A review of Patty O'Grady's (2013) book, titled Positive Psychology in the Elementary School Classroom. Completed as a requirement to Bethel University's MA in Education program, course EDUC606 Teacher as Leader

1. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IN THE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CLASSROOM
BY: PATTY O’GRADY
Book Review by Brittany Rechtin

2. Images from:
www.amazon.com
www.ut.eduO’Grady, P. (2013). Positive psychology in the
elementary school classroom. New York: W.W.
Norton.

3. My advisor (Prof. Searle-White) and
I (2009)
Image from: www.allegheny.edu

4. WHAT IS POSITIVE
PSYCHOLOGY?

5. Image from: www.healthworks.my

6. Image from:
http://www.wikinoticia.com/

7. THE NEUROSCIENCE OF
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Image from: http://s3.amazonaws.com/

8. Image from: http://www.educationnews.org/

9. Image from: www.tns-gallup.no

10. Image from: http://www-tc.pbs.org/

11. Stay optimistic
Delay
gratification
Strengthen
willpower
Increase
resiliency
Build
meaningful
social
relationships
Find greater
meaning and
satisfaction

12. Image from: http://bluehatmovement.files.wordpress.com/

13. Images from:
http://studeelounge.files.wordpress.com/
http://www.newham.com/

14. Image from: www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu

15. Image from: O’Grady, 2013, Chapter 3
Positive Psychology Teaching Taxonomy

17. Benchmark
(i.e. Positive
Emotion)
Importance
of the
Benchmark
Pillars of the
Benchmark
Teachers
Toolbox
Case
Studies
K-2 Example 3-5 Example
Resources
OUTLINE OF EACH
CHAPTER/BENCHMARK

18. BENCHMARK TWO:
TEACHING
ENGAGEMENT
THROUGH STRENGTH

19. Images from: http://www.kidsenabled.org/
http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/

20. PILLARS OF STRENGTH LEARNING :
1. Identify and recognize strengths in self and others
2. Build a signature strength, core strength, and challenge
strength.
3. Practice and use strengths to accomplish goals
1. Encourage others to use strengths to accomplish their
goals.

21. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TEACHERS
STRENGTHS TOOLBOX
(1) Conduct strengths assessment
(2) Take strengths pledge
(3) Study literature
(4) Observe others’ strengths
(5) Envision positive strengths
(6) Use self-talk
(7) Meditate and move
(8) Participate in strengths training

22. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TEACHERS
STRENGTHS TOOLBOX
(1) Conduct strengths assessment
(2) Take strengths pledge
(3) Study literature
(4) Observe others’ strengths
(5) Envision positive strengths
(6) Use self-talk
(7) Meditate and move
(8) Participate in strengths training

23. RATING: 4/5 – WOULD
RECOMMEND
PROS
• Strong overview of
positive psychology
and importance
• Very current (2013)
• Many practical
strategies to directly
use in the classroom
(Teacher’s Toolbox)
• Extensive list of
resources
CONS
• Case studies
ambiguous
• Sometimes
repetitive and
unclear

24. Image from:
http://web.education.unimelb.e
du.au/
“I want you to imagine that
schools could, without
compromising either, teach both
the skills of well-being and the
skills of achievement. I want you
to imagine positive education.”
Seligman, 2011, p. 294
If interested, you can view his
TEDTalk on Positive Psychology at
a later time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=9FBxfd7DL3E