We have entered into more new territory this year as educators. In the 2019-2020 school year, we moved to emergency virtual learning. In the 2020-2021 school year, we navigated teaching in a pandemic.
For the 2021-2022 school year, I like to call this new territory ‘still’ teaching in a pandemic.
S t i l l. Teaching in a pandemic.
Our students feel this, their families feel this, and we feel this.
Educators work hard every single day to create safe spaces for learning while supporting students mental health and well-being.
Students are exhausted. We are exhausted. We continue to listen and learn from students in order to be responsive, proactive and available to meet their needs.
If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly giving your students reminders.
Reminders to be brave, to take risks, to be kind.
Reminders to be themselves, to take breaks, to breathe.
Reminders that it is okay not to be okay, to feel sad, to cry.
Are you giving these same reminders to yourself?
I decided to create a short, easy-to-remember list of reminders for myself. Here are my personal ‘words to live by’ for this school year:
- I am enough. I often compare myself to others and feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. For me, this can feel like I am not doing enough to support my students, their families or involve myself in my school community. I will remind myself that I’m doing all that I can, with all that I have, and all that I know – I am on my own journey.
- I deserve self-care. It is easy to spend each evening and weekend – working. I will remind myself it is okay to take breaks and enjoy the things I love (and that enjoying my weekend doesn’t mean I love my students any less).
- I am human. I will make mistakes – and I will learn from them. I will allow myself to feel and give myself time to process strong emotions.
You are enough, you deserve self-care and you are human.
What will you remind yourself of this year?