To The Tired Teacher, We See You And Know You Are Not Alone

Hopefully you are enjoying the carefree days of summertime with your family and dear friends. Hopefully you are making up for the lost time this last year has brought upon ALL of us. Hopefully you are being present and making memories to last a lifetime. Hopefully you are doing all of these things, but we’re teachers and we all know the thought of school isn’t far from our minds. Even during these summer months we can often feel like a tired teacher.

Well, tired teacher, we’re here to tell you that we see you and you are not alone. This time of year many people are quite envious of teachers because we have summers “off”!?! Do we though? Yes our schedules are often more flexible, but when you take into consideration all of the teachers working a summer job to supplement income then this is probably not a fair assumption. 

We see you tired teacher. It’s okay to feel the feelings and have thoughts of “Is this how it’s always going to be?” The truth is, no things will change. You might take on a new grade level, position or even switch schools. Take time to do what feels right for you and your career. It’s not always an easy decision, but definitely a conversation you need to have with yourself and your family.

We see you tired teacher. You’ve been to Target and The Dollar Tree already buying things for this coming school year with money out of your own pocket. This is one of the only professions where you so often pay for your own supplies. It’s not easy on our budgets, but our students deserve the best. Just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day and either should your classroom. Your relationship with your students is what counts, not necessarily all of the stuff.

We see you tired teacher. We know your admin is already emailing about protocols and procedures for the school year. It’s okay to check those emails, but remember summer isn’t over yet for us teachers. You shouldn’t feel guilty at all if you haven’t touched a thing for school yet. This is your time so E-N-J-O-Y it! You also shouldn’t feel guilty if you have done things for school as long as it made you feel good. Do what works for you.

We see you tired teacher. You might be fretting about standards and expectations that are being handed to you this year. Your principal wants to see more STEM/STEAM instruction in your classroom, but you’re just not sure where to begin. It’s okay! We’ve got you. Actually, Bonnie Kirkley from @iheartsteam can get you started with STEM/STEAM basics and FREEBIES. You won’t be disappointed!

We see you tired teacher. Your brain is already wondering what’s the best way to keep students engaged and on task. Honestly, Hillary Midgley from @teachlikemidgley has so many examples of student engagement that will help to put your mind at ease. Hillary breaks it down in a manner that won’t overwhelm you, so take a breath and know you’re not alone.

We see you tired teacher. You are thinking about all of the time and energy you’ll need just to search Instagram for the latest trends this year. It may help in knowing that there are memberships you can join that will do this for you so you have that extra time and energy in your day. Kayla Durkin from @northdakotateaching is a phenomenal resource for first year teachers. She will get you started off with all you need to know during your first year. We here at Lesson Plan Toolbox have made it our mission to help 1st-3rd grade teachers to save time and energy. Whether you are a new teacher or have been teaching for 15+ years, we will do the legwork for you throughout the year so you have time to be you. As much as we love our jobs, our jobs don’t have to control our lives.

We see you tired teacher. You are looking at the calendar wondering how summer is going so fast. There’s still so much you want to do, but you’ve been doing so much for others that the days are passing by quickly. Believe it or not, taking that time to rest and self care is just as important as taking care of others. It’s not too late! Each day try to take at least 10 minutes for yourself to reflect on how things are going. If it’s going well, then keep it up. If it’s not, then figure out what needs to change.

We see you tired teacher. Even though you’re on summer break these thoughts and probably so many more are running through your mind. Know that you are not alone. The whole reason we started Lesson Plan Toolbox was to help teachers reduce stress and alleviate burnout. We will help you however we can. You are an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G teacher and the world needs you. You are more than welcome to reach out to us on Instagram or email ([email protected]) and we are happy to serve you.

Let this be the school year where you take control of your time and energy. You deserve it! Your family deserves it! Heck, even your pets deserve it! Let this be the year where you’ll rest when you’re tired without feeling guilty. Let this be the year where you take your personal days because you simply need a mental health day. Let this be the year where you say, “No.” and not worry about explaining why not. Let this be the year where you value your time and do your best to bring positive energy EVERY day. You can do this! You will do this! You have the power inside you. We see you.

 Don’t forget to grab your FREE 7 Habits To Prevent Teacher Burnout

Teach~Relax~Repeat

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