For a small minority of teachers, staying late after school is a symbol of their dedication. It makes them feel as if they’re doing everything they can for their students. It gives them a sense of pride. They like having their car the last … Read more
There are many potential causes of teacher stress. Test scores, performance reviews, and administrative observations. Meetings, trainings, and other demands on your time. Parents and grading, planning and rainy days, and students far below grade level. All while juggling life outside of school. But … Read more
Teaching is important, to be sure. But if you’re not careful, this fact can weigh heavily. It can cause you to wrap an unhealthy amount of your identity into your job. It can cause you to be distracted around your friends and family. It … Read more
Much of the stress teachers feel today comes from sources outside of the classroom. New curriculum, policies, and programs, tweaks and changes to this and that, and the near-constant call for flexibility—all zooming at you at an alarming rate—can feel like an ever-present dark … Read more
There are those rare teachers, perhaps one or two at every school site, who pride themselves with how late they stay after school. It gives them a kick, a buzz from feeling that they’re going above and beyond for their students. They like the … Read more
There are times when you just want to give a student a piece of your mind, when your sense of justice causes a welling up of fiery indignation. Your eyes narrow. Your heart beats faster. Steam billows from your ears. You lock in on … Read more
Teacher burnout, which happens when stress and mental fatigue become more than occasional companions, strikes many thousands of teachers every year. Reports suggest roughly half of all teachers quit within five years. And it’s no wonder. Burnout saps joy from teaching, makes effective classroom … Read more
Classroom management is easy. Let me rephrase that. Classroom management should feel easy. If it feels difficult to you, if it feels like you’re straining and working to get students to behave and pay attention, then you’re doing something wrong. Effective classroom management is … Read more