| Teaching Tips |
| Dealing with Stress |
| Stress comes with the territory. Stress is a fact of life for teachers. It can lead to burnout and should be faced head-on. Do not let stress from your job ruin your life. |
| Pinpoint the cause of your stress. Too often we jump to treating the symptoms without looking at the disease. If you are stressed because there are too many papers to grade (and it isn't exam time), maybe you are giving too many assignments. You should, on a normal day, be able to get everything that needs to be done finished during working hours. Don't snicker! If you are taking more than an hours' worth of work home every night, chances are that you are doing something wrong. If you are stressed because of an uncomfortable work environment, perhaps the school is not a good fit for you. Try applying to schools that follow your educational philosophy. Don't be afraid of change. Giving up on five or even tens years' worth of seniority in a building or district is worth it if you won't spend the next 10 or 20 years of your career griping in the teachers' lounge. |
| Get plenty of sleep. Being tired can make any situation seem more taxing than it actually is. Go to bed by 10:00 A.M. and wake up by 6:00 A.M. Devote time each weekend to getting ready for the upcoming week. |
| Eat right. Hunger leads to fatigue, and fatigue is your enemy. Keep healthy snacks (such as energy-rich trail mix) tucked away in a desk drawer. |
| Count to ten. What is the stress or anger trigger? Is it worth a strong reaction? Choose your battles carefully. Remember that teaching is 50% "acting." Yes, that's right. If you pretend you are calm and relaxed, you'll calm and relax those around you (and perhaps even yourself). do not use the classroom as a forum for venting your problems. |
| Keep a journal. Carry a journal in your purse or briefcase. When you get stressed or angry, write down everything in this secret journal. Venting on paper can give you the time and perspective to create a solution to the problem. |
| Keep your room comfortable. Decorate your classroom with plants, a fish tank, or whatever it takes to give the room an atmosphere that you find relaxing. A homey classroom will also add to your students' comfort levels. |
| Is this problem that you never seem
to have enough time to get things done? Try changing
your routine. Often, teachers get caught up talking to others.
Create your own personal schedule. For example: Before first class: Retrieve mail, say hello to coworkers, then arrange daily teaching materials. Lunch: Mingle with coworkers in the lounge while eating a healthy lunch. Planning period: Make necessary photocopies, then grade papers and log grades. After last bell: Tidy up classroom and leave it ready for the next day. This may seem overly simplistic, but think of how many times you have spent your lunch period grading papers or using the photocopier. Think of how many times you've found yourself spending the entire planning period conversing with a colleague. Once you have a daily schedule that you like, do not be afraid to let others know. "I'd love to chat with you about the talent show, Mr. Wong, but could we do so after the last bell or during lunch tomorrow? I force myself to grade papers during my planning period and if I don't do the grading now, I'll get backed up." |
| Don't get wrapped up in the school. Remember that teaching is a part of your life; it isn't your whole life. Yes, as a teacher, you can expect to put in a good 50 hours a week between classroom teaching, grading papers, and participating in various activities. If you are truly dedicated to teaching, time and other sacrifices should not be an issue. But if you find yourself working 60 or more hours a week (and you aren't a coach), you are not taking enough time for yourself. Don't ever tell anyone that we said this, but...teaching is just a job at the end of the day. Your health and personal relationships should come first. Don't end up like a teacher we know who missed his daughter's soccer games because he was too busy preparing his choir students for recitals. You are not doing your students any favors when you stay in a job that doesn't do the job for you. |
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