Reimagining Wholeness in Teaching and Learning

What if education could nurture the whole teacher as much as the whole child? In a world of fragmented educational approaches and teacher burnout, Reimagining Wholeness in Teaching and Learning offers a framework that transcends conventional whole child models, encouraging educators to reconnect with what it means to be whole within themselves, their communities, and their relationship to the natural world.

Dr. Virginia Dearani draws from decades of experience as an educator, school founder, and researcher to present a five-part framework of wholeness as both being and becoming: Storying the Body, Wiring the Mind, Threading the Matter, Cycling through Time, and Aligning the Spirit. Through vivid classroom stories, personal narratives, and ecological metaphors, this book invites educators to:

• Reconnect with their authentic teacher identity beyond standardized expectations

• Integrate healing practices into daily classroom rhythms

• Embrace the power of embodied, intersectional pedagogy

• Foster learning environments where belonging and equity flourish

• Develop a sustainable practice of teaching rooted in ecological awareness

More than a theoretical text, this book provides practical tools for creating classrooms where both teachers and students can thrive in their fullness. Whether you're a classroom teacher, administrator, or teacher educator, Reimagining Wholeness in Teaching and Learning will transform how you understand your role in creating educational ecosystems where authentic learning and healing coexist.

Dr. Virginia Dearani is Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at Thomas College with a Doctorate in Literacy/Curriculum Design from the University of Maine. Before entering higher education, she founded Roots & Fruits, a progressive school integrating ecological and spiritual dimensions with ancestral knowledge in child development. Her "Radical Love" teaching methodology, practiced for over 15 years, inspired her dissertation on reimagining wholeness in education beyond humanist perspectives. For 25+ years, Dr. Dearani has centered her work on Whole Teacher/Whole Child approaches, Cross-Cultural Pedagogy, and Peace Education for diverse age groups. She has developed numerous curricula including Intuitive Teaching, Creative Arts for Social Change, and Embodied Liberation in the Classroom. Through her work, she emphasizes creating communities of belonging by partnering with children and youth—a critical need in today's world.