You’ve made it through Halloween. Welcome to November! In our experience, November can be overwhelming and even depressing but you can thrive in November.
Research shows that November is the month of the year when new teachers’ attitudes drop to the lowest they will be all year.
We aren’t sharing this to depress you. Research also shows that it is all uphill from here. You are not alone in feeling the November blues. Thousands of other teachers are feeling this way too.
What is going on in November? And better yet, how can you deal with it?
You can grow and learn to thrive in November. Here are our tips:
- Students are getting more comfortable with you and your classroom routines. This may lead to boredom or a need for more variety. Students may be reacting by displaying negative behaviors.
Try switching up a routine or strategy. For example, if you usually teach math as a whole group, break up the content into learning stations. Instead of an oral discussion, try a “chalk talk” where students answer questions silently by coming up and writing on the board. Passing around the markers to the next student becomes part of the “game.”
As always, be sure to discuss behavioral expectations when you try something new.
- Recognize that you now have a much better handle on lesson plans, meetings, and grading. New things will continue to come your way but much less frequently and with less intensity. Notice how much more smoothly you are able to write plans, prepare for team meetings and navigate your grading portal.
- If you are a beginning teacher or have switched grade levels or content areas, you have spent a lot of time learning your curriculum. Most people underestimate the time it takes to learn new curriculum and find materials for teaching the curriculum.
Next year, if you have the same curriculum, you will be able to focus more on teaching your curriculum rather than developing it. Know that teaching gets easier when you don’t have to focus on both what to teach and how to teach it.
- By November, your classroom may start to feel disorganized. Demands on your time and energy are increasing, and it is easy to dump things on your desk to deal with later.
You will have time for a more thorough organizing over the holiday break. Plan a day over the Thanksgiving or winter break to put away old materials, get out new materials and deal with all of those papers.
In the meantime, label stacks of papers. Enlist students to help in a classroom cleanup, putting away materials, washing desks and changing out bulletin boards. Everyone will appreciate a fresh environment.
- You have probably struggled to find enough time to spend with your family and friends. November is the most time-consuming month for new teachers. You may want to explain this to loved ones who wonder why you don’t have time for them right now. Promise them you will have more time for them at the end of December. Make plans for a movie or game night. Schedule a brunch with your friends. You will have fun things to look forward to and scheduling them now will make sure that it happens.
- At this point in the school year you are probably feeling sleep deprived. You may need to stay up late planning and correcting but try not to lose too much sleep. Being tired during the day results in more stress and it may leave you less productive in the long run.
- Ellen Moir and the New Teacher Center describe a first-year teacher’s attitude in 6 stages chronologically throughout the school year: Anticipation, Survival, Disillusionment, Rejuvenation, Reflection, and then Anticipation again.
In November, you are in the Disillusionment Stage. The good news is that the Rejuvenation Stage is right around the corner at the end of December. Hang in there!
- This is the time of year when many teachers begin to question their choice of profession. When you question your ability to teach, or your career choice in general, think back on all you have accomplished since you took this job. You have survived the first few months of school. Don’t beat yourself up about the small stuff. Remember to celebrate how far you have come in just a few short months.
Take five minutes to write a list of all that you have learned since you started. You will be amazed at how well you have handled this steep learning curve.
- Why did you become a teacher? What were your goals and dreams for your profession? Reconnect with your “why.” Think about the students you have helped. Remember the times you laughed with your students. Think about the “lightbulb” moments.
Without purpose, you will not find teaching rewarding. Most successful teachers keep their higher purpose in the back of their minds as they navigate the challenges of teaching. Remind yourself of the rewards of teaching- the times you know you made a difference. Those stories will keep you going.
- Connect with your colleagues. Strong teachers usually have strong connections. Your team or co-teacher can help you put things in perspective. Sometimes it is good to hash things through with another teacher because they understand the challenges that people outside of the profession don’t understand.
Use the holidays to participate in some time with colleagues. Attend a happy hour. Organize a before school breakfast. Go to the school holiday party. Teachers are often isolated during the day, and spending time with colleagues reminds you that you are not alone.
As you navigate November, remind yourself that a break is just around the corner. You have gotten through some of the most difficult parts of the school year. You have more experience and more knowledge. You have it in you to survive and thrive in November and beyond.
Our Best,
Do you dread parent-teacher conferences? Stay awake at night worrying about them?
Today was the first day of school.
