie Booth, Science Teacher, Erie, PA

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About the Author 

ALLEN N. MENDLER, Ph.D., is an educator and school psychologist who resides in Rochester, New York. He has worked extensively with children of all ages in regular education and special education settings. Dr. Mendler has consulted with many schools and day and residential centers, including extensive work with youth in juvenile detention. Dr. Mendler’s emphasis is on developing effective frameworks and strategies for educators, youth professionals, and parents to help difficult youth succeed. As one of the internationally acclaimed authors of the original and newly revised Discipline with Dignity, Dr. Mendler has given many workshops and seminars to professionals and parents, and is highly acclaimed as a motivational speaker and trainer for numerous educational organizations.

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