Tough but Worth It

“Tough but Worth It offers a refreshingly honest and practitioner-centered look at supporting students experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. Drawing from compelling stories and a relationship-based inclusion model, the authors provide strategies that are both deeply human and immediately usable in classrooms. As someone who trains future teachers, I appreciate how clearly the book bridges research, self-reflection, and practical tools—highlighting that meaningful inclusion begins with the adults, not the students. This text will strengthen teacher preparation programs and empower educators to engage their toughest learners with empathy, skill, and purpose.”

“Tough but Worth It provides an invaluable lens into the effective inclusion of students with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. It builds from the science on the factors that contribute to the emergence and persistence of students’ difficulties. In turn, it presents the application of evidence-based practices in highly understandable ways that support their use in daily practice. Importantly, it takes school professionals into the lived lives and circumstances of students and helps us to keep a focus on the whole child and not just their troubling behavior. In the end, this book treats problem behavior as an opportunity to teach and to foster students’ positive learning and growth. A critical and timely message to move the field forward.”

“In Tough but Worth It authors Van Loan and Garwood have crafted a practical, relationship-centered approach to including students who struggle with behavior, emotion, and connection. From the opening pages where the authors suggest, 'No matter where you teach, sooner or later you will face students whose behaviors are difficult to manage,' to the epilogue where they remind us, 'It takes a tremendous amount of effort and thought when working with tough kids,' they have fashioned a dynamic guide for working with students who test our patience—and ultimately strengthen our practice. They move beyond the historical use of punishment and exclusion to helping teachers build trust, prevent and de-escalate crises, and support learning for all students.

Offering a summary at the end of each chapter that articulates three areas—what you can do tomorrow, what you can do with more effort, and what you can do with more resources—provides effective and accessible tools for all teachers. Throughout this text I was reminded of one longstanding truism in education: The work is hard, but the impact is lasting.”

“Grounded in authenticity, humility, and deep respect for students, Tough but Worth It is a powerful and timely contribution that reframes student–teacher relationships as the engine of engagement, motivation, and meaningful inclusion. Van Loan and Garwood challenge educators to move beyond compliance-driven models and instead view relationships not as a soft add-on, but as the most effective intervention we have for students who struggle emotionally and behaviorally. What makes this text especially compelling is how convincingly it links relational trust to student motivation and learning. The authors demonstrate that engagement is not something educators can demand or incentivize into existence—it is built through consistent, human-centered interactions that honor students’ experiences, emotions, and needs. This book is both a call to action and a reassurance: when educators lead with relationships, engagement follows—and real learning becomes possible.”