DearAnxiousTeacher

  Sunday night blues sound familiar? Is anxiety creeping and bubbling up pessimistic thoughts in your head? How do we get out of our head? The chances of sleep success are dropping, much like the 1929 stock market crash. No matter what we try or do, sleep isn’t on the agenda. Adrenaline keeps pumping through our veins and our body is more ready for a treadmill at 3 AM instead of being in la-la land or the land of z’s. The short-hand on the clock keeps moving quicker and quicker. Bingo! It’s time to get ready for work. Can’t hit that snooze button again because you’re out of time. Bleary-eyed and worried, we now must get ready for work. Negative thinking pounds the landscape of your mind like a swirling storm. Is it really Monday morning? “Please, day go away!” Anxiety strikes again! Do the following to battle the anxiety demons and come out on top. It will take time, but it will definitely improve the outlook of your day. 1. Wake-up earlier: Get up an hour earlier than you normall...

  1. Smile : Don’t listen to the adage that you shouldn’t smile until the winter break. That’s a bunch of nonsense. Smile and smile often because your disposition can often influence your students. If you’re a happy and calm person, you’ll see your students respond with a similar disposition. From the first day of school until the last day of school, smile at your students. 2. Greet : Say hello to your students every single day. When students enter your classroom, say hello or give them a “pound.” Everybody deserves to be acknowledged and made to feel good. 3. Learn Names : Your goal in the first quarter is to learn their names as soon as possible. Use a seating chart and aim within the first month to month in a half to learn their names. This shows that you care. 4. Small Talk : Learn about student interest and speak to them before and after class when you can. Asking students about their lives will earn their respects. Students may even start asking you about your day and your li...

Are you struggling with misbehavior in the classroom? Listen-all of us struggle with this teaching. Nobody is perfect with their approach. Disciplining humans can be mentally draining, and may even make us question why we teach to begin with. Don’t expect perfection from your students. Some teachers prefer a more fear-based approach and others discipline in more of a nurturing style. My preference is obviously the latter. Also, be careful with asking advice from a teacher who has a peculiar style from you; their advice may not work for you. My biggest advice is this: Be yourself!  Stop asking fellow teachers what they do in the classroom-especially if your styles clash. Try to find   someone who has a similar temperament to you, yet still, you need to do what feels comfortable and natural to your personality. Being in the classroom and gaining experience are the best ways to learn classroom management. Making mistakes and trying new things will be your best teacher with disc...