JEN’S BOOK

THINK DIFFERENTLY

AN EDUCATORS’ APPROACH TO APPRECIATE WHAT WORKS

EDUCATORS:

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU

Appreciation is one of the most compelling and powerful feelings we possess, so why don't we use it more often in education. In Think Differently, Jen Townsend shows educators and educational leaders how to use appreciative inquiry to reinvigorate and transform collaborative teams. With a few simple but powerful adjustments, educators can notice their practices to discover and capitalize on the positive work that is already happening in their classrooms. This book is filled with practical examples, strategies, and reflections, so that educators can see how to think differently about teaching and learning. It explains the neuroscience behind appreciation, the "3is" of engagement, and how to utilize social emotional learning (SEL) and universal design for learning (UDL) to collaborate efficiently and effectively.

  • Paula Kluth, Ph.D.

    Author of Universal Design Daily: 365 Ways to Teach, Support & Challenge All Learners

    Usually, books written for teachers are focused primarily on students and lessons. Jen Townsend takes a slightly different approach to inspiring change in teaching and learning and prompts educators to look inward. Think Differently offers teachers an invitation to be reflective, focus on their thoughts, and consider how their beliefs impact their decisions. Readers will come away with new ideas for using strategies such as observation, mentorship, and inquiry and a true appreciation for collaborating creatively and contemplating the "why" of classroom work.

  • Nancy Weinstein

    CEO MindPrint Learning, Author of The Empowered Student

    There isn’t a better book for this moment in time when student engagement MUST be central to everything we do in schools. Townsend doesn’t just explain the importance of appreciative inquiry, she shows us HOW to implement this process in a way that is meaningful and manageable whether you are a teacher, parent or coach. Thank you Jen for providing a book that opens our minds to thinking differently.

  • Rachel Bédard, PhD,

    Author of Universal Design Daily: 365 Ways to Teach, Support & Challenge All Learners

    Imagine if every time you went to work your supervisor highlighted your weaknesses, insisted that you address your shortcomings, and failed to understand you as a human being. You would QUIT THAT JOB! Jen Townsend proposes a better model: appreciative inquiry. This model can be used in schools, with colleagues, and generally for the betterment of humanity. This book is packed with examples, questions for you to ponder, and action items. Further, the appreciative inquiry model flattens hierarchy, helping us to connect human to human, valuing each other for the very best (and the not-so-best!) that we bring to the table, and understanding a variety of ways we all live in this world.

    If you want a better way to connect with others, truly understand their perspectives, and embrace diversity in all its forms, this is the book for you!

  • Trevor MacKenzie

    Educator and author of Dive into Inquiry and the Inquiry Mindset series

    This book comes at just the right time! At the convergence of neuroscience, UDL, SEL, and appreciative inquiry is learner engagement, a strong sense of belonging, and wellbeing. Jennifer Townsend offers the 3i’s of Engagement, a conceptual and implementational framework that offers educators the opportunity to put students at the center of their schooling. If you’re like me and are committed to student agency and inquiry then this book will speak to you!