Wellness – Page 3

May 28, 2015May 29, 2015 Beverly Papove General

Adaptation and going with the flow

Teaching is a profession that typically attracts people who are caring, nurturing, creative, and curious. Skilled at thinking on their feet, teachers are also an adaptable bunch. And good thing, too, because the changes that pop up in a teacher’s life are numerous and often unpredictable.

Here are a few examples of abrupt and significant situations you may have encountered where your adaptation skills have come into play; you think you know what you will be teaching in September, and then – a new grade level, a new classroom, perhaps even a new assignment are all handed to you; or you get your assignment and begin the school year with 24 students then, three weeks later, due to an enrolment increase or decrease, half of your students are switched up for a different set; or you prepare an outdoor fieldtrip and you have to cancel at the last minute because of inclement weather; or, your plans for a lesson get sidelined because someone in your class throws up, or trips walking around some desks and gets a nose bleed, or refuses to cooperate; or you find that no one is listening to you, or there is a lockdown practice or fire drill, or you forgot to make enough photo copies….

All of these examples come with varying degrees of stress. Regardless of how well-developed one’s adaptation skills may be, the topsy-turvy nature of our day-to-day job makes it exciting and, at the same time, sometimes very difficult. What is critical during any upheaval is to maintain professionalism as this can give you time to calmly reflect on the situation and help you decide how to proceed, thereby avoiding a hasty reaction with potential to say or do something inappropriate. In the heat of the moment, it may sound like an oversimplification, but remember to breathe. Of course, teaching is not the only profession where one has to react to change minute to minute, but it is definitely a valuable skill for teachers. Should you be looking to change schools or assignments, emphasizing traits such as adaptability and being able to work under pressure would be good points to include on a resume. Similarly, before a job interview, it may help to be prepared with an example that highlights your ability to think on your feet, switch gears and carry on.

As we head into June, a time in the school year with plenty of upheaval, it may seem difficult to summon up the energy to keep things in perspective. You’ve been adapting and thinking on your feet all year. But hold on to those amazing adaptation skills to help see you through to the end. There is always something new around the corner and it’s a good idea to be ready for whatever comes your way.

May 6, 2015May 11, 2015 Mike Beetham Celebrating Success, Making a Difference Through Education, Mentorship, Wellness

You Never Know

This blog is based on a real life scenario that I was fortunate enough to be a part of both on a personal and professional basis. It truly reminded me just how important our teacher/student relationships are as you never know when your kind word, out of the ordinary effort or simply just being there will make a difference.

On a late Saturday afternoon there was a knock on our home door and to our surprise, there was our very distraught neighbour who just needed someone to talk to. Over the course of the next hour this young mother poured her heart out to both my wife and I. During that time she asked us to read a series of letters that obviously were very important to her.

As we scanned the pages it became clear to us that these letters were from a past teacher who took the time to write to this young women while she was in her classroom. The key message that surfaced on each and every page was that this young woman was an amazing person who had the potential to be herself and that alone would make her great. It was clear that she had experienced trauma in her adolescence and did not receive the necessary support that she should have had. Through teary eyes, this distraught woman just kept telling us how important this teacher had been in helping her get through some very dark times in her life. In fact, she owed her life to her.

Although these letters were almost 20 years old, we could tell by the wrinkled paper and tear stain marks, that she had went to these words of support many, many times over the past two decades. Once again, she was going to this teacher for support in these times of hardship.

As a teacher, we are merely a step or two on a child’s life journey. Yet that time we spend with each child is one of the most influential events they will ever experience. It is our responsibility to ensure that memory is as positive as can be.

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015 Lisa.Taylor Challenging Topics, Professional Learning and Growth, Wellness

How do you push forward when you feel like you are failing?

So often as educators, we feel like we are just failing. It is a common feeling, especially among new teachers. The term “teacher burnout” is often used to describe the exhaustion, both physically and mentally, that comes from teaching. Teacher burnout is especially common in the first few years of teaching. Teaching in Ontario is tough. Everyday you are tasked with planning and accounting for children’s lives from 8:30am to 4pm, give or take. That in and of itself is an exhausting thought. Add to it the curriculum you need to cover, the parents who want to meet to discuss their child, the IEPs that need to be updated, the IST you have to attend, the administrator that is scheduling your Teacher Performance Appraisal, the ministry and the school board coming down on teachers and public sector workers in general, and the overwhelming feeling that the public hates you! It is enough to make you consider another career. So why do we do it? We do it because we love it – plain and simple.

So when things get tough, it is so important to take care of yourself. When you are struggling with content, seek help from others – we aren’t in this to reinvent the wheel! Reach out and find a “pro” that can help you out. Often school boards even have teachers released from their teaching duties to come and work with you 1:1. Take advantage of this!!

You can also turn to the internet (which is possibly what lead you here!). There are countless blogs, Pinterest Boards, and Twitter PLCs, just to name a few places to start. Building your confidence as a teacher can be as simple as finding a simple lesson idea that supports your current learning goals and trying it out. Even if you crash and burn in the middle of the lesson – you can use it as a personal learning experience and reflect on it! Everything we do as educators contributes to our own professional learning. That includes every failed lesson, and every activity planned and abandoned half way through because they just weren’t getting it – these are all ways in which we as teachers evolve and get to know our students.

Each time a lesson flops, don’t be so hard on yourself. If every lesson we did went swimmingly, it might indicate that we aren’t pushing our students hard enough. If every inquiry you did went exactly as planned, perhaps you are guiding your students too much. It is the inquiries that fly off the rails and go in the exact opposite direction you had hoped that really challenge your students and yourself. It is the lessons that you abandon half way through and change course to meet their needs that make you an amazing teacher. Embrace these moments – they will never not be there! Learn to enjoy the ride and if things don’t work out, there is always tomorrow.

I have had my own fair share of days where I felt like it just wasn’t working. I have had weeks and even entire years where I have felt like maybe teaching isn’t for me. But it is when you have that one class, that one student, that one golden moment when everything you have been working for comes together and you see a child show compassion, or empathy, and you know why you got into this business of educating children: the payback the students give you is more than any paycheck you will ever receive, it is more than any World’s Best Teacher mug you will ever get (I may have a shelf in my kitchen cupboard full of these!) – that feeling you get when you know you have made a difference makes it all worth it. Knowing that if you hadn’t been there, if you hadn’t known that child, that might not have happened. You are making a difference everyday and that is what keeps us coming back no matter how tough the job gets!

It is important to note however, that through the course of teaching, the wear and tear of your emotions can be quite difficult and devastating at times. Keep a close watch on your mental health as this is often something teachers struggle with (and rightfully so). When a child is struggling, you struggle along with them. When we walk out the door at the end of the day, no matter how hard we try, it is impossible to leave all of them there. You will find yourself worrying about if a child has enough to eat at supper time while you prepare dinner for your family, or you will wonder if your students are going home to a safe environment. It all adds up. Access your Employee Assistance Program if you can. You will often have access to a counselor that can help you with maintaining proper mental health. Do this early and set yourself up with healthy routines. We don’t plan to teach for a few years and then burnout, but if we aren’t careful, it could happen!

February 16, 2015February 17, 2015 Alison.Board Building Inclusion, Learning About Your Students, Making a Difference Through Education, Wellness

Wellness in the Classroom

Wellness is an important focus for our grade 6/7 classroom and is also a hot topic school and board wide. It encompasses so much of what we do and who we are that it can be difficult to create a specific lesson for “wellness.” In The Heart and Art of Teaching and Learning book, it states, “Getting to know your students is a big part of your success as a teacher” (p 34). This is an important message, as it encourages teachers to be responsive to the specific needs and interests of their current students and not apply generic strategies or lessons.

I recently read a suggestion that a leader should learn and know at least 10 things about a person. This would be a good tool for teachers to use if getting to know the individual needs and interests of their students is challenging for them. A simple notebook with a list under each student name can be filled in as a teacher gets to know new students. I know that for some students I would easily have a list of 20 facts, while there are a few that I would struggle to get 10 for! The Class Database activity (p 39) could be easily modified with questions that involve students’ needs and interests around wellness, to gather some initial data on your students. I have also used a Multiple Intelligence quiz to determine preferences for students and used them (music, nature) throughout the year to guide my plans and make my lessons or activities more inclusive, especially when some students are feeling less confident with content or skill development.

Leading up to Bell Let’s Talk day, we viewed the commercials on YouTube and worked in groups to discuss the effective use of language and its influence on attitude and acceptance. During a language activity with the book, The Man With the Violin, students recognized the sadness of the child and made similar connections from their own experiences of being rushed through their day. We went for a class walk to a nearby park with no activity planned, but to enjoy whatever we noticed. Students were excited to Tweet about their own understanding of wellness using the Bell Let’s Talk #, making suggestions that were accessible and real for them such as “write in a journal” or “talk to an adult”. They are currently making lists of what inspires them and what brightens their day. These activities and discussions continue to be integrated through subjects like language, health, art, music, and science.

February 4, 2015February 12, 2015 Mike Beetham Before School Starts, Challenging Topics, Wellness

Term 2 For You

Report cards are in the final stages, IEP’s being developed, interviews upcoming and we still continue on with our long term academic plans. Term 2 is now underway and it seems that our daily workload has doubled as we try to fit all of the above items in. This is a critical time to also put into place a plan for your personal wellness. How will you balance all of the professional demands you are faced with and still make time for yourself?

This is a time of year where stress levels rise and as teachers we tend to put our professional obligations above all else, even if that is detrimental to our health. We will tell ourselves that the March Break is not that far away or I can rest up in summer or, or, or etc… It is essential that as we move into the very demanding time of year that we also plan for our own social and emotional wellness. For each individual that will look very different. For myself I have developed a practice of when something is added to my daily workload (like report card writing) I take away one item to make time for that. So this year I have delayed doing our annual class play until after the break where it will be a much better fit for me both professionally and personally. In addition I have booked every Sunday morning to go out either cross country skiing or snowshoeing with a close friend. By having other people part of my commitment I am now more obligated to follow-up on it as it is more than myself I am letting down. Personal wellness and lifestyle balance should be a part of every teacher’s yearly planning.

January 29, 2015January 29, 2015 Lisa.Taylor Building Inclusion, Challenging Topics, Making a Difference Through Education, Wellness

Student Mental Health

With #BellLetsTalk day coming to a close, I thought I would talk a bit about how to address mental health in the classroom and why it is so important. No matter what the grade, it is essential that you model healthy behaviour, and teach strategies to deal with stress and talk to your students about mental health. There are obviously different levels of this and you would gauge that based on the group you have, but no matter what, it should not be ignored.

Last year I was having some personal mental health struggles. My physical health was fragile and I had been given some potentially very bad news about the possible outcomes for my physical health. This, combined with other issues that were weighing down on me, caused my mental health to really buckle under the pressure. I remember one day going into my class of Grade 2s and sitting on the carpet to do Tribes Tribbles. This is an activity where you pass around a card with 5 furry creatures on it and each student completes the sentence, “I’m feeling ______ today.” The blank is a colour and that colour corresponds to one of the characters. Each of the characters has a facial expression and body language to express an obvious emotion (sad, angry, happy, excited, just okay, etc.). The student also had the option to explain why he/she was feeling that way.

This particular day, I started us off. I had been feeling quite down that morning and my emotions were at the surface. Students have the “Right to Pass” if they do not want to share, but I was modeling healthy behaviour by sharing my feelings with a group I trusted. I told my class that I was feeling “blue” today. I decided to tell them why. I explained to them that our hearts are like cups and everything that happens in a day that is upsetting or “bad” is like putting a bit of water into that cup. It makes the cup heavier, and it starts to fill it up. I told them that I had been having a difficult time lately and that my cup was very full. One of my students asked what happened when the up got too full. I explained that everyone handles it differently, but that we often get very upset, and even cry. I then told them that there are ways to empty the cup before it overflows. We brainstormed some ways to empty the cup out – playing with friends, snuggling up with your parent(s), talking to someone about what is bothering you, helping someone else who seems to have a full cup, etc. We also talked about the fact that some of us have big cups, and some of us have smaller cups. Something that will roll of one person’s back, might cause another a great deal of emotional stress and pain. It all has to do with the size of their cup. This made the whole concept of feelings and handling bad feelings more concrete for them.

The most significant part of the whole activity for me though, was that my students could see that I was feeling blue. I was having a tough time. I had been for quite a while. As we went around the circle so that everyone else could have a turn with the Tribbles, my class did something I will never forget: they overflowed my cup and emptied it all at once! They shared their feelings with me in a way that filled my heart with such joy, as I knew they understood the importance of sharing, talking, and supporting each other. They said things like, “I feel blue because my friend is feeling sad today and I don’t know how to help him.” By the end of the circle that day, I was sobbing. My cup was almost full when we started so I knew it wasn’t going to take much. We did Tribbles almost everyday last year and I loved it. It doesn’t always start off in a deep, emotional place, but when it gets there, it is pretty incredible.

I feel like Tribbles or something like it lays a solid foundation for conversations about mental health and feelings in general. This is an activity that can be done from Pre-School up. It is non-threatening and a very positive way to share highs and lows in a non-threatening way.

Watching social media on a day like #BellLetsTalk makes it so clear that there is still a lot of work to be done to educate around mental health. I have included some infographics that were shared today that I found particularly interesting/shocking. Let’s get the conversation started when they are young and the stigma isn’t there!

October 15, 2014October 15, 2014 Beverly Papove General, Wellness

Extra-Curricular Involvement – All in Good Time

Your school is a community and a good way to enrich your year as a teacher is to participate in this community. Some good reasons for getting involved include, opportunities to share your expertise or vision for the school, getting to interact and connect with students and parents in a supportive but more informal way, and being part of the spirit of the school. This year, someone may ask you to get involved by organizing extra-curricular sports and clubs for students, or by taking on administrative roles such as a Parent Council, Union, or Safe and Caring Schools Representative. Here are some things you may want to consider before you make a decision.

Anything you do outside the classroom means you have to be able to take time to do whatever you decide to take on. Make sure that you do not overdo it! I have seen new teachers sign up for as many extra-curricular activities as possible because they think they should, only to have to bow out of many due to a lack of time. Being too stretched time wise can also affect your enthusiasm for the activity and you may begin to look forward to it less and less. Remembering to balance time for your job and your life outside of work is of the utmost importance. Do not feel bad if you have to decline a request to start a club or help coach a team. It is best to become involved only when you have the time and energy! You may lose lunch hours, have to come in extra early some mornings, or stay later after school to make it happen. Some years may be better than others. Do it when you are ready.

And not everyone is able to give more of their time. There may be childcare or family obligations, lack of proximity to the school, or health concerns which may present challenges for someone wishing to coach Girls’ Soccer, for example. Also, taking Additional Qualifications or going back to school to complete a Masters’ degree may not be the best time for you to engage directly in extra-curricular activities at your school. Your studies will ultimately benefit your school community and so while you are studying, your job as a classroom teacher and your life as a student are already big responsibilities and commitments.

If you are looking for ways to become involved, breaking the school community into 3 parts may help organize how you want to participate and budget your time. Firstly, consider your academic obligations towards your own students. Secondly, you may be interested in working with colleagues and parents in the administration of the school. And thirdly, you may be ready to offer your time to run a club or sport involving students in the whole school.

Using this guide, I have always been able to manage time to run a math club or homework help all year long for my students. And in the last 10 years, I find I have become more interested in taking on administrative roles and enjoy being part of the Safe and Caring Schools initiative – going to workshops and promoting social justice resources and issues at school. And lastly, if I can, I take on a sports or arts club once a week before or after school for part of the year. For example, coaching Track and Field in May and June, or organizing International Dance Day for one day in April. I used to have much more energy and was very happy to run a couple of clubs and teams at the same time. Now, I realize I am able to be useful in more administrative areas of the school community and so I happily leave the running of the teams and clubs I used to enjoy to the younger (more energetic) teachers.

September 29, 2014September 30, 2014 Beverly Papove General, Wellness

Getting Sick in September

Three weeks into the school year, and it happens. One day, my throat gets a little sore and then the next day, my voice is completely gone. Laryngitis. Professional hazard. Communication chakra shut down. And what is a teacher to do without a voice?

This cold was a humdinger – in my entire teaching career, I have rarely taken 2 days off in succession because it is usually too much trouble to plan ahead. But with this cold, there was absolutely no way I could teach. Even with 2 days off to rest, I struggled for the rest of the week when I did go back and if it weren’t for the help of fellow teachers, some good preplanning, and the cooperation of my students, I never would have managed.

You may have already received some good council about the importance of seeking a life/work balance. Teachers are so susceptible to germs in our day-to-day jobs because of the age group and the volume of people we come in contact with. So if we can’t avoid coming in to contact with children, how on earth can we find balance so we can protect our health? It is not easy, but it is possible.

Here are some suggestions;

– Try to keep in good health and avoid getting run down. I know it is sometimes hard, but you will be so much happier and effective in the classroom if you are feeling good. To that end, I reckon that the most important factor to maintaining good health as a teacher is getting enough sleep. Second to that is my personal favourite; getting outside for as much time as possible each day – before, during, and after work. Germs spread easily indoors – avoid coming into contact with them if you can. Oh, and drink lots of water (not coffee) to give you energy!

– If you do get sick – and as new teachers and teachers transferring to a new school, it is inevitable as our systems get used to new environments and the stresses of a new assignment –take the time to recuperate. You will not be in top shape to teach and you may be contagious, as well. However, it can be a challenge to make adequately detailed plans for your guest teacher while you are away, so it is a good idea to have some routines set up with your students, lesson plan templates to easily fill in or emergency day plans already drawn up, a sheet with background information on special needs of your students, and the names of a few student helpers who could be called upon to show the guest teacher where the math textbooks are, or explain a class routine. Do this when you are feeling healthy! It will offer you some care-free time to get better.

– When you return to the classroom, be honest about how you are feeling with your students. Your honesty will be appreciated when you say that you are recuperating and may need some helpers throughout the day. As it was a challenge for me to speak and be heard, I relied on the help of students with strong, clear voices to broadcast any messages I had for the class, such as, “Please get your shoes on for gym and quietly line up at the door.” There are always plenty of volunteers for this job!

– Lastly, benefit from the help and support of coworkers. This cannot be overemphasized, as simple acts of kindness from, taking the time to do some photocopying for you, watching your students while on his or her preparation time to give you a few extra minutes to yourself, inviting your class to participate in a group activity, or sharing a lesson, complete with the necessary resources, that could be easily taught without too much preparation on your part. The best way to make sure that someone will be there for you is to pay it forward and be there for someone when they may need a little support. Good to remember when you are feeling better.

Here’s hoping you have a healthy start to the year. If you have any other tips regarding staying in good form throughout the school year, please feel free to share them!

September 22, 2014 Alison.Board Classroom Layouts, First Week Reflections, Learning About Your Students, Planning

Adjustments in September

With all the plans we make for those first days and weeks in September, it is worth being open to making adjustments, for your benefit and the benefit of the students. Here are some examples of how I have adjusted the environment and the program in the first few weeks:

I have changed the layout twice. We were pleased to get 6 rectangular tables and 1 round table in the second week, but have rearranged them twice to suit the needs of the students. This means that there are two sets of tables put together seating groups of up to 12 students who like to work together, and one table seats only 4 students who require more personal space. I planned for an even distribution of students per table, but am responsive to their different requests regarding space and collaboration.
The area carpet was originally placed in one corner of the room for community discussions and knowledge building sessions. The students enjoyed these talks, but found it hard to get close when we are limited with only two accessible sides to the carpet for rows of chairs behind those who are seated on the carpet. So, I moved the carpet to the centre of the room and it connects to the small carpet area of our class library. Now there is less movement of chairs as students turn to the centre of the room for discussions and use the extended space of the class library to sit.
We took a Multiple Intelligence survey to get to know our own learning strengths and the strengths of all the students in the class. We continue to consider these and reflect on them by referring to graph compiled in the class to remind us.
I finally typed out my schedule last Thursday. It took me that long to juggle our literacy block and periods for Science and Social Studies with withdrawal for ESL and special education support. I have added 15 minutes of literacy to the end of our day when we review our agendas with a poetry cafe allowing dedicated time for the reading, sharing, and writing of poetry.
We introduced “Minutes for Mindfulness” each afternoon. After lunch and a transition for French class, some of the students had difficulty settling for a full-class discussion regarding our inquiry topic. I asked if they wanted to try some mindfulness techniques, and a new student shared a website/app called www.calm.com that his teacher used last year. This adjustment not only helps the students, but I benefit from the 2 minute relaxation exercises as well!

I am sure our class will continue to grow and change. Allowing for adjustments to your best made plans is necessary to be responsive in your teaching practice – and everyone will benefit.

September 12, 2014September 15, 2014 Mike Beetham Before School Starts, Challenging Topics, Wellness

It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Planning, assessing, progress reports, meetings, parent interviews,supervision duty, long range plans and on and on and on. Within less than four weeks the calm, balanced life that summer provided us with seems nowhere to be found. The demands of the daily responsibilities of being a teacher seem to be like a snowball going downhill as it just seems to be gaining speed and size with no end in mind.

It is critical that you care for yourself and create that balance between your work and personal life into your routine as early as possible. As is the case with most teachers, we sacrifice our personal wellness for the demands of our role. We eat on the run (if not skip it altogether), come in earlier, stay later, cancel out scheduled fitness time and give up personal needs for the good of our classroom. In the long run, this is not going to benefit anyone and will lead to increased stress in your work and personal life.

You need to set guidelines that you feel will allow you to fulfill your professional responsibilities and maintain a healthy lifestyle away from work. I use the following guides in helping me keep that balance:

– I find early mornings are my most productive time so I go to school early but leave 15 minutes after the end of the school day. On staff meetings days, I go in later.

– I look ahead at my entire week and plan my workouts around the demands of the week.

– I stay later on Friday afternoon so that I have time to reflect on my week and establish my plan for the upcoming week. That allows me to ensure my weekends are for family and I.

– Sunday night is my time to ensure my weekly plan is in place for the upcoming days.

Of course my best laid plans don’t always work out (reporting time, parent interviews etc…) and I have to adjust to ensure that I have completed my professional responsibilities. The key is that you have to work at keeping balance in your life and just as you would expect your students to give their best effort and balance school life and home life, so must you. A healthy teacher is more likely to have a healthy classroom.