Building a TEACHER MINDSET

With many teachers back in class now, I’ve heard rumblings of exhausted, overwhelmed teachers. So, I thought it would be a good idea to write about building a teacher mindset.

Teachers are taught about building the mindsets of their young learners, but has anyone really discussed the TEACHER’S MINDSET?

BUILDING A TEACHER MINDSET

To build your “teacher mindset” you will need to be deliberate in your practice of habits and tasks. This is the best way to remain on top of ALL THE ENDLESS items that come with teaching….you know, the stuff that doesn’t include actually working with the students (which is the part you want to do). LOL

YES, TEACHING IS HARD…BUT IT WILL GET BETTER! I want all you new teachers to remember this. As I write this article the world is still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic which has morphed (in the USA) to the Delta variant. If you’re new on top of this, it’s REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW!

It’s hard, but you can do it!

FIRST CREATE A SCHEDULE

If you haven’t done so yet, sit down this weekend and create a daily schedule …for YOURSELF, not just for your class. Have this schedule start from the minute you wake up and cover until you walk in your door at the end of the work day. Doing this is even more crucial if you have your own kids to get off to places like daycare, preschool or regular school.

If your children are the age that your school teaches, consider having them attend school where you work. I did this when my kids were young and I loved it.

One habit I got into that worked well for me was taking about a half hour each morning – just for me – before my family woke up. I’m a morning person, so this was simple for me. If you are a night owl, you may want that time to be once all the kids are in bed for the night.

A BIG SUGGESTION

A huge suggestion I have is that – in this schedule you are creating, to allow 30 to 40 minutes at work before you pick up your class to begin the instructional day. This extra time allows you to set up and prepare for instruction OR to review the “to do” list (which we will discuss next) to find what is crucial to do today.

Just a point of information, this extra time will ZIP BY quickly, and your list of things to do will still be there… Just so you realize, this list of ‘THINGS TO DO” never goes away! You mark things off and add more, it never ends.

This is the part where you have to consider your MINDSET. You just have to accept that this list will always be there, other jobs have this too, not just teaching. And, you are not LESS, OR A BAD TEACHER because you have a long list of things to do. ALL TEACHERS HAVE THE LIST! The disorganized ones try to keep this list in their head, which, in my opinion is disaster waiting to happen.

Can you imagine (maybe you’re doing this) going through your day like this…you’re teaching but trying to remember this….Jose needs some interventions for home, my daughter has a 4:00 dentist appointment, I need to get the art supplies ready for tomorrow, oh, I have to check if I need to order more supplies because the order is due to the office, I need to remember to talk to Jeannie’s mom after school because____(whatever)___, don’t forget you have recess duty at 1:00… THIS IS ALL GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND AND YOU ARE TRYING TO TEACH!

Instead of this, you need to write things down. When you write it down your brain realizes that you don’t have to keep reciting it to remember it. The list will be there for you to peek at throughout the day.

THE ALL-IMPORTANT “TO-DO” LIST

I swear by using a “to-do” list. I’ve used it as a college student, as a teacher, as a busy mom, and now at my position at the Community College, and for writing and running this blog. There are some tips for these lists.

• re-write the list when it gets messy or long.
• group similar items together.
• decide which are the most important and highlight or star them.
• each day decide the ONE ITEM that must get done that day.
• two weeks before a grading period add GRADES to the list.
• keep in mind items that are due to the office or principal. (try not to be late with these)
• determine if there are any items you can delegate to others; perhaps a mom helper can cut out your bulletin board items, or staple some papers.
• figure out if there are some things you’re doing that the students can do themselves or for you…assign a student to sharpen the pencils at the end of the day.

Before I get into the next section about other organizing tips, I want to suggest you read these other two articles about being organized as a busy teacher.

Frustrated Teachers Ask, How Can I Complete Everything?

First Year Teacher Prep – How Can I Ever Grade All These Papers?

OTHER ORGANIZING TIPS

As mentioned above in the “list” section, consider the ONE MAIN TASK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT. Try not to keep putting the same item to the bottom or your list because you are avoiding it…for example, completing a referral for a problem student.

YES, this item will take a bit longer and need your full attention. This is the type of item to use an entire “prep/planning” period working on; writing it up, finding the supporting documents and information. Once it’s done, you will be so relieved.

Sometimes, if you have a REALLY BIG TASK, consider listing the steps for that task separately on your “to-do list”. And then do ONE STEP AT A TIME. Soon, the entire task will be finished.

To save your sanity, try not to stay after school for longer than an hour each day. If you feel you need a bit more time, then select ONE DAY – ONLY ONE – to stay a bit longer.

Another tip is to spend about 20 minutes on Friday afternoon doing a quick straightening up of the room; especially your teacher’s area/desk. You will feel so much better on Monday morning when you walk into your room with it straightened up and looking nice.

THE TEACHER MINDSET – BE POSITIVE

I want to conclude this article with reminding my new teacher friends to try your best to stay positive. Think of all the great things you are doing for your students and providing to your students. While the tasks you need to do are necessary and some are very important, you MAIN REASON for being here is for the students.

NEVER FORGET THIS! Meet your students where they are at, and move them forward…that is the best you can do. Many students are behind due to Covid lockdowns and remote learning. You can’t do anything to change that, but you can move forward from this point on. Taking one step at a time, one foot in front of the other, and you will eventually get there.

That’s it for now!

Until Next Time,