Teacher burnout is real and it is a problem in our country. There is huge turn over in education from early childhood and elementary to special education. We need skilled teachers to stay in schools, our kids and country need them; need us. But burnout is real, teaching can make you tired.Challenging classes can weigh on you.
I think about my students (my kids) ALL the time! I think about their lives, their families, their futures. I wrack my brain trying to figure out what skills and strategies I can teach them that will matter, that will help them be the best they can be. I think about their passions, how can I help them figure out skills that will help them work in an area they are passionate about?
When I am not thinking about my students, I am doing paperwork. It seems the paperwork is never ending. Like I said in a previous post, I am not a Type-A, everything needs to be perfectly organized kind of person. However, I wish I was some days. Any Type-As want to come organize my life? Or at least my desk?
The class I have this year is by far the most challenging I have ever had. Academics are easy to differentiate, I feel like this is where I am the most confident. It's the behaviors I am struggling with. When you are in a setting where students are not with their non-disabled peers, they don't get to see what is typical as frequently. They see a lot of atypical behavior. I have a class that struggles to stand in line, they talk constantly and more than half of my students have had a physical outburst this year. It's exhausting for myself, for my aids and for the other students.
We just had CPI training this week. When I was sitting in the training, all I kept thinking was "These are my kids, this is exactly what they do." People go through different levels when they are escalating, a bell curve if the escalation happens slowly or a steep cliff if it happens quickly. They enter a state where they lose rationality. Seeing one of my students go through this is one of the most emotionally draining experiences I have ever had. I feel for my students and their families. It is exhausting. I appreciate the support families give and I appreciate when they say sorry, even though the outburst isn't their fault. When they are supportive, when they say sorry, it shows me that they understand and they appreciate that I am not giving up on their child.
If you have a child who has outbursts, make sure you support their teacher and thank them for what they do. They need to hear it. They appreciate when they do and it will help get them through those rough times. It might help keep some really great teachers from getting burnt out and leaving the profession they love.
The only things keeping me from burnout status are: trainings, long weekends, knowing break is coming, wine, and forcing myself to use my nights and weekends for me. I've also decided I need to start doing yoga regularly again (I haven't been invested in my practice since college). I hope this will help me feel more balanced and less exhausted.
Lately, there has been increasing amounts of research for the first year of teaching. There are phases that are being referenced.
