As a teacher of 10 years I have come to realize that my anxiety really is passion and not some medical mistake I need to get checked by a psychiatrist.
Based on ....it's that time of year....let me set the stage, distress, uneasiness, insecurity of your pedagogy all begin to surface. Okay there are those who are ladder climbers and really thrive to be the all out achiever...so school like isn't it. I think we use to call them Teacher's Pet's! But in general all teachers and administration feel this crazy mindset. It's that new on the job feel. Only for teachers it's after a 7-9 week break every year.
Yet it is ironically a time to enter into the halls and classrooms where in fact your mind is what is in session. We are educators developing minds, even our own. We can't forget about us, the teacher who must begin getting up early dressing for success and never show you're tired or frustrated.
Yes, it's a time to learn not only the abc's and 123's but we are forming our mindset. Mindset is the new buzz word that really has great merit. I googled "forming a mindset" and found Kate Powers among many others who teach or advocate to aide our mindset. Kate creates change for organizations and develops good leadership skills. which is what I see is most difficult for me and my colleagues. We all have egos to set aside and just focus on what is the topline main objective. That could mean so many different things to my team so therefore my mindset is on my trade. Teachers teach little kids how to function in an academic world and share this pedagogy with their colleagues and parents. The mindset is to raise above the egos and do what is intended for all.
Teachers, I want to impress upon all newbies and veterans, anxiety is and will always be there. It does not mean you are disrespecting authority. It means you are passionate and just need some calming skills! I know I do!! I eventually get there, so be patient,... another mindset.
Take your first week of prepping for the students to arrive. You got staff meeting after staff meeting after staff meeting. All you want to do is decorate your classroom and sit down with your team to go over your lesson plans. During this time of staff meetings you're meeting new teachers whether newbies to the profession or veterans and you want to remember their names, what they are teaching, you want to impress, I get that.
Then it's training time! Oh boy, you can hear the sneers in the back of the room...."I've had this already, why do I need to stay here,.. why can't I just get to my classroom." But this is the collaboration time, this is the time to start feeling less anxiety because you do have the passion. Really, I know you don't feel it but think...mindset! I know that's easier said than done. In these trainings there is so much to take in, you have to create a login, follow the presenter as he or she dictates where you are to navigate in this unfamiliar website, where you have no time to remember how you even logged on!
Don't you just love summer break right now, because in these staff trainings what do we do less of in the summer and more of in a training session....sit, sit and sit some more. After being on a 7-9 week summer break where there was no limits to your movements, you now have to sit! I'm feeling the love here because I now know how my kiddos are going to feel the first days of class, especially those boys who just can't sit still. My mindset is changing on that one for sure.
Then it returns as you envision your classroom a mess, a wreck, boxes unopened, where is my favorite reproducible books, oh my! Worst of all, your colleague is all done. She or he has been planning all summer long how to decorate their classroom. That's ok. The great thing is the students could care less about how you decorated your classroom over the next teacher's room. So relax, what is thee most important piece to your student's learning; the first week that's it. Go no further....one week at a time.
Yes, teaching is a roller coaster of a career....but we are passionate people and we love the thrill of the unknown, of the change and results we create with our anxiety, passion and mindset to succeed.
The anxiety stays for about a month or two depending on your administration and how demanding and unorganized they are but in general you got this teach! You have that passion, but don't stay at work past an hour over your allotted time. That is just asking for more anxiety and it ruins your home life. Put the laminating aside, remember your objective and that passion will take you there. Then stop, get out, go home and enjoy the evening because there are lots and lots of papers to grade next week!
