Avoiding Teacher Burnout

5 Tips to Avoid Teacher Burnout

This article about "teacher burnout" caught my attention as we are nearing the end of the year! It is difficult for all teachers, especially new teachers, to not spend all of their time thinking about school work and working on school work.  I feel this article provides five great tips that any teacher can use no matter how long they have been teaching. 

Andrew Miller's first tip is to "push out content in different ways".  I find this rewarding for both students and teachers.  As Miller mentions, direct instruction with notes and lectures are effective for some students, but it is also beneficial to put the learning in the students' hands so they can explore and make connections.  I find this difficult for myself because I feel like I am not in control when I prepare activities like this for students.  Although, effectively prepared everything WILL be under control.  It is hard for me to give that up and I also have fallen into a trap of giving too much direct instruction.  It was great to be reminded by this article, as well as my administration, of all of the possibilities available in the math class for hands-on exploration.  Next year won't be my first year in a new building, state, and grade level so I hope to spend a lot more time in class allowing students exploration time.  I want to embrace problem-based learning, incorporate more technology, and provide students with meaningful learning  

Miller also suggests teachers "go home".  I sort of laughed when I read this suggestion as it is easier for some teachers to leave work while others, myself included, want to wait to leave until everything is done.  I have done better leaving work behind this year and finding some time for myself.  Last year, my first full year of teaching, I felt like I spent seven days a week working on school work both at school and at home.  We need to remember while our jobs are important and we want nothing but the best for our students, we need time for ourselves to stay motivated and healthy.  We are constantly thinking and talking about school and all it entails but we need to spend time on ourselves once in awhile.

The last three suggestions Miller offers include: establishing boundaries for your time, using your personal learning network, and knowing what you are assessing. Of course most teachers have suggestions and mentor newer teachers and I believe this is great, but I think Miller's suggestions are practical for all teachers.  Hopefully this summer we all get to take some time for ourselves, while of course planning for next year.  It really never does end!