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Teaching Today is Tough!

Teaching today is tough. Kids today do not respect educators like they did 20-30 years ago. Sometimes "wheeling and dealing" and bargaining with students feels like the discipline today. You are balancing 30 plus personalities in your classroom, and now you have to fight a massive phone addiction in a classroom which seems impossible. You think your lesson is engaging and fun only to find students "check-out" immediately. You say good morning to students only to be left unacknowledged at times. Where have social skills gone? People complain about our profession, but they themselves couldn't handle all the challenges. Teaching has highs and lows. There are days you'll think about the rest of your career, and there are days that you'll just want to forget the moment you leave the building. This blog is really designed to teach you how to handle the highs and lows of being a teacher. We're emotional beings, right? 

  • Take nothing personal from any student. Try to attempt to stay as cool and calm as possible in all interactions with students. Never let a student see you visibly upset, or that they "rocked" your day. Do not demonstrate insecurity, but instead, use your words and voice your frustration in a respectful and even tone.  I will use "I" messages when frustrated or upset, but I never change my disposition towards my students. 
  • Leave the job behind. When you're leaving work, get busy with your own personal life. Join activities, go to work, and get involved in your interests. Give your mind a vacation from your job, so you feel renewed the following day. 
  • Self-care should be a priority. Get a massage, go to counseling (no disrespect), exercise your body physically, eat healthy, and speak with your friends in group chats. Laugh, listen to music, and make yourself present in your life. 
  • Remember this--even when your day is super upsetting and you're feeling low, the next day will be something completely different. Get out of your head. Do not listen to the anxious thoughts or make faulty predictions about your upcoming day. Your mind doesn't know the future. 
  • Begin your day strong; I can't say this enough. Meditate, pray, and work on your religious and spiritual practices to balance and ground yourself. A morning routine is a great way to setup your day. 
  • Pack your lunch the night before. Iron and prepare your clothes on the weekends. Try to structure your daily routine so that it is not stressful. 
  • Leave earlier for work. Download some good podcasts to entertain you on the way to work. Do not listen to the news because the negativity can affect your aura or vibe.
  • Practice deep breaths on off periods if you feel anxiety creeping up. There are a bunch of YouTube channels that have short meditations and breathing exercises.  

Teaching today is tough! Remind yourself that students need you. This career isn't forever. You do what you can to help your students, and then you head home to your life. Breaks and vacations really give us the mental break from work stressors. This job will teach you mental toughness, and you develop these skills through handling all the challenges. Not every kid is going to like you. Honestly, who really cares? If you're being an adult and modeling maturity, you have nothing to regret or think about. It's their problem. Keep being yourself and continue on helping those around you. You got this! 

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