When You Are Stuck in A Slump

image from icanread

The hunched shoulders, the heavy feet, weary smiles, and that aura of never getting it done.  The rushed conversations, the walk straight to your room and back, the eating in your classroom just so you can get it done, except done never seems to come. Whether you are haunted by the common core, the state report card, your upcoming evaluation, or even just the every day;  “Unslumping yourself is not easily done.”Thank you, Dr. Seuss.

So what do you do when you are stuck in more than a rut, when the school year seems to be crushing you and your desire to teach.  When the outsides figure in as much as the insides and teaching just isn’t what it used to be.  How about you

• Find the right people and get it off your chest.  A conversation about what is happening can sometimes push you in the right direction.
• Surround yourself with positive people.  I don’t mean unrealistic people, but ones who want to discuss solutions rather than just settle with the problems.  Ones that will listen when you need it and offer advice when they can.
• Step away.  Don’t come in on the weekend, sometimes a break is needed more than that extra prep.
• Realize you are good enough.  Teaching is never done and there is always something more to do but sometimes what we do has to be good enough.  We cannot sacrifice every moment of our lives just to teach.  Sure, we are shaping lives but don’t forget about the shape of your own.
• Get connected.  My network of educators have unslumped me more times than I can count, whether it be my incredible colleague down the hall or people whom I have only met on Twitter.  Reach out, listen up, and try some new things.
• Re-evaluate your style.  Sometimes it is our own expectations and way we teach that add so much extra to our days.  Once I re-evaluated worksheets my load got a lot lighter.  Ask yourself what is needed at the core of your teaching and then follow that.
• Partner up.  Why is our reaction to stress and munting pressure to withdraw, it should be the exact opposite.  Partner up as a grade level and use each other’s lesson plans and materials.  Trust your team to make quality lessons.
• Forgive yourself.  Sometimes we are our worst enemies and we constantly pick out our own flaws in our teaching, we constantly see only the child that did not get it.  Forgive yourself for the things that you cannot change, forgive yourself for having an outside life.  Forgive yourself for not being able to reach everyone at all times, even though you will keep on trying.