| ing can be one of the most rewarding professions | | | | student to hand you a paper. This will give you a jump |
| imaginable, but it can also be a very stressful one. As | | | | start on paperwork. You might also consider taking ten |
| an educator, you likely know that the level of stress | | | | or fifteen minutes to allow students to grade each |
| that you are under at work can cause your job | | | | other's papers, which has the added benefit of giving |
| performance to suffer. To be an effective teacher | | | | you a chance to discuss correct answers in greater |
| and to avoid teacher burnout, you must lower your | | | | detail and all at once. Make the tests and quizzes that |
| stress level, get organized and make time for yourself. | | | | you give simpler by including more fill in the blank and |
| Organization is Fundamental | | | | multiple choice and fewer essay questions. Make it a |
| It is essential that you are organized, both in the | | | | habit to only grade papers during the week, and be |
| classroom and at home, if you want to lower the | | | | sure to have everything graded by Friday. Use meal |
| stress in your life. Organized teachers are more | | | | breaks and planning periods, recesses and lunches to |
| effective teachers. From your daily lesson plans to | | | | plan, grade, and organize your classroom. Don't give |
| your wardrobe, having everything ready and at your | | | | tests on Friday; this just gives you a chore to take |
| fingertips will give you a jump start on your day that | | | | home with you over the weekend, when you should |
| will make everything run more smoothly. You may | | | | be relaxing. |
| have heard the old adage of "a place for everything, | | | | Finding Time for Yourself |
| and everything in its place". This should be your guiding | | | | And speaking of the weekend, take time for yourself |
| philosophy as you prepare for the next day, week, or | | | | each and every weekend. Don't spend your weekend |
| unit. Allow this organization to spill over to your | | | | working on things for school. Weekends should be |
| students as well. Demand that they are organized, that | | | | spent doing the things that you love to do as a person, |
| they know when homework assignments are due, and | | | | not as a teacher. Even if that means just sleeping! |
| so on, so that your whole classroom runs like a | | | | Make the weekend (and a night or two during the |
| well-oiled machine. Use a weekly handout so that | | | | week when possible) your adult time, when you can |
| everyone is on the same page as to what is | | | | just unwind. You'll be a better teacher if you feel like |
| expected for the week, and encourage students to | | | | you have a life beyond the schoolyard. And always |
| create a folder just for your class. | | | | keep in mind that not everything is possible. You are |
| Fight Paperwork Pileup | | | | only one human being, so plan on not having time for |
| Teachers who allow paperwork and grading tasks to | | | | everything. (As long as you make time for the |
| pile up are asking for an increase in stress. Grading | | | | important things in life, you'll still be okay). Leave your |
| papers, when done in mass volumes, can become an | | | | title of teacher with your desk at school and learn to |
| exhausting chore. Begin grading exams and tests the | | | | be just you, minus your teaching credentials. |
| minute that they are handed in, starting with the first | | | | |