Ok, ok. Sometimes we do go home at 3:30...only to put on comfortable clothing, sit down, relax, and grade more papers!! And then write lesson plans, then create tests, then read papers......and so on and so on! Oh the life of a teacher!
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Have you ever thought this to yourself? I am sure you have, I mean we are teachers! There have always been times where this thought has crossed our minds. Most of the time, though, it isn't because of the students at all. (Most of the time!) You know exactly what I am talking about...
You walk into school feeling great, with a smile from ear to ear. You spent the better part of the last two weeks planning for this unit. Everything is done. You have made copies, you have your warm-ups complete, you even know what the homework is and when it will be due. You are pumped not only because you are completely planned but also because you love what you are about to teach. This all changes when you open your email and see the day's announcements. Your jaw drops as you see what's on the agenda for the day: fire drill, assemply, parent conference, etc (insert any other lesson-interferring event here). Suddenly, you can't breathe and you begin to sweat. Your perfect lesson is ruined and your smile quickly fades away. You begin to panic as your vision goes blurry when you suddenly realize....you can do this, after all you are a teacher! You were born for this. You went to college for four years to learn how to do this and now is your time to shine. And although you really feel like you could hit someone right about now, you resist the urge and think to yourself, this is what it is all about. You know there aren't many perfect days in teaching but they are all about what you make of them. You know that your days may not be perfect and heck, your kids might not be either, but that's ok because you are a great teacher who is ready for anything! I know, I know, now you are probably singing that song from Frozen and I am sorry about that. But I am not talking about Olaf and Elsa letting it go; I am talking about you, the teacher, letting it go. All that stress, all the pressure, those test scores....just let them go! I know it sounds easier said than done but do you really need to deal with all of that added pressure?
Teachers today are under just as much pressure as the students in their classrooms. They are under pressure to create lessons that not only follow the state standards but are rigorous, and don't forget fun and engaging. (This in itself is almost impossible.) Then you add in the fact that teachers also need to raise test scores, manage their classes, fulfill their extra duties, grade papers and tests, etc, etc, etc. It is enough to make even the most calm teacher crazy. Even when you wake up in the best mood, as your day goes on you find yourself drowning in to-do lists and deadlines. It all begins to feel a little overwhelming. You try not to let the stress show but there is only so much you an take. Before you know it, you are walking around with the word STRESS written on your forehead in big, black letters. Although you may not realize it, this comes off in your classroom and can not only affect your classroom management but also the way your students perceive you. You tell yourself that you aren't going to let it affect your teaching or the way you talk to your students but it ultimately does. So what do you do to fix this? LET IT GO! Just let it go. It isn't worth it to get yourself down with everything, especially things that are out of your control. Even if you think that what you're stressing about is the absolute most important thing in the world, in the end, it just isn't worth it at all. It's not worth the exhaustion, the hunger, the headaches, and especially the wrinkles (stress does show in your face after all). As hard as it might be, just remember that you must let it go, if not for anything else, but for your students. Remember that your classroom is a sanctuary and your students are there to make you laugh. So next time you are feeling stressed and that the weight of the world is on your shoulders simple close your classroom door, look at your students, and....LET IT GO!! With pay day right around the corner, some of us look at it as just another reminder of how little we make. But remember, someday that kid who sat in the back of the room not saying a word and not doing any work will come up to you and thank you for making a difference in their life. It's not just about the money, it's about making a difference and touching students' lives. Have a great week! Teachers spend years in school, whether it's college or continuing their education after graduation. It seems that as teachers we almost never stop learning. Just like our students we continue to be taught lessons along our paths. But there is one thing that we are never taught, one thing that no professor or book can prepare us for....a tragedy at school.
Unfortunately, at some point most teachers will probably experience a tragedy. When the moment hits, your mind immediately goes blank, you can't think, and you don't know what to say. When you finally come out of your fog, you look up to see blank, innocent stares looking back at you. In this moment you snap back into reality and your adrenaline kicks in. These faces are looking at you for guidance, for support. You spend the rest of the day passing out tissues, giving hugs, and simply being a shoulder to cry on. You do everything to make them laugh, calm them down, and take their minds off things. At the end of the day you finally sit down at your desk to absorb the events that took place, exhausted; broken. And that's when it hits you, what actually happened. Immediately the water works begin. Tears flow down your eyes like a river and you feel like you can't breathe. Just when you feel like you've reached your breaking point, you look up to see the same blank, innocent stares you saw this morning looking back at you. Before you realize what's happening, you are the one receiving the tissues, getting the hugs, and using the shoulder to cry on. You are getting the same comfort you gave earlier and it puts your mind at ease. And in that moment you step back for a moment and realize how truly lucky you are; not because you're rich or have a great car but because you have angels in your class each day who love you just as much as you love them. It's happened already, I have had a movie day in class. I think 4 weeks into school is a record for longest time elapsed before showing a movie. We all know the kids love movie days. I mean you remember walking into school, tired and dreading yet another class. Then you see it....the TV at the front of the room. Immediately you wake up and smile from ear to ear. A TV at the front of the room means only one thing....MOVIE DAY!
But let's not give the students all of the celebration.....teachers love movie days just as much. Every teacher has been there. We all have had those times when we are feeling overwhelmed by the growing pile of papers that need to be graded and need just a day to play catch up. That's when we decide a movie is perfect. The kids will stay quiet and you will be able to grade. But why do movie days get a bad wrap? Why are they looked at simply as 'free days'? In this day in age, movies are a great way grab students attention and keep it for an extended period of time. They also help students learn easier, sometimes without even making them think they are learning at all. All in all, are movies really all that bad? They give students different opportunities to see the material they are learning in a new light and, let's face it, they make everyone involved happy! It's a full moon so get read for some crazy! When they get too crazy, just show them what crazy really looks like! Happy Monday! #fullmoon #education #teach
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AuthorI have been an 8th grade teacher for 5 years. Although this is a short amount of time, I have seen and heard things that will make anyone laugh, or cry.Teaching can be a very stressful profession but it is one that I wouldn't trade for the world. Archives
February 2016
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