Search Results for: real self care

Welcome to a New School Year!

August 29, 2021 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Welcome back! It’s a new school year with all of the excitement and opportunity that a new year brings. Along with the smell of new pencils, we love the potential that is out in front of us, waiting for us to bring it to life. There will be new relationships with new students. There will be opportunity for new ways of learning and plenty of light bulb moments. There will also be growth- for the students and for you.

We haven’t forgotten that we are in the midst of a pandemic, and there will certainly be new challenges. There are always challenges, with or without a pandemic. Our experience is that our year will be what we make of it, and our reality will be created from how we react to whatever lies ahead of us.

Call us eternal optimists, but we want to embrace each new year and give it our best.

Here are a few suggestions for starting the new school year with strength and optimism:

Focus on building good relationships with students.

The more you know and understand students, the easier it will be to teach them. The more that they know you care, the more likely it is that they will thrive. When students thrive, they can learn. Spend as much time as you can in the early weeks of school, getting to know students and helping them to know each other.

Be open to change.

Flexibility is uncomfortable for many teachers who are naturally organized and well-planned. Teaching involves working with real, live, active participants whose needs are ever changing and always evolving. There will be situations out of your control. Sometimes the best strategy is to go with the flow and figure things out as you go. If you thrive on being well-planned, create some contingency plans for days when your regular plans aren’t possible.

Create a good sub folder.

We talk about this one every year because we believe in it. You will sleep better knowing that you have a few day’s worth of emergency plans ready to go. Read more about what to put in your sub folder here.

Take time for yourself every day.

We know that many of you are exploring ways to teach mindfulness to your students. It is also important for you! Stress is real and has many negative health effects. You give so much to so many every day. It is important that you take some time to recharge your own battery. Try to do at least one small thing every day that makes you calm and happy!

Remember that you are making a difference.

When things get difficult, be at peace in the knowledge that what you are doing makes a difference. Students count on you and are lifted up because of you. Your colleagues are better because you are part of their team. Think about the reasons that you went into this profession. Remind yourself that what you are doing matters. If you haven’t yet made yourself a folder for Positive Notes for Days I Really Need Them, do it! You can learn more about that little project here.

We hope you have a great school year. Know that together, we are cheering you on!

Our best,

Paula and Michele

Build Relationships by Knowing Students Well

February 14, 2021 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

We recently asked teachers in our Teacher Warriors Facebook group to give us their best advice about teaching. In one way or another, almost every teacher talked about the importance of building relationships with students.

We were not surprised. Building relationships with students is the key to building a successful environment for learning.

Many teachers and students have either recently returned to their physical classrooms, have returned to a full classroom instead of a hybrid model, or will soon be returning to a physical classroom. Although teachers have been teaching virtually or with a limited number of students in the classroom, the classroom dynamic is about to change. In many ways, it is like starting the school year over again.

Since our classrooms are changing yet again, we thought it was a good time to talk about building relationships. In order to build relationships, it is helpful to know students well. You will not know everything about every student, but understanding some of the different facets of student’s lives and personalities will go along way towards building good relationships with them.

How can you get to know students well? Here are some ideas:

Ask Students about their interests.

What does a student like to do? What are their hobbies? Given free reign, how would they choose to spend their time? Knowing a student’s interests helps us to connect to them.

Look for students’ skills and talents.

We all have skills and talents. Perhaps a student is good at drawing or soccer. Perhaps they are especially empathetic, kind or thoughtful. Maybe they express themselves well or show leadership. Understanding a student’s skills and talents means we can offer opportunities to build on those skills and help develop them. Helping a student to uncover and grow their innate talents is one of the most powerful things a teacher can do.

Observe students for signs of introversion or extroversion.

Does the student gain energy from being in a group or seem to need to spend quiet time alone? Do they make quick and decisive decisions or prefer time to think and process? Are they easily bored and restless or able to entertain themselves for hours? Once you understand a students natural preferences, it is easier to help the student find the situations that give him or her the time and space they need to function well.

Ask for and watch for learning preferences.

How does the student learn best? We all have different combinations of learning preferences, but often, particular preferences rise to the top. Does the student prefer to learn by touching and doing things? Are they particularly engaged when watching something or reading? Are they acute listeners, learning through songs or discussions? Do they learn best alone or in a group? Knowing how a student learns helps us to put learning in a context that is most helpful.

Help students to grow in emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand and control their own emotions. More than intellect or academic training, emotional intelligence has been connected to career and life success. How does the student control frustration, anxiety or anger? Does the student show self-confidence, adaptability or innovation? Are they generally optimistic? Do they feel empathy and have appropriate communication skills? These are all skills that can be taught, and doing so often improves personal success, both in the classroom and in life.

Understand how a student is motivated.

Motivation is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Some people are motivated by others. Some people are motivated by following rules and procedures. Competition is motivating to some, while others dislike competition. Some people are motivated by prizes or rewards, others are motivated by autonomy, creating and following their personal rules. Some people are motivated by authority, others rebel and become less motivated. Understanding how a child is motivated helps us to understand how to best work with a child.

It pays to look at our students through various lenses, to understand who they really are, and to use that insight to forge successful relationships. Our best chance at helping our students to learn starts with building positive relationships with them.

How do you go about understanding a knowing a child well? We would love to hear your insight.

Our best,

New Year, New Intentions

January 3, 2021 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

It’s the new year, and we are all here for it.

We did the best we could in 2020, and we learned and grew in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago.

It is time for a reset. Many of us think about the new year and plan our intentions for how we want to think or act or what we hope to feel or do. We might set goals or resolutions. We might also join the many who are choosing to proclaim a word for the new year. This is one word that will help you set your intention for the new year. You can write it in your planner or write sticky notes to remind you of your word.

You can even encourage your students to think of their intentions for the new year and come up with their own word of the year.

Sometimes you choose your word. You can look back, reflect and decide the direction you want to move in the new year. This strategy results in words like balanced, breathe, and self-care. You can look at your attitudes and choose an attitude you hope to have in the new year such as grateful, mindful, or joyful. You can choose the type of experiences you want to have which results in words like unplugged, connections or fun.

Sometimes your word of the year chooses you. In look backing, you might realize that this year you have learned to be more patient and more gentle in your interactions with others. Your new word might be grace. Or maybe you have realized that your students have needed you now more than ever and your new word will be support. Maybe you have been doing some soul-searching, even questioning your profession. The one word that brings you back and reminds you of your purpose might be impact.

There are 470,000 words in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. Which one will set your intentions for the year?

Whatever your word, we hope that you enter into the new year with hope, optimism and good intentions.

Our best,

3 Things You Can Do to Take Back Your Life

December 6, 2020 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Has school taken over your entire life? If you are struggling with overwork and exhaustion and are feeling like you are never good enough and will never get it all done, this is for you. It might be time to take back your life.

You work hard because you care. It’s what makes you a good teacher. You love your students and do everything possible to help them succeed.

Teachers often go above and beyond what is expected. Many teachers are spending an unsustainable amount of time attempting to be all things to all students and in the case of virtual schooling, to all parents. They are teachers, counselors, and social workers, trying to reach all students and support all families.

And let’s face it, it never seems like enough. When was the last time you ended a school day with no lesson plans to create and no papers to grade?

You’ve probably tried to stop working in the evenings and to leave schoolwork behind on the weekends. If you have somehow managed to do that, you’ve probably felt guilty.

If you want to stay mentally and physically strong so you can be your best for the students, the guilt trip has got to go.

Here are three things you can do to take back your life:

Set boundaries.

You can refuse to be on call for students and parents 24/7. Yes, you want to be responsive and helpful, but it can’t come at a cost of total lack of a personal life.

Create a personal policy for returning parent phone calls and email. Set a pleasant automatic response that says when you will return messages. If parents or students are constantly texting you, reconsider giving out your phone number.

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries for what you can and can not do. It is NOT part of your job to call a student every morning and wake him up for school. It is NOT part of your job to be awakened by a parent’s text at midnight- or to respond to it.

If your school does not have a school policy that guides parental expectations for contacting teachers, ask for one. Good administrators respect and support a teacher’s right to have a personal life that is work free.

Check your level of perfectionism.

Perfectionists, you probably know who you are. You have high standards and want to do everything perfectly.

The problem is that for teachers, perfection is not possible. Differentiation is great, but you can’t always be all things to all people. There will always be a better lesson plan or a more perfect activity, but the search is often elusive and exhausting. A teacher’s work is never done, and the to-do list always exists. That can be unsettling for a perfectionist who likes to have everything done and crossed off the list.

If you are exhausted, resentful and angry about how much you are working, look at your own expectations. Some things deserve 100% of your attention and skill. Other things might be just fine with B+ effort, or maybe even C+ effort. Sometimes good enough is good enough. Give your best to the things that are really worth it.

We know a teacher who stayed up all night making handmade gingerbread cookies for her students. She spent hours and hours decorating each one to perfection. The kids devoured them in a minute. The teacher next door bought some cookies and juice and served them tea party style while students shared poems they had written. It was an event they will likely always remember.

Spend your time on things that matter, and remember that sometimes, done is better than perfect. And accept the fact that there are always things on the to-do list, but they don’t all have to be done today.

Stop comparing yourself to other teachers.

You all know the teacher with the incredible skill for technology, everything is in a spreadsheet and totally organized. Or maybe you know a teacher with an endless supply of engaging games to teach every content area. You know teachers whose classroom décor belongs in a magazine or whose bitmoji classroom design is both funny and inspiring.

Are you trying to keep up with Mrs. Jones? Are you exhausted yet?

We each have our own gifts. There is something that you do that is unique and different from other teachers. Perhaps you give students amazing feedback. Perhaps you have a gift for making all students feel special. You might be the one whose jokes keeps kids engaged or the one whose passion for your subject inspires them.

Don’t try to copy other teachers. You can learn from them and borrow their teaching ideas or tools but recognize that you can teach in your own way.

What comes naturally to you? What methods or techniques do you love? Sometimes the things we are best at come most easily to us. Working with your unique strengths will always be less tiring that trying to be someone you are not.

We want you to be here for the long haul. We need good, passionate, committed teachers. The danger of burn-out is real, as is the danger of losing good teachers to a less demanding profession. In order to continue to love your job, you need to find ways to rest, relax, and recharge. If things are feeling out of control, do what you can to take back your life.

Our best,

5 Ways to Know if You are Making an Impact

November 1, 2020 by Inspired Together Teachers Leave a Comment

Do you ever wonder if you are making a positive impact? You’ve been working really hard, yet some of you are questioning. Does what I do matter? Do students even notice or care how much I am working for them? When students are missing or disengaged and parents are angry or upset, how can I even win?

Sometimes when you are working hard, it is easy to lose heart. Here are five questions you should ask yourself to find out if what you are doing is making a positive impact.

Do you call students by name?

We all want to feel seen. One of the simplest ways to make people feel noticed is to use their name. We all like to hear our names. How do you greet students in the morning? Do you great them by name? How do you respond to students when they raise their hands? Are you calling students by name when they are engaging in positive ways or only when they are exhibiting negative behaviors?

If you are routinely connecting with students by using their names when you interact with them for a variety of reasons, you are already positively impacting them. They are feeling seen and heard.

Do you give positive feedback?

You are reading student work. You are having discussions with students both in a large group and in smaller groups or individually. You are answering student questions. These are all opportunities to give positive feedback. Even an incorrect answer can result in positive feedback. Here’s an example, “That is not the correct answer, but I can see that you have some good thinking going on.” You have just provided positive feedback.

If you are giving students positive feedback on work, behaviors, attitudes, thought processes, or social interactions, you are making a positive impact.

Do you help students to grow?

We all have a need for growth. Teachers are in a position to help students grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Do you meet students where they are academically and help them get to the next level? Do you guide students in appropriate social behaviors? Do you encourage students to have a growth mindset? Are you challenging students or encouraging them to try new things? If so, you are making a positive impact.

Do you teach the whole student?

You were hired to teach academic content. You have all experienced teachers in your life who taught you something other than academic content. They recognized something in you and helped you to see it in yourself. They gave you advice about life, not just about homework. They opened your eyes to something you are passionate about but might never have discovered by yourself.

These teachers were teaching the whole person, not just the student. If your interactions with students sometimes move out of the academic realm and into student’s lives, you are making a positive impact.

Do you still care?

This question is focused on you and your behaviors. We all know people who have called it in. They do the minimum to get by. They stop any extra interactions. They don’t go out of their way to do anything extra for a student or colleague. They have a negative attitude. A student failed? Not my problem. A parent called? Why should I bother to call them back? Faculty meeting? I’m not going to show up.

You don’t have to work yourself into the ground, and you don’t have to be on call 24/7. However, good teachers still care. If there is a way to help a student, they will show up for that student.

Do you still care about your students? If so, you are making a positive impact.

In our experience, teachers make far more of an impact than they realize. Your student may be walking away with an important life lesson. A seemingly ungrateful parent may recognize the ways you have helped their child, though they may never tell you. It is a truth in life that you may never know who or how you may have made a positive impact.

Our best,

Search Results for: real self care

Here are a few suggestions for starting the new school year with strength and optimism:

Focus on building good relationships with students.

Be open to change.

Create a good sub folder.

Take time for yourself every day.

Remember that you are making a difference.

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Here are three things you can do to take back your life:

Set boundaries.

Check your level of perfectionism.

Stop comparing yourself to other teachers.

Share this:

Do you call students by name?

Do you give positive feedback?

Do you help students to grow?

Do you teach the whole student?

Do you still care?

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