How to Avoid Teacher Burnout
Tuesday April 21, 2009
It's the taboo topic no teacher wants to bring up - burnout. It comes in various forms, including countdowns to the next vacation, diminished job enthusiasm, or - in extreme cases - thoughts of quitting the profession. But if we're honest, we've all been there at one time or another. I think these Anti-Burnout Strategies for Teachers should help ease the burden next time you feel that you have too much on your plate and no one to help you out.
What is your advice for reversing a burnout phase and refreshing your passion for teaching?
Comments
I agree, this is a top time to feel the burnout. Stress of high stakes testing, end of year reports adds to the daily stresses of teaching.
To avoid being buried by paperwork, I had a system that helped.
I would prioritize paperwork. First, by when it was due, then how much brain power it would take to complete, finally where could it be filled out (home or school).
Once doing that, I realized that many of the papers were asking for duplicate information or could be filled out in a few minutes time.
I’ve been there before, and sometimes .’m having this experience unlike before i would like to quit my job. My supervisor advise me to finish all paper works at school don’t bring any school work at home. That is what I’m doing now, I do all the preparations during vacant time,when I reached my work place earlier before the work time, and before I leave my work place. So I don’t need to worry anything. I prepare ahead of time. If possible I spend my time out of town during weekends or be with friends, visit new placesI involve my self to different activities like rock climbing, marathon and swimming. It refresh my weekend and I have vigor to work again.
Passion for teaching. I retired after 36 years and I didn’t want to leave then either but circumstances dictated it. You have to keep loving the kids and know how important you are to them. Some, more than you know. Think of upcoming summer break, even if you’re working or studying! Take a quick weekend trip to rejuvenate, without any papers. Avoid giving too much unnecessary homework/seatwork and you’ll have less to grade. Remember why you chose teaching, after all. Enjoy!
I agree with Carol: find the root of your passion for teaching – if it’s not the students, then you should look elsewhere for employment. We all know how influential teachers were to us as we grew up – there’s a part of each good teacher inside of us. When I go to work in the morning, I psyche myself up for the day by going over the positive aspects of my job and each student I teach. It always brings a smile. If I come in with a smile, my goal is to keep it there – nothing is more positive than a positive teacher. Like yourself; you’re doing an amazingly difficult job. If you decide to leave the profession, perhaps you could be a juggler, because teachers have to be good jugglers!
I teach prek and I enjoy this grade level. By this time of the year, as soon as the weather breaks, the kids are over it. As I look back over the year and complete each child’s portfolio I can see the difference I have made in each child. I don’t think there is another grade that sees such immediate growth as prek. I also remind myself that it is this job that allows me to spend all of my own children’s vacation time with them and that they grow up with me and not a sitter. Finally, when the next year begins and all the new children come in I always find it hard to believe that last year’s children started out like this and knew this little about school. It also helps that I can’t even grocery shop without getting a hug from someone of school age – who I taught last year or 10 years ago. I often remain one of their favorite teachers because I made sure that prek made learning fun and I genuinely loved them.