Happy Spring Break!

Spring Break, just another reason to hate teachers. You have to deal with your kids for a week. You may have to pay for daycare. I know, I know, teachers are the worst!

Plus, they’re selfish!

I do hope that last statement is true during spring break because the best teachers take care of themselves first.

“Place your mask on before assisting others.”

This holds true not only in a burning plane but also in a classroom. The best teachers I know have taken care of themselves first. This equips them to take care of a room full of students.

Work on yourself professionally

The best teachers utilize professional development affectively. They reflect and accept critique of their teaching. They listen and discover the best practices. It’s very likely you might find a teacher on the beach during spring break reading a book about teaching.

The best teachers admit to not having all of the answers but they’ll work really hard to find them. The primary reason I blog about education and faith is because these are the areas I have the most questions and the least answers.

These teachers don’t do what is easy and convenient. The best teachers selfishly study their craft because they know it will serve their students better.

 

Work on yourself personally

The best teachers are not only teachers. They have hobbies and interests they pursue and enjoy. Grading papers in the evenings or on the weekends is not a hobby.

There have been many studies done in the past decade documenting that 40-50% of beginning teachers leave the profession in their first five years. I believe this turnover rate is due to many who have not taken care of themselves first.

Surprisingly, the best teachers do not allow grading and lesson planning to invade their home. Two teachers walk out of a school. One leaves at 4 o’clock with nothing but a coffee cup. The second plods out, dragging a bag of bricks at 5:30. Who is the better teacher? I’m not sure. If you’re the type of person that needs answers, go sit outside a school after dismissal and take some surveys. Though I can venture a guess at which teacher would find a lasting career in education.

 

Start Your Day with Yourself

My mornings start one of two ways.

Scenario 1: The Good Days

I get out of bed shortly after my alarm goes off. I immediately do a devotional involving some brief journaling and prayer. On these Good Days I make an effort to not worry about school until I actually walk in the door. It’s too easy for my mind to get swept up in lesson planning, parent contacts, and student behavior. Miraculously, these are my best days.

 

Scenario 2: The Stressful, Anxious, Sporadic, Merciless Days (The Bad Ones)

I hit snooze too many times, not sure of the actual number. I drowsily go through the physical morning preparation while my mind is all-consumed with the day to come. Before my workday has begun, I already dislike myself as a teacher. On these days it’s safe to say that my students dislike me as a teacher too.

   

The best teacher on her best day, started by taking care of herself. Start your day with yourself. It is so hard to not wake up and immediately anticipate what needs to be prepared for that certain student in second period. It is a fight to hold this off until the work day. It takes routine and practice.

There is a multitude of devotions and mindfulness resources.

I use a simple journaling technique. I first find one praise or “wow” in my life describing something great and powerful that I have no control over. I find a specific trait of God’s character that has been apparent in my recent days.

The “wow” goes at the top and then I split my page into two sides, “Thanks” and “Helps”. Sometimes I find items that I need help with turn into things I’m thankful for days later.

 

Those in a healthy relationship with their career do two things. They seek help knowing they don’t have it all figured out and they don’t allow their work to consume their life.

The best teachers selfishly refine themselves and coincidentally they’re able to serve their students better.

Jesus is questioned about how we’re to live and he replies quite simply to love God and love others (Luke 10:26-28). I believe they’re to be in that order. Take care of yourself so you will then be equipped to serve others well!

Peace in the process