We’ve been talking about the importance of teacher self-care for a while now. We know that it’s important to take time for ourselves and to do simple acts like drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and taking deep breaths when stressed. I try to practice these things regularly, though I admit to needing reminders from time… Continue Reading
I cried every day for 3 months during my first year of teaching. I was incredibly unprepared for how difficult and demoralizing being a teacher could be. But I survived—even thrived eventually—and want to help other new teachers get through. I was so excited for my first classroom—setting up my room and planning lessons. I… Continue Reading
When summer rolls around or term break, I am always ready for a break. How about you? The question is how you will spend your break. Hopefully, you’ll do something that you enjoy, something that helps you come back energized and refreshed. What are you going to do with your teacher time off? Do you… Continue Reading
Who else out there has soooo many things that they want to do, but just can’t seem to fit them all in? I’ve read quite a bit about time management and ‘making’ more time to fit in everything I want. I’ve also read articles that ditch the concept of creating more time; after all, there… Continue Reading
For my U.S.-based teacher friends, the end of the school year is at hand. Here in Australia, we’re coming up to the end of the second term. In both cases, it is beyond busy. We’re trying to cram in last bits of teaching and learning, wrapping up assessments and grading. Every day seems to bring… Continue Reading
Do you aim for the ‘perfect classroom’ and the perfect ‘learning experience’? Do you think you have to be perfect—always ready with the perfect lesson and a backup, always in solid control of the class, never making a mistake? Aiming for perfection is a surefire route to teacher burnout. I found the desire to be… Continue Reading
When things are rough, it’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong or what you don’t have. Finding your way to gratitude can be a game changer. If your first response to that suggestion is to roll your eyes or mutter, “I don’t have anything to be thankful for,” I urge you to stop and… Continue Reading
Personal boundaries are important to everyone’s well-being, but they are especially important for people in caring professions, like teachers. Without good boundaries, we may find ourselves used or manipulated by others, and even if we think we are here to help and do so much, poor boundaries can lead to stress, resentment, and burnout. Better… Continue Reading
You work hard to be a great teacher. But how do you find time to do all you need to do to be an exceptional teacher without burning out? Great teachers know the secret to making more time is not doing everything from scratch. For experienced teachers that may be easy. You pull out a lesson… Continue Reading
If you hear self-care and your first thought is, “I don’t have time,” you definitely need some. Sure there are days that go off the rails when you just want a reset, but that shouldn’t be most days. Practicing regular teacher self care keeps us from burning out – and it doesn’t have to take a… Continue Reading