Undoubtedly you’ve seen cartoons like this posted somewhere. The teacher who looks like she has been to hell and back all in the name of educating your child. Educators are without a doubt some of the hardest working and most dedicated people I know. However, should we just accept that the norm is for us to be so weary and beaten down by June that we need 2 months off just to recover? I refuse to believe that we can’t all rediscover the passion and enthusiasm for our craft that we had when we decided to walk this path.
Recently, I was presenting at a conference and heard an educator get so charged up about an idea they had developed that they said what you rarely hear an educator utter in at this time of year; “I can’t wait to get back to school to try this!” Literally gave me goosebumps! In fact, I have heard this from more educators in the past year than ever before. This is why I do what I do; to help people get excited about learning.
So how does one break free of the shackles of exhaustion and get excited about school? Here are a few tips:
1. Focus on the positive: This may seem simple, but there is no shortage of blogs, memes, and articles that focus on what’s wrong with education today. Commit to following positive influences like Edutopia, Mind/Shift, a favorite Twitter Chat (#COLChat, #CONextGen, #dtk12, etc.) and G&D's Facebook Page.
2. Dare to Dream: Allow yourself to be idealistic again! What could you do without the barriers? Unless we dream big, we will never be able to begin to make incremental adjustments that will help us reach that ideal vision eventually (or something close to it). Anyone can complain, be solution oriented.
3. Find Your Voice!: Tweet the positive, share positive messages and ideas on Facebook, focus conversations about education on the positive and what you can do to effect change, or blog (we are looking for guest bloggers).
4. Experiment with Different Learning Environments: Whether it be a patio somewhere, your couch, a park, or another location; mix it up and discover how, when, and where you do your best learning (then apply the thinking to your learners).
5. Build In a Bit of “You” Time: Take time for you! Sleep in a little on the weekend, catch a sunrise or sunset, hike more, socialize more, or explore your non-education related passions! Now is a great time develop these things as habits that will help you keep perspective in the toughest parts of your school year.
Above all else, reconnect with why you wanted this job in the first place. Rediscover the passion. It’s contagious for you colleagues and learners!
Recently, I was presenting at a conference and heard an educator get so charged up about an idea they had developed that they said what you rarely hear an educator utter in at this time of year; “I can’t wait to get back to school to try this!” Literally gave me goosebumps! In fact, I have heard this from more educators in the past year than ever before. This is why I do what I do; to help people get excited about learning.
So how does one break free of the shackles of exhaustion and get excited about school? Here are a few tips:
1. Focus on the positive: This may seem simple, but there is no shortage of blogs, memes, and articles that focus on what’s wrong with education today. Commit to following positive influences like Edutopia, Mind/Shift, a favorite Twitter Chat (#COLChat, #CONextGen, #dtk12, etc.) and G&D's Facebook Page.
2. Dare to Dream: Allow yourself to be idealistic again! What could you do without the barriers? Unless we dream big, we will never be able to begin to make incremental adjustments that will help us reach that ideal vision eventually (or something close to it). Anyone can complain, be solution oriented.
3. Find Your Voice!: Tweet the positive, share positive messages and ideas on Facebook, focus conversations about education on the positive and what you can do to effect change, or blog (we are looking for guest bloggers).
4. Experiment with Different Learning Environments: Whether it be a patio somewhere, your couch, a park, or another location; mix it up and discover how, when, and where you do your best learning (then apply the thinking to your learners).
5. Build In a Bit of “You” Time: Take time for you! Sleep in a little on the weekend, catch a sunrise or sunset, hike more, socialize more, or explore your non-education related passions! Now is a great time develop these things as habits that will help you keep perspective in the toughest parts of your school year.
Above all else, reconnect with why you wanted this job in the first place. Rediscover the passion. It’s contagious for you colleagues and learners!
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