Dear we are teachers,
I really, really don’t want to go back to school. This is my seventh year of teaching at a high school. Typically, I use the first half of my break to recharge (alone time, movies, sleep), and the second half to be sociable and festive. But this time I have very little energy and the thought of school starting next week makes me want to cry. I’m not thinking about quitting, and I basically like my job. Is it possible to find motivation from anywhere?
— don’t make me
Dear DMM
Have you tried remembering your “why”? (I’m a kid, I’m a kid!)
First, can we normalize loving our work and down time? Two things could be true. Not being ready to go back is completely normal, and it doesn’t mean you’re flawed or shouldn’t be a teacher.
Here are some of my favorite ideas for boosting your energy and motivation that don’t require major lifestyle changes or commitments. (Note: These are completely different advice I would give to someone who is truly burnt out.)
For the rest of your breaks, try to spend at least 10 minutes outdoors each day. If possible, why not try the forest bathing recommended by this teacher? For the first day or two, plan a lesson on something you absolutely love. Pickleball? Crochet? Assembling a charcuterie board? That’s your lesson plan now. Kids will love the break from monotony, and you’ll love the electric jolt of education that goes straight to the heart. (The AP will ask how this relates to the content, for example, community building.) Bring something back to school that will solve your problem. Is it cold during the day? Please bring a warm blanket. Do you feel depressed when the days are long and dark? Get a therapy lamp or some cheerful houseplants. Don’t like your coffee to get cold? Warm up your mug! Controlling the things you can control, even in small ways, makes you feel empowered.
Dear we are teachers,
I checked my email during recess (I know, I know, this was my first mistake) and discovered that teachers are held to the same cell phone standards as students. It must be kept out of sight and out of sight during the day, and there will be consequences for breaking the rules. Unlike students, they are allowed to use it during lunch and conference periods. Am I looking for no drama or is this crazy?
—Sixty Going on Sixteen
Dear SGOS
I’ve heard something like this happen. No, I don’t think it’s crazy. But I always think like this. I don’t understand the lack of foresight. ”
The truth is that teachers need access to cell phones for completely different reasons than students. Day care. Caring for elderly parents. Family members need to deal with emergencies. School emergencies (often part of the district’s safety plan). Communication from doctors and hospitals. It would be foolish to equate a teacher’s need for cell phone access with a student’s needs.
Now, are some teachers on their phones for unimportant reasons when they have to teach? Should teachers generally try not to hang up their phones during class? Yes, yes.
A better leadership behavior would be, “I understand that teachers need access to their phones. But if we’re telling our students not to use cell phones because they’re a nuisance, remember that we should be modeling the same. ”
May I raise this point with my own administration? No, let’s play this out. My guess is that by February no one will care. But in the meantime, adjust your settings so that important numbers that need to contact you bypass the Do Not Disturb feature.
Dear we are teachers,
There is a student who was not good at it all last semester. His behavior is the three Ds: defiant, disruptive, and disrespectful. I know I wasn’t fair to him. When you go back to school, you desperately need to repair your relationship. But I don’t know where to start. Do you have any tips? The student is in the 8th grade.
–The Grinch had a change of heart.
Dear TGHACOH
First of all, I think it’s great that you reflected and decided that it was up to you to repair the relationship. Yes, eighth graders can be cruel sometimes. However, you have the advantage of having a fully developed frontal lobe. He isn’t.
Actually, I think the best start is to talk to him privately and be completely honest, as you asked me.
“Hi Sam. I wanted to talk to you about something. I was thinking that maybe I was really unfair to you over the Christmas break. I’m really sorry. I’m an adult. So I should have modeled better behavior this year. I want you to know that I’m going to try harder, especially when it comes to providing a clean slate. You know what that means? To see if I’m going to try harder. May I contact you regularly? Thank you.
If you know this type of teenager, there’s a good chance he’ll raise his eyebrows and look at you like, “Oh my god, little girl.” that’s ok. If you really put in the effort and really try to get better (this is really about relationships and not some underlying factors that are out of your control), things will get better.
Have a burning question? Email us at askweareTeachers@weareTeachers.com.
Dear we are teachers,
My first grade partner’s teacher told her in a group text that she would not be coming back after recess. I can’t help but think about what I need to do to prepare for her long-term sub job. Not to mention how pissed off I am that my co-worker quit in the middle of the holidays. What do I need to do now? What can I put off later? I feel like this will ruin my break.
–I couldn’t wait?!
