Blog Post #2
What was your favorite phrase, statement or story from the video? Why is it meaningful to you? How will it impact your teaching?
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During the video, several great points were made. One aspect I want to focus on is the discussion about setting boundaries. I’ll be honest, sometimes I think people can get a little dramatic when talking about boundaries. However, I did appreciate how they framed boundaries in terms of communication. I liked the message about letting people know that while their message is important, but you are not available 24/7. You can set boundaries around when you’ll respond to emails or phone calls outside of specific time frames. I also loved the part where Beth mentioned how triggering it is for her to hear, "Do you have a minute?" She made a great point when she said, "No one is walking around thinking, 'Man, I have all these minutes, what should I do with them!'" I laughed at that and thought how true that statement was! Overall, it was a solid message, and I really like the idea of establishing clear time frames for availability.
ReplyDeleteI also did a little giggle about the "Man, I have all these minutes, what should I do with them!"
DeleteThe video was pretty much about setting boundaries and prioritizing your own self-care, health, and wellness. I was (and still am at times) that teacher that stays late, worked all day on Sundays correcting papers and preparing lessons, responding to emails after hours etc. This whole video was basically a reminder to me what I am NOT supposed to be doing and have tried to not do. I think Traci started by calling it a medal of honor but Shelly said, "Busy is not a badge." I realize that I modeled for my children (own not school) that school was more important than they were. That is heartbreaking. Traci reiterated that Rene Brown said on the Kelley Clarkson show that compassionate people are those who set boundaries because we are actually showing we love ourselves. I have a hard time showing myself self-love and have started working on that. I have tried to step back already. It was good to hear about Beth not checking email or responding at a certain time. I have a time of 5pm. I do communicate that with parents the next morning right away if I receive an email after 5, so they know that I am not ignoring them. Honestly, there has not been a parent who was upset by this. I, also, liked when Beth said to make commitments that people feel they are important but also communicate what your boundaries or parameters are. Be clear.
ReplyDeleteI think that I will continue to make more time for myself by leaving school at school. This is hard for me as I like to be prepared the next day and with a clean slate but really there is always more to be done. It is hard for me because teaching/school is my life and I am passionate about it so I am always thinking about it. I do need time for my family and myself. In the long run, it will make me a better teacher- more patient, more present, more productive.
I like the smile file. I have one in my file cabinet and when days are rough you just pull out a note from a past student and remember you why. I also agree on setting boundaries. In my new roll teachers think I am just available to answer tech questions when ever yet I still have class during the day that I have to teach. They also feel my room is the go to to get supplies. I had to set boundaries for both of these areas letting them know that my room is just like there rooms and my supplies are for my clasess. I have also set boudaries by putting office hours on my Seesaw messaging letting parents know that I will get back to them in the morning if they email after 4. I have not worked on the weekends anymore and spend more time doing the things I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI love when Beth said you need to start with self. It's hard to serve others if you don't help yourself. This is something I have really strived to do within the last couple of years. I was doing too much, not taking time for me, and I was getting burnt out fast. I no longer go to school on the weekends. I no longer stay past 4:00. I no longer take papers home to grade. Work stays at school. I am very much a morning person, so what I started doing instead, is going to work at least an hour before I have to be there. I have the whole building to myself. It's quite and I get everything accomplished that I need to. The stress this reduced was amazing. I feel refreshed and ready to start every day. I also started doing things such as monthly massages, monthly dinner dates with friends, and monthly date nights. Making time for me has made me a much better person personally and professionally. I 100% agree, you can't serve others if you don't help yourself first!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing from the video was their concept about boundaries and self care. Now, they made these into different conversations, but I feel like they can go together. When I first started teaching, I was staying late, taking work home, and going in on the weekends because that’s what I thought I had to do to be a
ReplyDeletesuccessful teacher. As a result, I got burnt out fast and I wasn’t always focused. I learned that I can still be a successful teacher without doing all of that. I started telling parents that they can still message me at any time, but I will only be responding to messages between 7:30 - 4:00. I now go to work an hour before school starts to get work done because I feel more focused and energetic. Then
after school, I started to go for walks to be outside and let myself decompress. The work stays at school and I don’t go in on weekends so that way I can enjoy my time with friends and family. By setting those boundaries and making a point to focus on myself, I have become a better teacher. Everyday, I am focused and
energetic for the day because I started focusing on taking care of myself first.
Smile File - I've never heard it called that, but I love the concept!
ReplyDeleteStart with Self.
Set Boundaries - we can't model wellness to our team if we are not doing it ourselves.
What we celebrate we become.
Be Done. Reprioritize tomorrow.
I need to get over myself - I don't need to be that busy - it will get done. It shouldn't be the norm that I work on the weekends.
Am I taking better care of my car than my body? The fuel I put in my "tank" matters!
This was a well-timed message for me! I have some large deadlines the next 8 weeks - and I really need to pause and remember to set boundaries and take care of myself first. I'll be setting a foundation for my team and want to lead well - I'll be more productive if I take care of me first.
Great video! I like be done, reprioritize tomorrow. I have been doing this the last few years since having kids. I leave school at 4 and bring nothing home. Some days, I could spend another 10-15 minutes working or bring it home but it will be there tomorrow. I am a person that likes to get it done and out of the way and if I am close to finishing something, I want to be done. However, over the years, I have learned to let it be and enjoy my time at home with my family. So worth leaving school at 4 and not staying later! It also makes you prioritize and use time management. And even maybe less talking to co workers to make sure you get your work done.
ReplyDeleteI love getting reminders of how and why to set boundaries. I think that it is true what these amazing ladies said: you do not get an award for being the busiest person. As I have gotten older and wiser, I have been able to be better and setting boundaries with my work and my family time. I have worked with amazing teachers that have showed me how to do this and why it is important. As teachers we are givers, but that does not mean that running around frantic means you are getting anything done. Being intentional with my time, and knowing I will simply not get everything done today is very important. It has taught me how to prioritize my time, how to figure out what needs to be done today and what can wait for tomorrow. It helps with stress and helps me to manage my time and my mental/emotional effort for all the things that are important to me. I loved the example of being able to respond "now it not a good time" when someone asks if you "have a minute." Shelley and Beth are absolutely right- none of us have many spare minutes. But if you need me, I can intentionally make time for you when I can give you my full attention. Learning this has helped me professionally and in my personal life.
ReplyDelete“If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t serve others”. This quote from the video was meaningful to me because I tend to put myself second when it comes to my students and teaching. I want to stay ahead and be proactive for weeks ahead and that takes time away from my nights and weekends. This year I have been really intentionally with setting boundaries and reminding myself that I can do this at school and I can get it there. This impacts my teaching by not burning myself out and being refreshed from the school week with being productive at school, during school hours.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your favorite phrase, statement or story from the video? Why is it meaningful to you? How will it impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete"Don't work all weekend long". This resonated for me, because early on in my teaching career I was guilty of this. Even during the week, after coaching HS basketball, I would go back to school to get work done. This was on top of also working all weekend long. By my third year, I was strongly questioning if this was the right career for me.
What actually made me reflect on this was having my first child. Once my son was born I decided I needed to set boundaries. I significantly cut my time down. I made it a rule that I do not bring anything home from work. Work stays at school so that I am more present when I am at home. I also do not go in on the weekends, unless I absolutely need to on a Sunday, but I will limit it to just an hour.
Since setting these boundaries, I can honestly say that I am much more positive and truly look forward to going to school and to work. I have more energy and passion in what I am doing because I'm not burnt out. On the flip side, I am a better wife and mother. (This is also something that Shelley Burgess mentioned, and I 100% agree!)
Corinna Thompson
ReplyDeleteIt would have to be "take care of you." How many times do we just put off being good to ourselves? The concept of taking care of ourselves wasn't something I understood while I was teaching. I was the 24/7 person. If I wasn't at school, I was thinking of school. My weekends were almost always consumed with lesson plans, learning activities, more and more. I never took the time to relax and enjoy. It wasn't until I "put my foot down," did I realize was so close to burn out. I always felt if I wasn't working on school related things, I was wasting time. No. We need to take that time to reenergize and hit the refresh button.
Setting boundaries is super hard for teachers. We want to be there for our students ALL the time. What I had to realize is that if I died tomorrow, my job would be posted the next day and I was replaceable. The time we take for ourselves, is NEVER a waste. If we aren't rested, mentally and physically, we are not the best version of ourselves.
Yes, taking care of ourselves is the most important take away from listening and watching the video. Teacher, take care of yourself! As someone said, take the walk, eat the cake, enjoy the small moments.
It would have to be "take care of you." How many times do we just put off being good to ourselves? The concept of taking care of ourselves wasn't something I understood while I was teaching. I was the 24/7 person. If I wasn't at school, I was thinking of school. My weekends were almost always consumed with lesson plans, learning activities, more and more. I never took the time to relax and enjoy. It wasn't until I "put my foot down," did I realize was so close to burn out. I always felt if I wasn't working on school related things, I was wasting time. No. We need to take that time to reenergize and hit the refresh button.
ReplyDeleteSetting boundaries is super hard for teachers. We want to be there for our students ALL the time. What I had to realize is that if I died tomorrow, my job would be posted the next day and I was replaceable. The time we take for ourselves, is NEVER a waste. If we aren't rested, mentally and physically, we are not the best version of ourselves.
Yes, taking care of ourselves is the most important take away from listening and watching the video. Teacher, take care of yourself! As someone said, take the walk, eat the cake, enjoy the small moments.
I sincerely loved this video. It is so easy to get caught up in the work! My favorite idea/quote mentioned in the video was "Busy is not a medal of honor." I like being busy. I love my job. However, I thoroughly agree in the importance of finding space and creating boundaries for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI loved the comment made by a viewer that her principal encourages then to find another "LOVE" outside of school, and if you have to be BUSY on the weekends, to do that! This is such a great idea! We all know that the work is never done and it will be waiting for us when we return tomorrow. We can be better leaders and educators if we are taking that time for ourselves and finding some space.
I have been trying hard to take care of myself...exercising almost every day. It is amazing how good it makes you feel and how much more energy I have. Awesome video!!
I really appreciated Beth's story and advice about boundaries and developing wellness. I tend to fall into people pleasing, which can definitely be a good thing at times, but can also be detrimental. I have a hard time saying no, and thus, I can often feel burned out or not excited to go into work (when I was still in the classroom) or to other commitments. It is a great reminder to take care of yourself, and to set those boundaries that allow you to spend time with family or extracurriculars.
ReplyDeleteWhen I go back to teaching, I hope that I can use this to help bring the excitement back into my teaching and into my classroom. I want to not dread going back to the classroom on a Monday morning. I want to be excited to be there and to greet my students!
What was your favorite phrase, statement or story from the video? Why is it meaningful to you? How will it impact your teaching?
ReplyDelete-I really liked the "Smile File", I have started to put things in a pile but I like the idea of saving items and going back to reference them when you need a smile.
-"It is okay to go home, it is okay to shut down, the work will never be done" I really liked how this was stated and how there is time that work is done and tomorrow we reprioritize. I think as teachers, admins, etc. it can be so hard to get caught up in your job because it is what we love. We give a lot but if we give all ourselves to our work, something is on the back burner. This is meaningful to me because I connected with so many things that were said but I know that if I do not have a balance I am not the best wife, mom, or teacher and there is a wellness/boundary to it all.
I am still working on this especially in my 1st year in 1st grade but I think being aware and surrounding yourself with a support system to set those boundaries is great too!
What was your favorite phrase, statement or story from the video? Why is it meaningful to you? How will it impact your teaching?
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stands out is the stories of support given to Principals to take time off, do the things that make you happy, leave work at work... and be good to yourself, the other parts of you, person, hobbies, rest, mini weekend vacation, daughter (or son), mom, (or dad), wife(or husband) taking care of yourself and letting go of work for the evening, or weekend.
There were a couple of statements that stood out from the video: "Start with self. It's really hard to serve anyone else if we don't take care of ourselves." "Set boundaries - It's hard to create a culture of wellness if you don't have and model wellness," "Get over yourself. You don't need to be busy. Normalize daily rest. Busy isn't a badge."
ReplyDeleteWhen we are exhausted and overwhelmed, it is difficult to fully support students. When teachers prioritze self-care, they bring more energy, patience, and positivity into the classroom.