Teacher Table Talk: Finding Balance

Like many careers, the teaching profession has its pros and cons. There’s rewarding and purposeful work, the opportunity to inspire and change the lives of students, and you’re always learning something new. I have yet to meet an educator who has “mastered” the field. Many of the ones I’ve met have let me know how much they’re continually learning something new about the work they do. Then there are the challenges. Things like adjusting to in-person and virtual learning while trying to navigate living and learning during a global pandemic, overcoming communication barriers with parents, ensuring students are socially, emotionally, and academically set, and making sure that as an educator, I’m prioritizing my well-being while juggling a career that involves a lot of planning, structure, and time management.

As a first-year educator, I’m still finding my rhythm and learning the importance of having balance. I’m fully aware of what’s expected of me on a professional level, and I’m genuinely excited and passionate about the work I get to do. However, I know how important it is to make sure I’m properly managing my time and boundaries between work and my personal life. One morning during a staff meeting one of my administrators told everyone, “I want you all to get into the habit of shutting work off at the end of the day.” And though I heard her, I also understood that there would be times and seasons when I needed to be flexible. There have already been different evenings and weekends when I’ve brought work home with me and mornings when I’ve shown up to work early to make sure I have things set for my day and week to flow more efficiently. It can be so tempting to respond to work emails after hours, or incoming text and phone calls from other staff members, attending non-mandatory after work meetings and events, and to become so immersed in lesson planning and more, that you can easily lose track of time and feel like you never actually left work for the day, which can be stressful. I know leaving work at work will look different for everyone, but I believe it’s an important thing to do. During my first few months of teaching, I noticed some teachers who were quickly heading out and heading home at the end of the workday, others who stayed after hours, and some who felt that they should stay late for appearances sake, but overall, I believe balance is key. If you’re an educator, I hope you’re taking good care of yourself, prioritizing your time and well-being, and finding a balance that works best for you.

A Year Of Being Ghosted

Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken things too far

Making Waves