The rough years are the ones, in my opinion, that help us become better teachers. This past year was very hard for me, which admittedly came as a surprise in year 27. How can we process a rough year and not become despondent at the thought of coming back in the fall? I share my own thoughts on that process.

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I am an Adult Child of an Alcoholic, so needless to say I had a traumatic childhood. Little did I know how this would affect my early years of teaching. For some of us, it may be ruining a job we might otherwise enjoy. (Side note: my apologies for the 2 interruptions in this episode…kids, am I right?)

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How do teachers hang in there? What determines who stays and who leaves the field? I decided to interview some teachers to find out what helps them stay in teaching, without losing it. Each episode will feature one teacher who has found a way to find balance. Let’s hear their secrets.

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How do teachers hang in there? What determines who stays and who leaves the field? I decided to interview some teachers to find out what helps them stay in teaching, without losing it. Each episode will feature one teacher who has found a way to find balance. Let’s hear their secrets.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teacherforlife/support

Our time at work is precious. Sometimes others at work take advantage of our kindness and flexibility. We need to reclaim our time for our own well-being and balance. Credit to U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (California) for this life-changing phrase.

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We are not meant to function in this world without help. Humans are social animals who have always lived in communities. We do better that way. Trying to solve our problems in isolation can be maddening. We don’t always have the help we need from the people around us at work, or even in our personal relationships. So, where should we go for help when we feel stuck and unsupported?

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I don’t know a single teacher who hasn’t been tempted to leave the profession. So why do some leave, and why do some stay? I think it comes down to a lot of factors, but one thing we all need, regardless of our profession, is self-care. Teaching is incredibly stressful if we don’t give ourselves the care we need off the clock. In addition to ample sleep and good nutrition & hydration, how else can we manage to take care of ourselves amidst our busy lives? Self-care doesn’t have to be a long vacation to a quiet island. Sometimes just a few minutes a day is enough to make a difference.

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The final episode in the 4-part series on responses to conflict. Fawning comprises people-pleasing, over apologizing, even groveling. Teachers generally have no behavior issues with students who do this, but it is still a set of behaviors to keep an eye out for. Additionally, in this episode, we take a look at how the 4 responses to conflict manifest in teachers.

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Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are the 4 responses to conflict. What is freeze? It has some evident characteristics and some that had me scratching my head, but it is still a worthy examination. I give an example of a student I have right now who, I believe, is exhibiting some freeze behaviors.

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