Top 10 Ways to Keep the Joy of Teaching | By: Committee for Children by Joy Brooke Ever have those days when your students’ behavior can only be blamed on a full moon? If these “full moon” days turns into weeks, maybe it’s time to reflect on our own social-emotional well-being as educators in the classroom. Because when we’re worried about something, stressed out, or not taking care of ourselves, our students know it, feel it, and often react by acting out. And that means more “full moon” days for us. Just like our students, we educators need to use strategies to keep ourselves aware of feelings and emotions. We need to create coping strategies to not just get through the day, but to be “on.” I think more than any other profession, whether we’re having a bad day or just simply stressed, we need to be aware of our emotions so our own feelings do not negatively affect our students. Below are the top 10 strategies I’ve used when I have reached a point in the year where I’ve lost the joy. When a tough conference or just the stress of “fitting it all in” overwhelms me, I use these to refocus, reflect, and bring back the joy in my teaching and in my life. 1. Breathe We teach our children to use “belly breathing,” and we need to belly breathe, too. Take that five minutes before the students rush into the classroom in the morning or after a staff meeting to just take deep, slow breaths. It will add that calm you need to your day. 2. Be Self-Aware Name your emotion, and don’t be afraid to share it with your students. This is actually what our students need! They need us modeling our feelings out loud so they will do the same. Not only does this model the act of labeling and expressing the emotion, it makes you human to your students. I remember reading Charlotte’s Web aloud once. After part where Charlotte dies, and I was so sad, I couldn’t just switch gears and go to science as planned. I told my students I was sad and just felt like I needed a little quiet time now to write about my feelings. We all went back to our seats and wrote in our journals. I didn’t hear one peep about, “But the schedule says…!!!” Sharing our feelings with one another, student to teacher, teacher to student, increases the bond we create. 3. Share your life passions Along with sharing your feelings, share your life. There is nothing better than knowing all about your teacher’s trip to Italy or that her dog got into a box of chocolates or that her favorite ice cream is bubblegum! One of my favorite memories is sharing with my students my trip to New York City during a writing lesson. I was modeling adding detail to my story while also sharing with them how my boyfriend had asked me to marry him on bended knee in Central Park. When I finished that surprise sentence, I showed them my ring. You can just imagine the squeals. When you talk to your students about your travels, favorite books, things to do, family, and so forth, it will help you refocus on your relationships with them. Once you share, they are bound to share more about themselves as well, and your bond will strengthen. And strong bonds are key for joy and for success. 4. Coping skills All teachers need coping skills, even the most patient of us. One of my techniques for coping is to dim the lights during recess. I started doing it for myself to calm my mood and bring me quiet, but I later realized people thought I wasn't in the classroom. This in turn would give me a little alone time. Alone time, as we all know, is rare when you are working with children, especially the little ones. Get outside for a few minutes, chat with your teammate, or dim the lights. During those breaks, really do take a break! 5. Exercise and sleep Outside of school you must take care of yourself. During my first years of teaching I would work all day and then come home and work into the wee hours of the night. I learned quickly that, in order to be my best, I needed my sleep, exercise, and fresh air. I made a commitment to myself that after school I would always try to do something for myself, whether it was a quick walk, yoga, or a workout class at the gym. I still keep that part of my routine. When we feel strong in our body I believe we feel stronger in mind and spirit. 6. Do something different Sometimes we don’t know why we’re feeling in a rut or just not “joyful.” Maybe it’s because there are just so many tests, so many standards, so many meetings, or maybe it’s just because we have been teaching the same things, the same way, for so long. This is when I say do something different. Learn something new! Take a class! Read a new book! And maybe not about teaching—just for fun! Imagine that. In the classroom, add soft music during writing time, read aloud outside today, tell a joke, or have a student teach you his or her language. Doing something different can bring back the joy. 7. Leave on time There’s always something we could be doing, whether it is grading papers or hanging a new bulletin board. There are times when, yes, we must stay late to finish something or the next day’s lesson will not go as planned. But other times, those things can wait. And most can even be delegated! Have a parent bring the 25 pumpkins, have a student clean out math folders, but whatever you do, leave it when you can. 8. Practice Acts of Kindness Love your principal, teammates, and students for whoever they may be, however they rub you the wrong way. If they don’t get your new and innovative practices or think that you are the one set in your ways, love them anyway and give them a compliment or show them an act of kindness. Practicing the golden rule not only brings you joy, but can help relationships over time. 9. Love yourself most of all You are an amazing individual to be placed in the care of 20 to 30 children a day, caring for them, shaping their little brains, inspiring their hearts! You are incredible. Tell yourself this. Yes, use “self talk,” just like we teach our students to do. Talk to yourself. Say things like, “There aren’t many that could do what I do.” “I am a gifted teacher.” “These students are as fortunate to have me as I am to have them.” “They are learning so much because of me.” 10. Remember why you became a teacher. Sometimes we forget this. They say couples who remember when they met and reflect on this a lot are more likely to last. I say teachers who remember why they became teachers do, too. Keep a picture of your young, smiley first-year face by your desk to remember that dream of wanting to change the world, one child at a time… because guess what? You are! 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