More Teacher Stuff!
This page is a continuation of the "Teacher Stuff" page, and has more information about dealing with stress and burnout--plus some humor.
Teacher Burnout
What happens when stress gets out of control? Burnout. Here are some resources about recognizing and dealing with teacher burnout.
1. A summary of the factors leading to teacher burnout and a quick list of questions to consider. based on the work of Cary Cherniss in the book Beyond Burnout, from Professor Maurice Elias.
Notice that several of the factors showed up in the previous "stress" section, and there's another quick discussion of a possible side-effect of standardized testing, standardized teaching. Professor Elias reminds us that, "Differentiated instruction and personalization are two movements that recognize teachers need to be in a creative mind-set to be most energized."
2. This handout from the Center for the Advancement of Mental Health Practices in Schools lists the top causes for teacher burnout and provides several coping strategies. Coping strategy #1 is "Avoid confrontations." #2 is "Try to relax after work." Seems like a good place to start!
The handout also discusses that the way we see a situation may be inaccurate, and provides an illustration for how to change our ways of looking at student behaviors. I am currently reading the book Flow, which is about how to deal with, well, everything, better, and the book also raises this point: when we cannot change things, we have to change how we see them. Overall, flow is considered "a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play, and work."
2A. Here's a quick overview of flow from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topic/creativity/flow
2B. This 18 minute video from TED features researcher/ author Mihalyi Csiksentmihalyi, who coined the term and wrote the book, discussing flow: http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html
3. "Surviving Teacher Burnout" from the NEA uses the story of teacher Michelle Totra to show how things beyond their control cause teachers stress. While the solution offered in the article (a five-day retreat) may be a bit unrealistic for many teachers, it once again shows the need for support and communication among teachers.
4. Cheyl Scott Wiliams discusses what young teachers say they need in "Combating Teacher Burnout." The idea that companies and organizations that foster communication among employers have fewer burned-out workers is also discussed.
Hidden on page two of this article is an idea I've tried to get started myself, which Professor Adam Grant calls "No alumni left behind." It involves having former students serve as mentors for current students. My (simpler) version is to get former students to come in a few times a year and talk to current students about their college work, their new careers, etc.
Grant argues that such an approach not only helps students, but teachers, as C.S. Williams explains: Grant "uncovered that teachers who felt they were making a significant difference in the lives of their students were better able to deal with job stressors. In other words, the teachers’ belief that they were making a lasting contribution to the lives of students mitigated their professional burnout."
5. I really like these "7 Tips for Overcoming Teacher Burn-Out." # 5 is "Find the Bright Spots." #7 is "Focus on getting better rather than being good." The overall list reminds us that nobody started out as a master teacher, and one class or one incident does not make a career. . .
. . .SO CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK!
1. A summary of the factors leading to teacher burnout and a quick list of questions to consider. based on the work of Cary Cherniss in the book Beyond Burnout, from Professor Maurice Elias.
Notice that several of the factors showed up in the previous "stress" section, and there's another quick discussion of a possible side-effect of standardized testing, standardized teaching. Professor Elias reminds us that, "Differentiated instruction and personalization are two movements that recognize teachers need to be in a creative mind-set to be most energized."
2. This handout from the Center for the Advancement of Mental Health Practices in Schools lists the top causes for teacher burnout and provides several coping strategies. Coping strategy #1 is "Avoid confrontations." #2 is "Try to relax after work." Seems like a good place to start!
The handout also discusses that the way we see a situation may be inaccurate, and provides an illustration for how to change our ways of looking at student behaviors. I am currently reading the book Flow, which is about how to deal with, well, everything, better, and the book also raises this point: when we cannot change things, we have to change how we see them. Overall, flow is considered "a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play, and work."
2A. Here's a quick overview of flow from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/topic/creativity/flow
2B. This 18 minute video from TED features researcher/ author Mihalyi Csiksentmihalyi, who coined the term and wrote the book, discussing flow: http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html
3. "Surviving Teacher Burnout" from the NEA uses the story of teacher Michelle Totra to show how things beyond their control cause teachers stress. While the solution offered in the article (a five-day retreat) may be a bit unrealistic for many teachers, it once again shows the need for support and communication among teachers.
4. Cheyl Scott Wiliams discusses what young teachers say they need in "Combating Teacher Burnout." The idea that companies and organizations that foster communication among employers have fewer burned-out workers is also discussed.
Hidden on page two of this article is an idea I've tried to get started myself, which Professor Adam Grant calls "No alumni left behind." It involves having former students serve as mentors for current students. My (simpler) version is to get former students to come in a few times a year and talk to current students about their college work, their new careers, etc.
Grant argues that such an approach not only helps students, but teachers, as C.S. Williams explains: Grant "uncovered that teachers who felt they were making a significant difference in the lives of their students were better able to deal with job stressors. In other words, the teachers’ belief that they were making a lasting contribution to the lives of students mitigated their professional burnout."
5. I really like these "7 Tips for Overcoming Teacher Burn-Out." # 5 is "Find the Bright Spots." #7 is "Focus on getting better rather than being good." The overall list reminds us that nobody started out as a master teacher, and one class or one incident does not make a career. . .
. . .SO CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK!
Teacher Humor
As a slight tangent for the Frazzled Educator" videos, I offer the following links for teachers needing a little laugh:
1. Head on over to the comics strips of Mr. Fitz to see situations you may encounter every day, handled with wry humor and wit.
2. A couple of the things in this list may slightly offend, but the others are so darn funny I can't resist: "33 Teachers Who Got the Last Laugh" from Buzzfeed. My favorites are numbers #23 and #31. And while I'm pretty sure some of them are fake, such as #32 and #33, I can think of weird things kids have written on exams. . .
3. No matter how bad your day has been, you aren't THIS GUY.
1. Head on over to the comics strips of Mr. Fitz to see situations you may encounter every day, handled with wry humor and wit.
2. A couple of the things in this list may slightly offend, but the others are so darn funny I can't resist: "33 Teachers Who Got the Last Laugh" from Buzzfeed. My favorites are numbers #23 and #31. And while I'm pretty sure some of them are fake, such as #32 and #33, I can think of weird things kids have written on exams. . .
3. No matter how bad your day has been, you aren't THIS GUY.