Grounding Activity: Redefining “Good Teacher”
One of my health coaching clients confessed recently: "I feel guilty not responding right away to a student's email, even if they're sending it at midnight! I feel like I'm being a bad teacher." Which begs the question: What is a good teacher?
In today's world, the standards for a “good teacher” have become impossibly high. Get 100% compliance, 100% of the time; Differentiate for all students while holding them all to the same expectations; Be available 24/7 for students, parents, coworkers…
If you get stressed by these confusing and unrealistic markers of success, you are not alone. My recommendation? Cut through the noise and write your own definition of success in teaching. What does a successful day of teaching look like to YOU?
How To
Reflect and Journal: In your opinion alone, what does it mean to be a good teacher? What does a successful day of teaching look like for YOU?
Once you've written your response down, go back and ask: Is your definition attainable on a daily basis? Would it be sustainable over the year? Finally, does your definition bring you a sense of joy and peace? If the answer is no, go back and rewrite a definition that does feel realistic, sustainable and joyful.
Put your personal definition of a “Good Teacher” somewhere you can read it often.
You will be asked to do many things during the school year. You may be evaluated by a variety of people on a variety of different rubrics. But at the end of the day, your own definition of success has the biggest impact on how fulfilled and connected you feel in the classroom.
If you found this teacher wellness post helpful, share it with an educator you care about :)
Until next week,
Emily Hemmingson
Health Coach for Teachers
Founder of The Teacher Wellness Center
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