How do teachers not become burn out early in their teaching career?

Answer 1

because a lot of schools are actually very good to teach at
once you get past the first couple of years teaching is easy and enjoyable

Answer 2

I am getting ready to start my third year as an elementary school music teacher in a highly impoverished area. Teacher burn out is a real concern. The best advice I can give any new teacher is to establish a support group inside the school. Friends will work well for this purpose. You have to have somebody to listen to you and who will help you through your personal struggles. Keep your goals in mind, and understand that even a little progress is still some. These are tips that will help anyone deal with burn out. Also, remember that you are not a miracle worker and that education is a three way dance between the parent, student, and educator. Don't place all of the blame, stress, or responsibility on yourself.

Answer 3

A lot of begining teachers quit in the first five years. I forget the stat, but it was astounding.

Here is my take... teaching is a stressful job which you bring home each night and teaching is a lifestyle. We demand a lot from ourselves and this is hard to do when are new to tteaching and we are teaching a tough class.

What I think the most important thing for all teachers to realise is the big picture. See the entire school year and the child's entire education as continual. You are a fascilator, and often you cannot change the child or their parents. You teach them and give them the tools. Keep an easy going attitude and enjoy your students. It sounds simple, but these things are often neglected by teachers.

In a nutshell, chillax and do what you can. No point of worrying about things out of your control. :)

Answer 4

I think an important aspect to not burning out early in one's teaching career is to maintain an appropriate work/life balance (though the first few years do require a little extra time and effort). I also found that teachers who were paired with a mentor in the building or stayed in touch with professors or other professionals in education offered some additional support (venting grounds) when needed. Teaching is tough, but rewarding for the right individual.

Answer 5

Teachers become burned out when they feel overwhelmed and out of control over their situation. Therefore, you need to focus on gaining control over what you can, and letting go of those things beyond your control. Also, surviving in teaching calls for dealing with colleagues, and a bureaucracy that can be maddening in its demands and limitations, often changing yearly.

That said, here are suggestions for the teaching part of the job. First, teach children, not subjects. Secondly, don't be afraid to ask for help. You may find others willing to share, or better yet, all of you may be expected to work from common lessons to ensure continuity. Thirdly, learn about single trait grading or you will go insane from the correction load. Finally, and most important, find a mentor that seems to have it together and that you respect professionally. This may not be the same person you hang out with, but they are critical to your survival.

The bureaucracy will ask you to do whatever they can, and then add three things. Say no! Say no! Say no to extra demands! You were hired because you are competent as a teacher. If all the extra demands threaten that, you will burn out. Stay within yourself, and find things to do professionally that you like, and that will meet the professional and educational goals you have. Also, don't be afraid to leave one school if the boss is a jerk. The culture within a school makes a huge difference in whether or not you feel supported and a part of the team.

Finally, don't be scared. Find friends, hang out, and have fun. If you can't do these because you're uncomfortable with people, then you need to do a different job.

Answer 6

It is really easy for a first year teacher (or a teacher in his/her first few years) to spend all of his/her time doing school work or worrying about school or talking about school. I remember in my first year, I'd come home every night and do prep-work until 11 pm, when I'd finally go to bed, and then I'd fall asleep thinking about problems at school or lesson plans or things I'd need to do the next day. I'm only on my 3rd year teaching, but I take home MUCH less work than I used to. Yes, I still need to prep many nights of the week, but it only takes me 1-2 hours as opposed to 5-6. Also, make sure to make time for yourself. If it takes you an extra day to get those tests graded, that's a small price to pay for your sanity. Don't take everything so seriously. Now, I'm not saying to blow off your responsibilities, but balance your life with your career. That's a good advice for any field, but especially in a field like teaching, it's great advice. I know that you could work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and still not be done with all you have to do or all you can do, but it's most important to take care of your mental sanity so you don't end up hating the job and burning out.

Teachers are like fine wine--we become better with age. But, that's only if we don't go sour in the first few years. The longer you teach a particular class the easier it becomes. You start to accumulate materials, you learn what works and what doesn't, and you know how much time you really need to spend to make an effective lesson.

Even if later in your career you change classes (i.e. from USII to AP World History), you will have the skills necessary to not spend all of your time prepping and planning and have the tools under your belt to make you a good teacher without making you a stressed out teacher.

Good luck!

Answer 7

As a middle school teacher for 7 years, my best advice is to remember that things get better as the years go by...especially if you teach the same thing every year. There are times that burn out comes but luckily there is the summer to refresh and start with a new batch of kids the following year. Try to balance things in your life, make sure you are not doing too much. Make sure the co-workers you spend time with are positive, not the negative gossipy kind. Every year look back and see how you could have done it better and keep improving. Good luck!

Answer 8

If a teacher is burning out it is usually because s/he is overworked and stressed, working for a "tricky" administration, or having trouble with the kids... typically, it isn't the actual teaching that I hear gripes about in my office.
Avoiding burn out? Choose a school-public, private-system that you agree with philosophically. Then at least when difficult decisions are made by administrators you can find the "whys" justifiable.
If it is overwork, balance your vacation time out with work (we do have July and August!) with careful preparation so things don't get our of control later. Set goals for yourself. Reflect on what is important in the curriculum and what is not.
If it is the kids... is there a problem with disciplne in the classroom? Set the tone early. Observe classrooms of "master" teachers...

Teaching involves so much of the "self." The more you know about your weaknesses in the classroom, the more likely you are to build them into strengths. If you are burning out, try to pinpoint what *exactly* the problem is, and then work on that one thing for next year.

Good luck!

Answer 9

By looking at the kids in a positive way. If you don't enjoy every minute you're with the kids, get out of the classroom. Most teachers I see who are burned out are also very negative about the kids. Also, I suggest you make activities as fun as possible. The kids will learn more, and you will enjoy seeing the kids do things besides sit in a desk and take notes and occassionally raise their hands.

Answer 10

Trying to solve all the kid's problems. Trying to live up to legislature's crazy laws (mind u they haven't been in a classroom in at least 20 years and know very little about current student culture and society, but they know how to tell u to teach). Trying to juggle the stern, lifeless, asexual teaching persona with your real life. Crazy azz parents who want to fight u because their child has never and would never do what u said that they did. Cause very few principals support their teachers. Lesson plans that are perfect and then theirs a fire drill in the middle of your perfect plan. Bad starting pay. Those teachers who just don't get it, they're just kids -- lighten up a little.

Ya just got to learn to do what u can and let the rest go. And you got to have fun with the kids without forgetting you are the adult.

Answer 11

I've been a secretary in an elementary school for 20 years. The teachers who last the best and enjoy teaching the most are above all flexible and have a good sense of humor. You have to roll with the punches: schedules change, programs are cancelled, substitutes don't show up. You have to expect the unexpected. And kids do funny--even bizarre--things. You have to be able to step back and enjoy them. You have to be able to laugh. If you don't enjoy the job, you shouldn't be in it.