“If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” – Author Unknown
Teacher burnout is a fact of life. And as the education environment becomes more complex and competitive, even solid teachers are feeling some self-doubt and discouragement.
So, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day, I thought it would be nice to present some ideas to help our teachers value themselves.
Acknowledgement: Today, find a quiet spot, grab pen and paper, and write down all the good things other people or students may have told you about yourself. No matter how small the compliment, put it on the paper. Once your list has at least ten thoughts on it, review each one and simply acknowledge them and be grateful.
Self-Appraisal: Now take a moment to perform a self-appraisal. This is a list that you will make of your strengths and weaknesses. Celebrate your strengths and think about and prioritize areas for improvement.
Be a Friend… to Yourself: It’s okay to nurture yourself. You can start by being kind to yourself. Stop the negative internal self-talk - the voice that tells you why you aren’t good enough. Replace it with the Acknowledgement List that you have already created.
Be Grateful: Take a moment to give thanks for the things that you do have – home, health, employment, children, parents, the gift of teaching, friends, education; you get the idea.
Failure is an Option: Don't be so afraid of failing that you're not willing to try something new. New experiences can help you grow and discover wonderful new things about yourself.
Be You: Although we can smooth and polish the rough edges of ourselves, we are still our unique selves. We all have different talents, experiences and gifts to share with each other. The unhappiest people I know are those who chase the ideal image of being someone else. Magnify everything that is good in you. Be yourself.
My personal thanks to all the teachers and educators everywhere who have put the needs of children first - who still believe in their power to teach. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!
Part of the self worth of a teacher is the confidence derived from really understanding the reading skills and strategies behind the methodology. For a free phonics-based reading trial click here!