Teacher Burn Out?

If you're in the educational career or if you are a parent with a child in public education, then you have probably either heard of or had this happened to your child... Have you seen where teachers have been walking out of the classroom halfway through the year.. Wild right? I think so too.

The Why

As an educator, especially in the elementary school system, I have seen this in the last few years. It is extremely high this year. Statistically, it has been with the younger age group of teachers, but not limited to that group 100% of the time.

BUT Let's talk about the why that I (and social media) has seen.

Let me preface this entire blog post, I absolutely love my job and what I do. I think it's one of the most important jobs in the entire world, and certainly one of the most demanding.

Post COVID, the educational system is asking a lot of regular education classroom teachers. Students are far behind due to the distant learning that was given to them during COVID. Since COVID, teachers have been trying to bridge the gaps that took place during that time. Not only were students at home trying to learn, but expectations that are set in a classroom were not set at home. Examples include: not getting out of your seat during the lesson, bathroom breaks, snack breaks, and phone and tablet usage.. The list could go on and on. For some students COVID styled learning extended for a 3 year period because districts allowed parents to choose an online alternative to the regular educational classroom. Can you blame a child for not knowing regular educational classroom expectations when they haven't stepped in a classroom in three years?

No, you cant.

The Expectations of a Teacher Today

From my perspective, I've seen multiple teachers leave the classroom due to inadequate pay amongst other reasons that we will talk about.

Teachers are being asked to differentiate instruction, and prior to COVID that meant being able to differentiate or change your instruction for a few students. Differentiated instruction in your classroom now means a different learning style and plan for each student.

Like I said, trying to bridge those gaps.

In an elementary school classroom, you pull something called small groups. If you are not familiar, Small groups are meant to pull students that are tiered or under grade level expectations. Prior to COVID you might pull three to four students a day that are slightly below grade level. Today, you are pulling six groups in a day with three to four students in them. You are constantly writing lesson plans for your curriculum and whole group instruction, and then writing separate lesson plans for each student in a small group. Keep in mind that these are to be done during your planning time, which is a 45 to 55 minute block everyday. So running data, differentiating your lessons and realizing where the gaps from the last lesson were to the next lesson you are going to teach (to see where you need to reteach) and then don't forget planning for WIN time. This is a 30 minute block for all students (that stands for whatever I need time). Students are put into groups according to their needs, such as writing, grammar, typing, literally everything and anything that they could need. It's like pulling small groups but on a larger scale for your entire class. The student doesn't necessarily have to be behind to be in one of these groups, it's more of a free flowing rotation or circuit. I thoroughly enjoy this time with my students, but it's also another thing that we have to plan for during that 45 to 55 minute block, that changes on a day-to-day basis.

Various extras to consider:

Then you have instructional meetings. This is where you meet on one to multiple students to see if they need further accommodations. Then you have parent communication during your planning., as well as catching up on emails and different data importing.

Behavior...

When I talk about behavior, keep in mind that most of these students have been at home for two to three years, and learning virtually. When I mention expectations in a classroom, let me explain. Classroom expectations are things such as voice level, bathroom breaks, how to line up, how to transition, literally everything as far as class and school rules go and how you want them to perform and listen in your classroom.

During the first few weeks of school teachers reiterate and reiterate and reiterate until they are tired of reiterating their classroom expectations and then they reiterate them some more. And when you come back from a long weekend you reiterate them again and again and again.

Student Mental Health

Prior to COVID, demand for students mental health, was on average, extremely low. Most students were extremely happy an eager to learn. Post COVID, I spend a lot of my time making sure my students are mentally OK. A lot of them can seem extremely sad sometimes, and navigating their new learning can be a lot for them handle at such a young age.

I'm not gonna say a lot on student behavior, but it is a large reason that teachers are leaving the classroom.

Is it right?

The big question that we are left with..

is it right to leave your job in the middle of the year?

OR

Is it circumstantial?

In my opinion, which is not law, obviously, I think you signed a contract for an entire educational year.

Because let me tell you what happens when you leave the classroom in the middle of an instructional year..

Your coworkers are left to pick up the pieces. We are now having to step in and reset your classroom expectations, we are now having to plan your small groups and lesson plans and WIN time for your class. We are now checking in on your children on a day-to-day basis to make sure they are OK. When you leave, your class now becomes ours. So during that planning period that we have once a day, our work load has now doubled.

Before I get an influx of hate messages, that is my opinion. I still follow teachers on social media that have left the classroom for these reasons. I just want to give you an insight on what happens when you leave, because if you are not there any longer then how would you know what everyone else is going through?

Teachers Mental Health

Yes, I am a promoter of mental health, and I understand that circumstances are different everywhere. The pay is low, we have to find different outlets to supplement that pay, and I understand the hardships of being a teacher. I'm right there with you.

BUT, I can genuinely tell you that I am happy when I walk into my classroom in the mornings, and I am excited to go back the next day.

So if you are in school to be a teacher, please know that it is not all sunshine and rainbow.

You are a parent at sometimes, you are a coach, you are a teacher, you are a data analyst, you are counselor, investigator, you are so many things..

But it's the most rewarding and heart wrenching job that you will ever have. You are helping guide students through their learning, helping them find out what they are passionate about, you are linking them to the real world one day.

I've always said I have the best job in the entire world, and I will stick to that because I genuinely know that I do.

xoxo,

Spilling the Tea