Okay, my post yesterday was bleak, but I wanted people to have a glimpse into what a teacher goes through on a daily basis. It is easy to get burned out. I will give you some bandaids today. I know the cut is deep, but let’s staunch the bleeding together.
- Pick only three hills to die on… (gosh, my war/wound metaphors are strong today) and make those three hills, hills that will help do what is best for kids. I would never want you to compromise the education of your students by picking this hill, “here is a worksheet aka ‘shut up sheet’ while I nap at my desk.” No. Don’t do this in the name of self care. That is hurtful to our students. My three hills are:
- Safety of students in my space. This is an important hill if I ever want to foster the kind of relationships and learning that is possible in a safe space.
- Relevant and engaging lesson plans. Our kids are ever changing. We must keep up with them. They need to engage in lessons that are important to them as people. Also, have a little fun!
- Kindness. I can chose to be kind even when other adults are mean. What would I want for my own kids at home? What do I want to model to students while I walk in the hall or teach my class? This doesn’t mean I’m not firm; this doesn’t mean I’m their friend. I love them. I am their teacher, and I expect kindness above everything. This also does not mean I shy away from confrontation. If students are unsafe, I say something.
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Now, we need legislation passed on our behalf. Real, systemic change!
- No more than 25 kids in a class… period!
- Boots on the ground. We need psychiatrists, psychologists, more counselors, more funding for after school programs, more trauma informed specialists. More training, proper training.
- We need to get into college prep programs for teaching and train our new teachers as soon as they pick that track, real training, authentic training.
- We need proper training programs for emergency cert. teachers, alternatively certified teachers.
- We need supplies.
- We need monetary bumps for teachers who are rock stars; who are doing their job and doing it well.
- We need to be able to put something in place for teachers who have given up and refuse to actually teach any more.
- We need to ban the cell phones from the classroom.
- WE NEED TEACHERS to be heard, to help create the legislation that will make a difference. _____________________________________________________________________________________
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Katie Kinder 