If I know anything about teachers it is that they are constantly striving to be better. Rarely are we satisfied with mediocrity. We like to solve problems. We like to improve. We like to succeed. We have the teensiest bit of perfectionism running through our veins, yeah?
And, don’t fret, a longing for perfection can actually be a very good thing! As a closet perfectionist, I feel that that striving to improve keeps me constantly asking the good kind of questions like:
- How can I make this lesson as engaging as possible for my students?
- What can I do today to really connect with this child?
- Which of my instructional practices really need some refining?
These are wonderful questions to ask, don’t get me wrong, but along with this effort to be better it is soooooo easy to feel burdened, overwhelmed, and just plain burned out. And no one wants to, or even deserves, to feel that way…especially hard workers like teachers. In my ten years of teaching I have felt ALL. THE. FEELINGS. and I am hoping to share some ways that I have found that help me to the best teacher version of myself that I can be.
- Freaking just be yourself. For goodness’ sake, don’t try to be someone else. You are constantly influenced by social media teachers and, you know, that one EXTRA teacher down the hall. You can’t help but take notice of their fabulousness. Take a bit of inspiration from them, sure, but remember that YOU are your greatest asset in the classroom. You are uniquely qualified. Your students need YOU. No one else can be a teacher quite like you…because nobody else IS you! Be confident that YOU know what is best for your students. Don’t be afraid to put your own twist on things. Do what makes YOU happy. Infuse yourself (your personality, your humor, your passions) into your classroom and teaching. Bag the comparison syndrome and rediscover that you do in fact enjoy what YOU do.
- Prioritize connections over curriculum…really. True story: I naively went into the field of teaching because I thought it sounded fun to share knowledge and facts with other people. I get to enlighten others about the things that I myself am so passionate about? Sweet! I had NO IDEA how much more important relationships and connection are than curriculum. Of course, we have objectives, standards, and learning goals, and those are uber important (duh), but they will be accomplished SO MUCH BETTER if you take the time to make a real connection with your learners. Get on their level. Look them in the eye. Talk to them about things other than school. Earn their trust. Ask them questions. Let them be kids. Enjoy their unique little student selves. Connect.
- Remember that your best will ALWAYS be enough. Back in college when I was preparing for the PRAXIS (anyone else still have nightmares about that?) I was convinced for some reason that I would fail. I studied like a maniac. Like it was going out of style. Like passing that test was my only hope…”Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi…”. I was beyond prepared. I had given it my absolute all. And, spoiler alert!, it was enough. I passed, of course. I think of that often when I am feeling a bit blue about a teaching day. As long as I am making my very best effort with my students, my coworkers, parents, etc. it will be okay. It will be enough. I will be enough.
Teachers, may I wish you the VERY BEST as you journey on in this adventure that is teaching. Your students are so lucky to have you. Really. Keep it real, don’t take things too seriously, and be the very best that you teacher that you can be! You already are.
Oh, and just in case you need a little reminder, print yourself out one of these and tack it up somewhere you’ll see it. You totally got this!
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