I am going to highlight Rebecca’s blog post Avoid the Burn, where she talks about how teachers can avoid becoming ‘burnout.’ Firstly, I would like to address the reason why burnout is so common in the teaching profession. Perhaps most importantly, most educators are passionate about their job- which leads many teachers to overwork and stress. Teachers also have a rapidly decreasing amount of freedom and power in their own classrooms as ever stricter policies are handed down by governments and other authorities. Lastly, teaching is a difficult job- keeping up with their student’s energy, making the curriculum engaging, and providing the best education for every student in a diverse classroom.
Rebecca’s blog post focuses on what an individual teacher can do to make their own life less stressful, namely giving three main tips: Take days off!, Make time for the things I love!, and Ask for help!. The first two deal with the mental and physical health of the individual teacher- and are both very important.
However, it is third piece of advice which interests me most- asking for help. This helps the school and the community as it strengthens the relationships and brings more resources to the table. Along with this I would also advise to create good professional relationships among the staff- not everybody has to be good friends, but working together harmoniously is ideal for preventing stress and creating a good working atmosphere.