Relax already!

I know what you are thinking. It's the end of the school year (at least for those of us in the USA). State testing is coming. Summer is coming. Students are starting to bounce off of the walls. You, the teacher, are more tired now than ever. Summer break seems to be coming slower and slower, even as the days go by.

For example, this week I have a lot to do. I have IEP meetings. I have staff meetings and committee meetings. Our teacher packet is due. (It's a thing that we have to do in our first few years.) My portfolio justifying our honors courses is due. We are also having a meeting about those portfolios.

Parents need to be called. Grades need to be done. Lessons need to be planned. It is getting to that time of the year where an outside lesson would be great, because it fits with the curriculum and we are actually on pace this time. (And, again, the students are bouncing off of the walls.) Outside lessons require even more planning. In a way, they are like a mini field trip.


Would you like to know what I am doing on this lovely rainy Saturday?

Nothing.

Nothing?!?!?!

 That's right, nothing. This morning I slept in until 11:00. I walked across the street and got myself some coffee at the coffee shop. Then I online shopped to use up the rest of a gift card that I have. It's now 3:00 pm, and I haven't even considered school work.

How will you ever be ready for next week!?!?!?!? 


I know that I will be ready. I have faith in myself. I know my content. I know my students. I know that we will get it done. But let's move away from me.

Stop and think -- Does stressing out really help you to be a better teacher? Does working yourself 24/7 really help?

No, but I can't be prepared otherwise!!!

Yes you can. The key is to work smarter, not harder. Can you reuse things from last year? Can you ask a coworker for help? Can you check TeachersPayTeachers? Can you Google it? Can you put more work on the students, and less work on yourself?

The point is this - it is absolutely okay to borrow from other teachers. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Do you really need a worksheet on multiplication? Fine, Google "multiplication worksheets". There you go. That took 3 minutes, as opposed to 15 to type one out yourself. Do you really need a lab activity for acceleration? Fine, go on TpT and look one up. Spend the $3. That took 5 minutes.

Saving yourself some time here and there leaves you a lot more time for more important things. You can focus on student learning and lesson planning, instead of on how to think of 20 practice problems.

As teachers, I know we feel the need to be "perfect". We have to be the stellar teacher that someone will make movies about someday. However, stressing yourself to the point where you are burnt out is just not helping you.

A fellow teacher said this to me last week. "I am so glad I don't have the internet at home. I couldn't plan lessons or put in grades, even if I wanted to. I am forced to work outside or read a book. It has been so relaxing!"


Lest you think "Oh, you're one of THOSE teachers that the politicians are so worried about," allow me a moment to gloat -- My students have consistently had higher test scores, and an independent company that was observing us said that I was one of the best teachers in my school.


Seriously now. RELAX. Just stop. Take 10 minutes to yourself. Take a nap. Go for a walk. Go read a book. Put the school stuff AWAY. Really, away. Don't even think about it. R-E-L-A-X.

Your students will thank you.

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