The primary goal of 'Connecting with Your Students' is twofold: first, to help teachers establish and nurture positive relationships that enable students to achieve their full potential; second, to equip students with essential life skills. These skills are vital not only for overcoming challenges but also for flourishing in life.
This book is organised around four thematic terms covering the school year. Each term consists of ten chapters, each focusing on a different life skill. Included are inspiring quotes, simple student-friendly definitions, and ten practical ideas for teaching each skill. These activities are designed to require minimal equipment and preparation, making them easy to implement. Additionally, they foster relationship-building within the classroom. Each chapter concludes with a real-life story that illustrates the skill in action – whether through success or failure. Some people grew up in different areas of the globe with a wide variety of experiences. Some are stories of success and happiness, others of sadness and struggle. Some stories are from people who have faced challenges that some of us can only imagine. Real people tell all these stories about a moment in time in their lives. Interviewing everyone as they shared their stories was a particularly enjoyable part of writing this book, and I hope you enjoy reading them.
Being an educator is truly one of the most rewarding professions an individual can engage in. Andy has cut through the ongoing noise of what good teaching practice should be and focused on the ‘art’ of teaching. Building connection and relationships before curriculum is the secret sauce for teachers. To truly understand and master this is what those of us who teach aspire to. I encourage you to engage in the tips Andy has provided and tread your path in connecting with your students to impact deeply on their learning. Andrew Dalgleish, President, Victorian Principals Association
I love this book! McNeilly provides simple and practical ideas that any educator can use. Whether you read the book cover-to-cover or glance during recess to help with a point-of-need situation, this book has ideas that will work for your circumstances. I have enjoyed trying some of these with my prep students to build relationships and form strong connections in those crucial early stages of school.
Ash, Prep Teacher
Andy’s book is an invaluable resource for educators, offering a rich bank of practical strategies to build strong, positive connections between teachers and students. It is a true reflection of Andy’s extensive classroom teaching experience, his work in wellbeing, and his family life — all of which have informed and shaped the approaches he shares. I have had the privilege of working directly with Andy through coaching sessions, where I successfully applied a variety of his strategies to strengthen and deepen the connections I have with my students.
Nikki, Year 3 Teacher
As a teacher, I found Andy’s book both practical and inspiring. It reinforces that wellbeing is the foundation for academic success and creating positive connections within the classroom is essential. The real-life examples and activity ideas are engaging and easy to adapt to any class. I highly recommend this book to any teacher who wants to make wellbeing a meaningful part of their everyday practice.
Kristy, Year 6 Teacher
Andy is an experienced and gifted educator who knows that students learn best from teachers that they feel a connection with. His book is full of insights, very relatable anecdotes and his suggestions of activities to build life skills will work with students of all ages. This is a book for all teachers - beginning and experienced - who want to hone their craft to build meaningful connections with their students.
David, Secondary Teacher
As someone who has worked in education for over 40 years, initially as a teacher, and more recently in student wellbeing, Andy's book is right on the money! One of his goals around helping teachers build positive relationships with students is seemingly simple, yet powerful. In my work in wellbeing students continually tell me they work better for teachers who they connect with, teachers who have an interest in them as people. Andy's book provides countless ways for educators to connect with their students as a platform for learning. No matter how long you have been in education this book is a must read; insightful, practical, informative and authentic. Read it, digest it, implement it and your students will reap the rewards.
Russ, School Counsellor
Andy’s approach to teaching is exemplary. Like many great educators, he promotes an environment where students feel safe, seen and supported, empowering them to navigate their educational journeys with confidence and to develop the skills required for success - both at school and beyond. In his book, Andy writes with enthusiasm, insight and playfulness, creating an engaging and impactful guide for all educators, with authentic connection at its core.
Johnrey, Education Support / Learning Mentor
Andy’s book would provide a great companion to any classroom teacher or school seeking a clear, accessible and practical resource to help students and teachers explore important life skills together. I love the way the book is structured, providing a connected and themed guide, with topics carefully grouped into terms and then week by week. The real-life anecdotes and stories in the book also provide a great stimulus and talking point for discussion in the classroom.
James, Learning Specialist
Andy continues to provide ideas to support teachers, carers and families in their various roles throughout life. There is no wrong or right way, just ideas or strategies to lean into from Andy’s wealth of experience in teaching, married life, parenthood, and his own experiences. It’s now up to the individual to identify what works and for who. Enjoy trying some of Andy’s ideas and remember that sometimes you’ll have to try them more than once.
Scott, Principal
Connecting with your Students is available for pre-order from the publisher:
‘Connecting with Your Teens’ by Andy McNeilly, is a simple, practical and remarkable guide for parents and teachers who want to bond with their teenagers while also helping them develop important life skills. This is the follow up book to the well-known 'Connecting with Your Kids’.
This fun and effective book contains chapters that can be followed chronologically, exploring life skills that are vital for your teen’s future success. There are personal narratives which can give insights and provide valuable perspectives on the journey of parenting and teaching teenagers, empowering both parents and teenagers to navigate the challenging adolescent years together.
Not often do you find a parenting book that is easy to read and relatable, especially when life is so full and hectic. The chapter themes and ideas to create discussion are realistic and practical. Andy shares his stories and others to illustrate some really typical, sensible, potential and teachable moments to help inform and guide parents and grandparents today with reflections from the past and present. Gail McHardy, CEO, Parents Victoria Inc.
Sometimes it's hard to see the wood for the trees when parenting, particularly in this current environment so unfamiliar to our generation. Andy's 'pearls of parenting wisdom' can really help you with simple strategies to approach the hardest, yet most rewarding job we have - parenting.
Katie: mother of three teenagers.
You won't find a humbler guy with a genuine passion for the resilience and wellness of our children and their families. An educator of unique storytelling ability, Andy shares experiences that will resonate with many and remind us we are not alone, and help is at hand.
Andrew: father of three teenagers.
Andy's book offers parents ways to effectively engage their teenagers with unique concepts and easy activities. It was refreshing not to read another book that only focused on how teens think. Excellent activities for the entire family, it's exactly what most parents need in their parenting toolbox!
Renee: mother of two teenagers.
What a great format for a book, great concepts and great ideas to help engage with our teens! Uncomplicated ideas and thoroughly usable techniques to get the conversations happening, well done Andy!
Hugh: father and stepfather of five teenagers.
Connecting with your Teens is currently available from the following suppliers:
Connecting with Your Kids contains simple, practical, down-to-earth ways for parents and teachers to connect with their children. It contains chapters that can be followed chronologically throughout the year, or by selecting a ‘life skill’ that may be needed to be learnt. Each chapter defines each skill, states some benefits of gaining proficiency in the skill, and offers ideas to help teach the skill. It also has simple stories relating to each life skill. Learning many of these skills will help children to navigate the challenges of life as they mature so they are less likely to develop problems with stress, anxiety, or depression.
"It's BEAUTIFUL - so appealing in look and feel. Content-wise, it really does break down the skills of life in a way that families can make great use of. Very impressed." Steve Biddulph AM
Practical advice, imaginative suggestions and great wisdom - this is a book that understands the way families live, or would like to live, in today's era. And tomorrow's too.
Lawrie: father of twin boys.
Andy's writing is accessible to all and he meets you where you are. His ideas are not complex - they are very simple which is rather disproportionate to the extraordinary effect that they can have on everyday family life. He doesn't have a secret formula but gives practical suggestions of ways to engage families in doing things together.
Sue: mother of Rosie, Josh and Pippa.
It is refreshing to read a simple, encouraging and straight to the point approach of current day methods to strengthen the bonds in our family. Andy is an infectious leader whose guidance inspires us to live in the moment through his tried and tested practical ideas.
Jay: mother of Mika and Layla.
Connecting with your Kids is available through the following suppliers...
Quality Relationships Matter
Andy is presently collaborating with John Hendry OAM on a new book that highlights straightforward and practical strategies for implementing Relationship-Based Education (RbE) in the classroom.
This approach is supported by Parents Victoria.