How to Manage Stress as a Teacher Education World

How to Manage Stress as a Teacher

Tenth grade world history teacher Marcy Rosner admits that there’s a lot she has to balance in her day-to-day teaching routine.

All in a day’s work, teachers are supposed to inspire learning, innovate with new technology and resources, understand how to personalize learning, manage behavior problems all while being in accordance with state and federal standards and keeping test scores up, says KQED News.

Such varying responsibilities in addition to low-pay and high-demand is a textbook recipe for stress; KQED News understands this, so it’s providing educators with a series of tips to help.

1. Concentrate on the students. By concentrating on her students and focusing on why she entered the profession to begin with, Rosner is able to stay grounded and not get lost in negativity.

2. Focus on relationships with both students & parents. By building relationships with students and their parents, there’s a sense of accountability and a relationship to lean on if behavioral problems arise.“Learning happens through relationships,” Marcus said,” according to KQED News.

3. Seek out teacher wellness programs. Many schools offer wellness programs for teachers that focuses on stress reduction and helpful professional development tips. In Deborah Kipps-Vaughan’s wellness programs, “[t]eachers are divided into small groups and are encouraged to reframe how they interpret their mistakes and to develop healthy coping mechanisms, like exercise or yoga.”

4. Develop a strong PLN. By developing a strong professional learning network and connecting with fellow peers, stress is reduced through sharing experiences and receiving advice. With the development of technology, connecting with fellow educators is easier than ever. Many experts recommend using Twitter chats to converse with peers and seek out support/advice.

5. Be prepared. "Being prepared and organized shrinks stress...and allows her to concentrate more fully on the students while in class,” said veteran chem teacher Heather Luke to KQED News.

6. Switch schools if necessary. If all else fails, sometimes relief from stress means seeking out a different school that is a better fit.