Home Tags Posts tagged with "self-care"
Tag:

self-care

Back to SchoolSocial-Emotional Learning

Transitioning Back to School After a Holiday Break

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

For teachers, the holiday break is one of the best times of the year. When I was a teacher, I remember being so excited to get a break so I could catch up on sleep. I also remember the days leading up to returning to school and thinking about how I was going to get back into my school routine. It’s important that we allow ourselves and our students time to transition back to school. Below are a few tips to help make that transition easier.

Review Expectations

I always considered the first day back from a holiday break to be just like the first day of school. You will want to review classroom expectations and procedures. It’s helpful if you have these written or posted somewhere so that students can visually see them. There are many fun ways to review classroom expectations. You could play games such as two truths and lie, jeopardy, and more. 

Ease Into Learning

Plan for a reflection assignment, group work, or something hands on for students. More than likely, your students won’t be mentally or emotionally prepared for a hard assignment right when they walk in the door. Give them some time to transition back into learning.

Be Empathetic

Remember to be empathetic. Not every student will return to school happy or ready for the classroom. Some younger students might have a hard time being separated from their parents or guardians. Have some extra patience and compassion. Practice empathy while consistently enforcing your classroom expectations at the same time.

Reflect on Your Strategies

Take some time on your break for a little self-evaluation. Consider your teaching strategies in general. What has been successful? Are there any that need improvement? Are you incorporating high-yield instructional strategies into your classroom? Make a few notes and use them in your planning when you return to school.

Have a Plan for Stress Management

Upon returning, have a plan for how you are going to handle the stress of teaching. Brainstorm a few ideas over the break that will help you when you return to school. It could be something as small as meditating for five or ten minutes a day. This can make a big difference.

Five Tips for Transitioning Back to School After Holiday Break

Remember to take some time to ease the students and yourself back into the routine of learning. If you like these tips, you can learn more from Diana at TCEA 2023. She will be presenting a session on Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom where you can get tips for self-care for not only you but your students as well. She is also presenting a session on incorporating high-yield strategies into your classroom.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Back to School

Ways to Welcome Your Teachers Back to School

by Diana Benner
written by Diana Benner

It’s important to go above and beyond in welcoming your staff back to school as the new school year approaches. Taking that time to make them feel appreciated and welcomed will go a long way toward setting a positive tone for the school year. Let’s take a look at some ideas.

Write a Welcoming Note

Writing a personal note is a simple and effective way to welcome your staff back. You can give them the note on the first day they return from summer break or wait until the first day of school. If you have a large number of staff, you might want to get started now or get some help. If you need a template, check out this Welcome Back to School Note that can be copied and modified. In the note, tell your staff how excited you are for the new school year and how thankful you are for them. Your note will go a long way in showing them how much you appreciate them. In addition, it will help build those strong relationships between you and your team.

Have an Informal First Day Back

There are a ton of meetings when staff come back from summer break. Why not have an informal first day back? Do some ice breakers and getting-to-know-you activities, provide lunch, and keep the schedule light. While I know there is a lot of information to cover at the beginning of school and schedules can be full, remember that the first day back is hard. Some staff might be anxious, so this will help take the pressure off. You’ll find that a lot can still be accomplished even if the first day back is informal.

Give a Self-Care Kit

The start of the school year can be stressful. Give your staff a self-care kit to start the year off right. You can include things like a mug, instant coffee or tea bags, hand lotion, lip balm, gift cards, energy bars, and other snacks.

Another thing you can add to the self-care kit is a gratitude jar. A gratitude jar is a jar filled with reminders of what you’re grateful for. Using small pieces of paper, your staff can write down what they’re thankful for and add a note or two to their jar each week. They can visit the jar whenever they need encouragement and pull out a note or two. Gratitude reminds us of what we have, and research shows that staying grateful can improve our mental health. You can even set up a table where staff can decorate their jars.

Get to Know Your Teachers

Building relationships with and getting to know your staff is critical. Give your team an opportunity to share special facts about themselves. Icebreaker and team-building activities are perfect examples of how to learn more about your staff.

In addition, have them complete a form that tells you even more about them. The form can include questions like, “What is your favorite snack?” This will help you personalize appreciation gifts throughout the year. Here is an example of things to include on your form.

Create a Memorable “Welcome Back” Video

In this blog post by Dr. Bruce Ellis, you can find ways to welcome your staff back that take little effort but some creativity. You could use Flip to introduce yourself to your team. You could even create a YouTube video and post it online. If you don’t like to be in front of a camera, you can still inspire your staff with video. Explore a variety of inspirational videos at http://bit.ly/educatorsinspire. 

These are just a few ways you can welcome your staff back. Also, while they may have been working all year long, don’t forget to include your secretarial staff, the custodial staff, IT staff, and everyone else that makes up the school community.

0 comments
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
grace
Social-Emotional Learning

Three Ways To Show Yourself a Little Grace Right Now

by Alison Jalufka
written by Alison Jalufka

Yesterday, I completely forgot about a lesson that I was teaching in a classroom for a teacher. I was absorbed in a task and completely lost track of time. Imagine my mortification when I called the teacher and apologized for my inexcusable behavior. I felt that I had let the teacher down, and I truly believed that I would have to work extra hard to make up for my mistake. Guess what? The teacher forgave me. She told me not to worry about it, and we set another time so I could come into her classroom to teach the lesson. Life went on, and my error was forgotten. The teacher gave me grace. She forgave me, even though I did not deserve her forgiveness.  

What is grace?

Grace is forgiveness from someone that is unexpected and undeserved. It shows kindness to someone else even when they don’t necessarily deserve it. As educators, we give each other grace all the time, but there are two sides to grace. What about giving ourselves grace for our faults and imperfections? 

It is very common to be our own worst critic. We often worry about being perfect or making everything perfect. Self-grace allows us to be our best selves for our students and others around us. We can start taking steps to give ourselves the same grace that we freely give to those around us. It is not always easy, but it is a practice that we can all benefit from. 

1. Give yourself permission not to be perfect. 

We are all human, and we all make mistakes. There is a reason why pencils have erasers. Allow yourself to make mistakes, be forgiving toward yourself, and give yourself grace for things that don’t meet the standard or expectation you have set.  

Mistakes are an essential learning tool for everyone. I love the phrase “failing forward.”  The purpose of failing forward is to find success in failures. We will never learn if we don’t make mistakes and reflect on them. And it is in the struggle that we learn the best lessons. 

2. Have realistic expectations for yourself.

In the world of Pinterest and Instagram, there are countless examples of completing a task in education. Some of these examples are extravagant and over the top, while others are simple and to the point. Which option is acceptable to complete the task? Not every task needs to be worthy of social media. Give yourself the grace to do less and achieve the same results.

Sometimes it isn’t easy to give ourselves permission to do something differently.  All tasks do not require 100% of your effort. Sometimes 80% effort might be enough, so the rest of your energy can go elsewhere. It is okay not to be perfect in every task that you tackle. Delegate your effort appropriately to each task so that you don’t drain yourself and burn out too quickly.  

3. Let go of something that is not required.

Take a close look at all you are doing at school. Some tasks are required of your position; however, there are many things we choose to do that are not essential tasks. We sometimes add more to our plate than what is required and can make tasks more complicated than they really need to be. 

What is one thing that you can let go of? You might examine why things are done the way they are done in your school. What is normal at your school may not be normal at other schools. Perhaps there is a better and simpler way to do something that can save you (and maybe even others) time and energy.  

Sometimes letting go of something is as easy as saying “no” when asked to do one more thing. The plates of educators are full right now. You know what is truly required of your position. Give yourself permission to turn down extra tasks when appropriate.   

3 Ways To Show Yourself Grace
Source: Pixabay – https://pixabay.com/photos/rose-flower-beauty-rose-garden-4359808/

Grace is very important in education right now, and self-grace is a practice that will help us all be our best selves for those around us. But not only that, it also allows us to be our best to ourselves.

Alison Jalufka of Liberty Hill ISD will be presenting two sessions at TCEA 2022: Explore Social-Emotional Learning, Mindfulness, and Mindful Movement and High Impact Instructional Strategies to Add to Your Teaching Toolbox. Don’t miss her this February! Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Activities Games
Good Teaching

Four Fun Activities for Zoom-ers (and Class-roomers)!

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

We all know the main reason to attend school is to gain the skills and education needed to live a successful and productive life. But in my opinion, it is not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic; it’s also about creating a fun, safe, and comfortable classroom. The classroom environment means as much to students as it does to teachers, especially these days. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is the focus on self-care, emotional well-being, and social-emotional learning (SEL). Luckily, there are many ways to infuse these three elements into the classroom. I’ve got a few templates and activities to share with you today, and here are a few additional ideas to help everyone bond and have a good time:

  • Playing classroom games
  • Giving students voice and choice
  • Making lessons interactive
  • Playing a Kahoot
  • Sending students on a Goose Chase
  • Solving a breakout
  • Taking virtual field trips

Below you will find four fabulous pre-made activities to use as bell ringers, ice breakers, or warm-up activities in your classroom. I had a great time designing these for Zoom, Meet, and Teams virtual meetings. However, you could easily modify the activities for in-person learning.

Make a copy of each linked slide deck and check out the speaker notes for directions.

Magnifying glass image with I Spy beginning slide of the deck
Created by the author

I Spy!

This is a super easy activity with no planning. All you need to do is “find” an object. And you can also throw in adjectives to spot items by using color, size, or type. I pre-made four different scenes: the park, school supplies, ocean animals, and black/white. Start by checking out the speaker notes for directions.

A read and blue stock cars on a race track.
Image by mibro from Pixabay

Three for Speed

Thanks to LEGO Robotics with Mr. Hino, I incorporated a little twist on Mr. Hino’s Three for Speed activity. This outside-the-box-thinking game is centered on a theme which has several topics given out by the instructor, followed by students typing their responses in the chat. Then, points are awarded to the first three students who have three different answers. For example, the theme is food, and the first topic is “pizza toppings.” Responses are entered in the chat feature, and you award points before the next topic is announced. Topics could include utensils, citrus fruit, foods that are green, etc. Four themes with eight topics are found in the slide deck.

An abacus with the title of the activity.
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

1-2-3 Addition

Simply put, these are just numbers on a background. Students count the numbers on the slide and enter the answer in the chat. I thought this was an interesting spin on having students count. You can change the activity by having one of the numbers in a different color be subtracted. Also, to switch this up, I would encourage students to find interesting backgrounds through Pixabay or insert images through Google Slides to create their own 1-2-3 Addition slides. I have created eight slides to get you counting.

Revolving door with "are you in or out"
Created by author

In or Out

The instructor says a word or a phrase, for example,  chopsticks, and then asks, “Are you in or out?” Glitter, are you in or out? Roller coasters, are you in or out? Students type “in” or “out” in the chat. Then, conversations or questions can be a good follow-up. I have included a lengthy list to use with everyone and a teacher-oriented list.

Need More Ideas

Looking for more templates and fun activities? Be sure to take a peek at these:

Wishing you the best for the 2021-22 school year. If you have any questions on these activities, please feel free to contact me at preimers@tcea.org. AND, I am always looking to share ideas with as many educators as possible, so if you have an activity, please share it in the comments below.

*Header image attribution: School vector created by pch.vector – www.freepik.com

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
burnout
Social-Emotional Learning

Burnout: What It Is and How to Prevent It

by Emily Horn
written by Emily Horn

Okay. So, how are you doing, really? Are you afraid to ask yourself this question because you don’t want to face the answer? I’ve been there. I led an amazing faculty and staff through the pandemic. I worried for the physical, social, and emotional well-being of the members of my school community every single day. But I didn’t spend a lot of time assessing my own well-being or planning for self-care. Is this how you operate? This is not a “humble brag.” After a lot of self-reflection, and with hindsight being 20/20, I share this with a great deal of sadness as it led to my own professional burnout.

Our field has changed dramatically over the past year and a half. This change has affected everyone: students, faculty, staff, and families. Stress, anxiety, and frustration are heightened on our campuses as we’ve had to manage an unimaginable amount of change, continuously redefined expectations, and a lot of uncertainty about the future. Throw vastly polarized viewpoints on hot-button issues and struggles with work-life balance into the mix, and things get even more challenging. None of this is news to you, I know.

What the Research Says

A recent article from Psychology Today, Burnout: An Emotional and Psychological Warfare, points out that burnout is growing, especially “for people looking after children” and “ those who are continually stressed and overburdened with workload.” More specifically, a research report from the 2021 State of the U. S. Teacher Survey through the RAND Corporation shows that teachers are likely to leave the profession at a higher rate than ever before, approximately 25 percent. It also mentions that teachers are experiencing work-related stress and signs of depression at greater rates than the general population.

Data from CDC Foundation’s May 2021 Report

According to Educators Ready for Fall, But a Teacher Shortage Looms, a recent article published by the National Education Association (NEA), their 2021 survey data reveals that 32 percent of teachers surveyed were planning to leave the profession. Additionally, the CDC Foundation published a report in May of 2021 (Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teachers and Parents of K-12 Students), and their data shows that 27 percent of teachers reported symptoms of depression, and 37 percent reported symptoms of anxiety. Not only that, but this report shows that a whopping 53 percent of teachers who participated in their study are thinking of leaving the profession. That’s a big leap from both NEA’s and the RAND Corporations reported numbers. What does this mean? It could be an indication that a large number of educators are stressed and feeling the effects deeply. 

Signs of Burnout

In an informative article posted by the American University School of Education’s online magazine (Addressing Teacher Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Strategies), they share that identifying symptoms of constant fatigue, self-doubt, withdrawal, and loss of inspiration early on can help prevent full-fledged burnout effectively. Psychology Today adds a lack of concentration and decline in work performance to this list of symptoms. The Mayo Clinic provides a great set of questions to self-evaluate job burnout in their article Job Burnout: How to Spot It and Take Action. These include additional symptoms such as changes in sleep habits, disillusionment, irritability, and cynicism, among others. They also provide potential causes, risk factors, consequences of job burnout, and information for handling it. 

Managing Job Burnout 

self-care

Self-Care and Mindfulness

Self-care and mindfulness can go a long way in preventing burnout. It’s much harder to “undo” it, though. Burnout is compared to compassion fatigue in a great article from Behavioral Health News entitled Managing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Through Self-Care Strategies by Michael Selbst, Ph.D., BCBA-D and Ashley Zultanky, PsyD. The authors provide four crucial areas for self-care planning: physical, social, emotional, and workplace. I would encourage everyone to check out the examples they give. They also reiterate that eating, exercise, socialization, sleep, and hobbies are all important parts of self-care. The article cites that healthcare workers and educators are at higher risk for burnout and compassion fatigue due to the caregiving and helping nature of their work. 

self-care

Catherine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org, shares three fantastic thoughts about self-care on her Self-Care Resources page (which I would highly recommend checking out):

  • “Self-care is only part of the equation. How we are treated by institutions and other individuals plays a big part in our wellness.”
  • “Self-care involves figuring out what aspects of our work and schedules we have control over and making choices about how to spend our available time and energy.”
  • “Self-care is far from self-indulgent, especially among those of us who are committed to serving others. It isn’t about being selfish or shirking our responsibilities. It’s about maintaining our sanity and energy.” 

I couldn’t agree with her more. On the MindfulTeachers resources page, there are many excellent links to articles and videos on self-compassion, mind-body health, self-care, coping with stress, and more.

self-care

In addition to the strategies mentioned above, the Mayo Clinic’s article suggests having solution-focused discussions with your supervisor, participating in stress-relieving activities (such as yoga), and seeking out support from peers, loved ones, or a professional. 

We are a few weeks into the school year, and have you taken the time to stop and self-assess? Yes, cue the eye rolls. “You know we’re educators, right? Who has time for that?” In this profession, we are used to pushing through on autopilot to get things done for the benefit of our students, schools, and districts. But, now more than ever before, it is important to make the time to check in with ourselves, practice self-care, and seek support if we need it. 

If you are struggling, you are not alone. If you’re not, check in on your colleagues, peers, and staff you supervise who may need your support and encouragement. A small gesture like a handwritten note, a coffee, some chocolate (because who doesn’t need chocolate?), or a simple question like “How are you doing?” or “How can I help?” can go a long way. What can we do to support ourselves, and what can we do to support each other in maintaining boundaries and practicing self-care to prevent burnout? 

0 comments
1 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
ed tech news
Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Tests, Tech, and the Supreme Court

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Summer is a great time not only to recharge your batteries, but plan for the year ahead — all while juggling the responsibilities of summer learning and more. Here are some news stories to keep you up to date.

The Local News

In TCEA’s home state of Texas, test results and funding sources are shaping the school year ahead.

  • Earlier this week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the results of this year’s math and English STAAR tests. With learning disrupted due to the coronavirus, consequences for schools and students were lessened this year. [Texas Tribune]
  • You can read TCEA’s response to this year’s scores here.
  • Meanwhile, more than $11 billion in funding has been released for Texas schools through the ESSER program. Learn how you can effectively use that funding here.

The Tech Sector

After months of remote learning worldwide, ways of using ed tech are getting more scrutiny as best practices are being developed established and investments are being made.

  • TechCrunch reviews the big changes and big money in ed tech. [TechCrunch]
  • Philanthropists are also making investments in ed tech, including finding ways to develop social-emotional learning. [EdSurge]

Topping Up Our Batteries

It’s vital for educators to take a breath after so many stressful months. Here’s some insight for those having trouble unwinding.

… And Finally

A question surrounding a student’s behavior made it all the way to the Supreme Court this month, as the court ruled in favor of a student’s free speech rights in the case Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. [Education Week]

Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
self care
Good Teaching

Focusing on Self Care for Educators

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

The ability to stay poised, focused, and positive while also being relaxed and flexible is one of the top challenges of being an educator. And, of course, the stresses that make self care harder have increased in the past year. That’s why the end of this school year offers a crucial time to reflect on good practices for keeping ourselves healthy, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Since teachers spend so much of their time building positive relationships with students, and understand the mental and emotional health of those students, understanding wellness and how to care for oneself is simply a part of the job. Below, we’ve collected resources to help you reflect, renew, and possibly build positive personal practices.

What Is Self Care?

Essentially, self care is the way in which we strive to make our own lives better, easier, or fuller.

…for teachers, self-care is so much more than breakfast in bed or treating yourself to a spa day. It’s about taking care of your health so that you’re prepared to be the best teacher you can be for yourself and your students.

“Why Teacher Self-Care Matters and How to Practice Self-Care in Your School” Waterford.org

The National Institute of Mental Illness (NAMI) states that there are six elements:

  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Emotional
  • Spiritual
  • Social
  • Professional

Take a Video Break

Sometimes, all it takes is a short break to refocus. Check out these videos on self care to help you jump start your wellness process.

2020 Teachers of the Year on Practicing Self Care

Learn to Shine Bright — The Importance of Self Care for Teachers

If you have a little more time to dive into these topics, consider checking out these articles on how and when to focus on what’s important for your state of mind.

Taking Care of Yourself During COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has caused major disruptions in education and in life, and those changes have real impacts on how students (and educators) think, feel, and behave. Look through these readings on individual well being and trauma and change.

Going Further with TCEA

Looking for ways to develop long-term habits and skills to practice self care in your everyday life and teaching practice? Check out one of TCEA’s latest online courses, Cultivating Calm. The first three modules of this self-paced course will give you an overview of how stress affects our overall well being and techniques to deal with stress in your own life, both in and out of the classroom. The last two modules lead you in extending what you have learned to the classroom for your students. You can learn more at TCEA Courses.

Photo by Madison Inouye from Pexels

1 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail
Podcasts

Self-Care for Educators | Podcast Ep. 87

by Andrew Roush
written by Andrew Roush

This week’s guest speaker is Danielle Sullivan, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. She takes us through the meaning behind self-care for educators, and how you can develop healthy ways to recharge and reconnect with your work and your passions.

Homework

Danielle Sullivan: Teacher Self-Care 101

The Connection Cure: Why Educators Need Balance, Laughter, and Community More Than Ever

Extra credit

Check out our Google Summer Camp.

Learn more about the 2022 TCEA Convention & Exposition.

Send your questions and ideas about future episodes to podcast@tcea.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/tcea.org/

Twitter: @TCEA

Instagram: tcea_org

Pinterest: tceaorg

Music by Noir Et Blanc Vie

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinEmail