Episode #101: Dear Frustrated Teachers

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In this episode, Tanya and Carrie discuss some thoughts and strategies to consider when you are feeling frustrated or burnt out in your teaching job.

Thoughts to consider when you are feeling burnt out:
  • Know yourself as a person: Know what makes you happy and brings you joy and bring those things into your life. Also know what your stress triggers are, physically and mentally.
  • Know yourself as a teacher: Know what brings you join the workplace and how to have fun making music with your students.
  • Complete the stress cycle: What can you do physically or mentally to help you get the stress out of your body?
  • Be a goldfish: Let things go, especially things that are out of the sphere of your control. Also, look for ways to balance the negative moments with equally important positive ones.
"You know what the happiest animal in the world is? It's a goldfish. It's got a 10 second memory. Be a goldfish!" (from Ted Lasso)

Resources we mention:

Cult of Pedagogy podcast, Episode #179: Teachers are Barely Hanging On, Here's What They Need

Ten Percent Happier podcast, Episode #392: How to Fight Languishing (at Work and Everywhere Else) with Adam Grant

Know Yourself Better Journal from Gretchen Rubin and the Happiness Project

Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar

Oh, a Hunting We Will Go by John Langstaff and Nancy Winslow Parker

Shady Grove - Jill Trinka

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Know Better, Do Better:

When showing YouTube videos to students in the classroom, consider turning on the Closed Captions to assist students who may have a hearing loss. Also, the Closed Captions often have many language options, so if you have a large population of students who are English Language Learners, consider using Closed Captions in their native language, especially for older students who are fluent readers in their native language.

Work Smarter, Not Harder:

When creating multiple sets of materials for various grade levels, concepts, or skills, it's helpful to make a master that you can copy and tweak depending on the content.

Coda:

Carrie recommends the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast by PEBC
Tanya recommends the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

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