Joanie Clarkson
Tackle Your Energy in the Classroom
Hey, Teach! It can be a lot of fun to work with kids this time of year. But it can also be draining. In these videos, you can find some great tips to manage your energy and keep your joy for teaching alive. Maybe all of these won’t apply to you, but hopefully, you will gain a nugget or two. Remember, your mental health is important! Here are some of our favorite mental health tips for teachers.
Stay Connected to Your Students
Sometimes, it can be hard to get in touch with your students. Your teaching schedule may be very hectic and you might not have time to get in contact with every student. However, if you do, you'll find that your students appreciate the attention and care that you offer them.
Unload at the End of the Day
It can be hard to unload when you're teaching full-time. It's important to take 10 minutes every day before bedtime to unload and let go of any stress or frustration from the day. This way, you'll wake up with a refreshed and energized mind. Plus, it'll help you start your next day feeling more positive and ready for anything!
Get Creative with Your Syllabus
If you're feeling burnt out, there are a few things you can do to keep your joy of teaching alive. First, it's important to take care of yourself. This means eating good food, getting enough sleep, and taking time for self-care. You don't need to run yourself into the ground with long hours and tons of work around the house—you will be more effective if you get rest each night.
Some other tips are to make sure you have boundaries for your day. This is important because it will help you get more organized about how you spend your time on any given day. Finally, get creative with your syllabus! There are plenty of ways to change up the way you teach, which will keep things fresh for both students and teachers. These three strategies can help keep your energy high while also keeping your joy of teaching alive!
Bring in a Coach or Mentor
This is one of the best ways to manage your energy. Oftentimes, we get so overloaded that we don't know where to start. Bringing in an external perspective can make all the difference.
Even if you don't have a coach or mentor, bring someone on board who has skills that complement your own and who can help you break down tasks.
This will allow you to work smarter, not harder!
Rest and Relax
We are always thinking about how much we want to do, but also what needs to be done. But in order to have the energy that you need for teaching, you have to take care of yourself. You can't just work all day and not rest in between--you're only human!
Our suggestion? Take time for yourself during the day. Maybe it's taking a walk outside, or reading a book--whatever works for you. Make sure you are taking the time to rest so that your energy levels are back up when it comes time to teach again.
Reflect on Yourself and Your Day.
Whether you're teaching or tutoring, it's important to be aware of how it is impacting you. Think about how your day went and what things bugged you.
What was the energy like in your classroom? Did people seem to be having fun? Did they seem engaged? Or did they seem distracted?
What were the first signs that told you this was starting to happen? Were students missing work outside of their assignments? Did they start complaining about the material being too hard or too easy?
How did it make you feel when students were disengaged from the lesson? How did it make them feel when they saw that you couldn't keep their attention for a class period?
If there are behaviors that need to be addressed with a student who is struggling, does your school have a system for addressing these issues with parents? All these questions and more can help you identify potential stressors and solutions.
At the end of the day, remember to take care of yourself. We at SchoolTube are rooting for you! You’ve got this! Have a great Christmas break. When you get back, we will be here to provide more ideas and resources to support you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!