Teaching can be a lonely job. We're expected to love kids all the time (especially teachers of young children) and be peppy about it. What happens when you don't feel peppy or don't like all your students all the time? Does it mean you're a bad teacher? I struggle with this issue sometimes in my preschool classroom. It is a difficult job, but we're expected to be happy and energetic all day long. I do love my job and my students, but to be happy all day every day is impossible. Sometimes the children get on my nerves; sometimes the parents get on my nerves; sometimes my co-teachers get on my nerves. When I feel like this, who can I turn to who won't see me as someone who's in the wrong profession. Teaching is my passion, but it isn't sunshine and rainbows all the time.
When I was interviewing for my position, the director of my school asked me why I wanted to teach preschool. I told her that I enjoyed children, but mostly I enjoyed watching them grow and develop in their own ways. She replied that not everyone who loves children can be a good teacher. Teachers cannot just sit there all day and muse over how cute all the kids are. There are elements of discipline and objectivity that are needed in classroom management.
In my last blog, I talked about how teachers are also students. We need to constantly reflect on our practices and methods. Right now, I am reflecting on how I react to and view student's behavior. I see that I need more patience and perspective in dealing with them. I need to take a step back during the day, take a deep breath and realize that neither my students nor myself are perfect. The fundamental purpose in teaching is not to have the best lesson plans and the most well-behaved students. To teach is to be a facilitator of learning through individual student's needs. We do not have to fit the stereotypical peppy kindergarten teacher. We need to be teachers who learn from their mistakes and are honest with themselves. And, yes, we need to be teachers who care deeply about children.
In that way it is similar to parenting, you love your kids but that doesn't mean that they don't sometimes annoy the heck out of you and make you want to run away from them. But like parenting, we need to recognize that in order to effectively tend to their needs, we must first tend to ours. It is good to recognize those moments when you've had enough and make plans for yourself to de-stress.
ReplyDeleteI remember working with a very bright Aspergers adolescent who was a savant when it came to photography and film. Scripting and the direction to obtain a goal were his forte. He was totally incapable of socially interacting with others, had multiple areas of cognitive deficits, and tended to have explosive rage outbursts when conflicted. While working with him a girl asked him to the Senior Prom. So for a couple weeks of three time a week meetings I felt panic frequently trying to help him work this through. We decided to write a script for the prom. Added subscripts (he had an almost photogenic memory) for things that might happen and he pulled the thing off, even got a kiss at the end (a subscript). In this situation I was helping him, but I also became aware that I had to take care of me, my stress level was at times reaching his. I started a practice that I do to this day, a 20-30 minute meditation sometimes guided and sometimes self-reflective. If there is a struggle in the day I note it and reflect later on the time and events before, during and after that struggle. I would journal and reflect. For me I have a yoga position that I get into, a breathing pattern or a series of self-talk reflections that (probably partially through Pavlovian mechanisms) calm anxiety. And as a High School teacher could probably assign the class a 10 minute project and use them to settle an anxious situation.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is really healthy and professional of you to be able to see that all teachers have their faults. When teachers are able to recognize what those faults are and take the steps to fix them, it makes them a better more efficient teacher. I strongly agree that teachers are also students and that the refection process helps them grow to become better teachers. Since no one is perfect every teacher should have some time set aside for reflection.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leslie's comment in regards to the importance being able to recognize, process and proceed forward when one is experiencing stress or emotional unrest at a time when it can’t be expressed. I think that all people have the ability to manage life stressors in their own way, whether it is destructive or productive. While at times it is difficult to manage negative feelings in a positive way, I believe it is well worth the effort. I think that as a society in general we are always expected to be cheerful and peppy, but we as human are not always joyful and positive. This contradiction provides a great learning/growth opportunity for individuals living in the social world.
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