TEACHER BACK TO SCHOOL BLUES

The small amount of time that teachers get during the summer is now ending. What happened to our summer? It seems like we just got started on a new series on Netflix when we see the very first “Back to School” commercial. WOW – not already! Well the sales have officially began and the race is on to get prepared for the new school year. This can be a moment that triggers high anxiety and maybe even depression.

It can bring on a lot of anxiety, some of those due to the following:

· Having a large number of names and faces to remember.

· Having to create new lesson plans due to fact that you were moved to a different grade level or content area at the last moment.

· Preparing for the many late evenings of planning and grading papers.

· Preparing to adjust your family to the new year schedule.

Or we can choose to channel our focus in a different direction. A direction that helps to ease out the stress that we are feeling. We all want the mindset to have more of a fulfilling and purposeful way to live. So when it comes to “Back to School” stuff, we can channel the anxiety into excitement by changing our focus on the following:

· Realize that everyone, even veteran teachers ,feel anxiety about the beginning of the school year.

· Keep in mind: no one is excited about the loss of their free time and family time.

· No one says, “YEAH I’m barely going to see my family and my pets and my “ME” time will no longer exist.

· No one says, “I am ready for that 5:00 a.m. alarm to wake me out of my “Beach day” dream!

· Everyone is trying to adjust their bodies to only being able to go the bathroom at 10:15 and maybe 12 noon, at least hopefully.

If is fine to mourn your loss of time and fun projects and totally understandable to be anxious about the demands that a new year brings to your life.

The AWESOME things that this new school year will bring to your life.

· You have a clean slate to create whatever you want your classroom to be. Few people have jobs that allow them a fresh start every year.

· Be creative – Envision your new room and brainstorm ways you can bring your vision to life.

· Create new systems, new procedure, new routines for anything you want.

· Learn and experience tec

hnology – you and your students can be learning together. This will excite your students and keep them engaged.

· It is an opportunity to get to know new kids, parents and colleagues.

· Find coworkers that inspire and encourage you. Hang out with the ones that make you laugh and are willing to share so that both of you can learn,

· Prepare to have students steal your heart. They are going to make you laugh and totally surprise you with some of the things they will say and do.

· Image the satisfaction you are going to feel as you watch them learn, grow, seek out their talents

and amaze you with their ability.

· There will be parents that might challenge you but will also express gratitude for the ways that you have helped their student to become successful.

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Most importantly, always keep in mind how you are appreciated for your dedication, and your big heart for children.You are making a difference in this world and are a great inspiration to many.