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Dear Subscriber Name, Happy Monday! I came across a quote on Pinterest that I tagged to my self-care and wellness board this week: “Destroy the idea that repressing emotions is a sign of strength.” I thought these words aligned exactly with what teachers are feeling right now. I am a pretty positive person that will almost always try to journal, mindset shift, or reposition my line of thinking to a better place when I find myself in a funk. This back-to-school season feels like a permanent funk. It is actually pretty stinky. Many teachers are tired, worn out, overwhelmed, annoyed, and completely disheartened by the return to learning in an online or hybrid model during this pandemic. I can’t even explain to family and friends sometimes what it is like to try to balance everything, and then to also feel the slow ache in my back at the end of the day from sitting from 9-4 in front of synchronous sessions starts to really wear on you. I am tired. But, I am trying to stay positive. This isn’t coming from a place of self-care or wellness, I am trying to work my way back there. It is coming from a place of embracing the difficult season of transition we are in right now. I keep telling others that my teaching practices will be forever changed after this season of back-to-school and online learning. I think they will have changed for the better. I have changed my grading, my weekly routine, and my habits regarding leaving work at the end of the day. I am still frustrated, but I feel changes happening. One of the reasons I started this newsletter with that quote is because I am moving to a place where I don’t expect the feeling of being overwhelmed to change anytime in the near future. I can respond by inserting some practices and strategies that have always been good for dealing with being overwhelmed…the main one is reaching for a book. I don’t know about you, but my ability to read for enjoyment has dwindled significantly since the start of the school year. Reading is linked to wellness. A sort of meditation and breathing in and out if you will. Books are just one of the ways that we restore order and calm into our lives. This week on the blog I am talking about read-alouds and book talks in my classroom. The real secret though is that reading is helping me deal with everything inside my classroom, so I can still feel like me outside of teaching. What are you reading this week? This week’s journal prompts: “The last time I belly-laughed was…” “From 5 years ago, I have changed by…” “From 10 years ago, I have changed by…” "One time when I was brave, I..." "One time when I was joyful, I..." “I cry thinking about..."
Brew some coffee or tea, grab a pen or your computer, cozy up with a blanket, and write. Happy reading and writing, Stephanie P.S. You may start noticing that my little blog is getting a redesign with a new logo, new colors, and some new categories. As we move into the fall, keep an eye out for posts about teaching, but also food, family, and finding wellness!
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