6 of 6

Write now Article Tools

Two years ago, when beginning my Masters program in education, I was delighted to learn that I would need to log observation hours in a primary grade classroom prior to student teaching. I truly enjoyed spending 6 hours a day with first and second graders, helping them learn basic math facts and guide them as they discovered new and exciting books, perfect for practicing their beginning reader skills.

Though my anxiety level increased slightly during student teaching, I still had illusions of grandeur. Every day, I walked into my cooperating teacher's classroom, armed with idea after idea for fun and exciting lessons. I soon discovered, however, that there was not nearly enough time in my day to complete even half of the clever and unique lessons I'd jammed into my (already full) brain.

During my take-over week, the period of time in which a student teacher is responsible for the entire classroom, from attendance to dismissals and all the teaching time in between, I meticulously scheduled my entire day. Not one moment was unaccounted for - even the moments when the students were at specials. I spent close to 10 hours at school each day of that week, bringing home piles of math workbooks and student writing journals with me.

I didn't even have my license yet and I was already worn out.

I soon discovered that a tired teacher is not an effective one, thus, I made key changes in my daily life so that I spent more time smiling and enjoying my time in the classroom, rather than allowing my grumpiness to overwhelm me.

A few things every beginning teacher should remember:

1) Take time for you - as often as you need it: I'm an avid reader, regardless of the season. While my book count was substantially less during student teaching due to my new responsibilities, I frequently curled up with a book for at least a half-hour each night, glad I was able to escape into another world for a little while. I also enjoyed weekend trips at the beach in which I did nothing more than dig my toes deeper into the sand in between moments spent floating in the ocean.

2) Get enough sleep: I'm certainly guilty of staying up well past my bedtime, aimlessly surfing the Internet. Now that I'm a teacher, I know the value of (and appreciate) a good night's sleep. When possible, I try to get in bed by 10 p.m., as 6 a.m. comes quite early most days. My mood and energy level is much better when I'm well rested - and it's much easier to deal with the myriad of unexpected moments that pop up during a six

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Avoiding teacher burnout?
We want to hear your view. Write now!