To outsiders, working in a school probably seems simple enough! The aim or purpose won’t have appeared to have changed. Schools and staff in schools work towards helping young people learn, achieve their potential and become citizens who contribute to society. The big picture remains the same. However, most who work in schools feel inundated…
Mastering the Art of Active Listening
According to Stephen Covey, being a good listener is the fastest way to build trust. Often in schools we are so busy, that we don’t really listen. Mastering these active listening skills can build trust and make our lives easier. Be fully present – Give the other person your full attention. If you have found…
Reaching Out To Parents
Some parents can be time consuming and add to our stress. In most schools, five percent of parents consume 95 percent of your time. However, reaching out to have them onboard can make our lives easier. Try these proactive approaches. Avoid Doing Battle Logging and taking notes on parent phone calls is a good practice…
Eight Steps to Happiness
The following tips for living a more meaningful and fulfilling life are from ‘Eight Steps to Happiness’ by Dr Anthony Grant and Alison Leigh. Practise random acts of kindness- Random acts of kindness has been scientifically shown to increase the happiness and wellbeing of both the giver and the recipient. Do something nice for a different…
Strategies to Reduce Your Frustration
Teaching can be demanding and at times frustrating. As an experienced teacher, I have made a conscious effort to develop strategies that I can deploy when I feel frustrated at school. Here are some of the techniques that work for me. Don’t rant endlessly, but do seek support from your colleagues. Everyone needs friends at…
Coping With Change
Change can be hard. Often change is for the good. Occasionally change brings about worse outcomes. The one predictable aspect of change is its inevitability. Coping with change is one of the biggest challenges in schools – the sheer volume, let alone the rate of change, can be overwhelming. Avoiding change fatigue can be critical…
Reclaiming Your Mojo
Working in schools can be both rewarding and challenging. In stressful times we can forget why we work in schools, we can lose our mojo! The following strategies are intended to help you reclaim your mojo and look after your well-being. Schedule stop times – Identify your work curfew: a set time when you have…
Overcoming the Challenges of Working From Home
Staff in many schools are currently working remotely. Whilst many people will initially be happy to be ‘working from home’ (teaching in your pyjamas sounds great), it does come with its challenges and demands. Everyone who works remotely has to figure out when to work, where to work and how to create boundaries between their…
Two Words to Start the Day With in Challenging Times
Sad but true – we all have a Use By Date. Whilst we don’t like to think about it, it is inevitable. At some stage we are all going to die. In “The Comfort Crisis” author Michael Easter quotes researchers from the University of Kentucky who had people think about death and the result was…they…
Managing Student Anxiety Before It Becomes A Problem
Research shows that childhood anxiety left unmanaged will almost certainly re-emerge, highlighting the importance of early detection and management. Teachers, as first responders, play an important role by minimising the impact of stressful moments before they lead to full-blown anxiety. Recognise anxiety triggers Recognising the events that trigger anxiety is the first step to helping…
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 34
- Next Page »