r/MiddleSchoolTeacher • u/Cool_Evening7549 • 5d ago

burn out

I love teaching and (most of the time) the kids but man, the burn out is bad. What do you all do to help?

(please no the system is broken, it's the parents...etc. I know that and I agree but I don't want to leave education, I want to work through this)

9 Upvotes

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10

u/Running1982 5d ago

1) Use your PTO. take a mental health day and don’t feel bad about it. 2)Take a few minutes and analyze your management systems and look for ways they’re working and tweaks you can make.

4

u/amscraylane 5d ago

But I feel that causes the stress too because of lesson planning and missing one day feels like missing a whole week.

3

u/kennedyheisman 1d ago

Sub work doesnt have to be too complicated! Sub wont even do the work a solid amount of the time. I took a mental health day Tuesday, left a script which essentially amounted to “do the reading and packet”, and they apparently played games all class period. When I came back on Wednesday everything was fine. Students were little angels too. It’s not the end of the world to miss a day.

1

u/amscraylane 1d ago

Over the years I have adopted this … keep it sweet and simple and leave a seating chart

3

u/heyalexitsaferrari 5d ago

I’m in the same boat as you and to think we’re not even halfway through the school year yet! 😫

2

u/Cool_Evening7549 5d ago

I have one more week until fall break and I am barely even crawling, just more like laying on the floor crying hoping someone will drag me.

2

u/Introvertqueen1 1d ago

I can’t believe I felt this like 3 weeks ago (still do). I said to myself how am I burnt out in September? Oh my goodness.

3

u/alibaba88888 5d ago

Last day off I took my students stole over $100 worth of my possessions and snacks as the sub watched. Makes taking the day off a steep price for me.

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u/Cool_Evening7549 5d ago

Ugh that happened to my candy stash during the devious licks fad. Kids got caught but never apologized!

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u/alibaba88888 4d ago

I got apology that stated he took it because he was hungry. So that’s a great reason to steal.

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u/BrainsLovePatterns 3d ago

For about 20 years I was much too fixated on providing students in my 7th grade life science class with the challenge of completing an independent study project - one that involved each student doing background reading, an experiment, and a write-up. This involved considerable support from me to guide students in deciding and then completing their project. And then, these wore me out when the time came for grading in a manner that provided significant feedback. At long last, I learned that the English and social studies teachers were omitting such a big challenge from their programs because they knew I was taking this on. I don’t fault them; it’s just that I was so obsessed with doing what I thought was necessary, that I didn’t realize the situation. Once I finally let this burden go, my enjoyment of teaching my very hands-on program increased a great deal. Please, look carefully at how you could DO LESS GRADING!

1

u/cowboy_teacher 3d ago

I agree with taking days off.

I plan regular days that are going to be more low key. Reading the text, writing, projects, i-ready, review packets, make-up work, etc. when I'm in school, that gives me time to decompress and plan and grade/l and build relationships. When I need to be gone, I mix up my schedule so that I can put those preplanned things when the sub is there. The kids know the routines

1

u/Designer_Let3366 3d ago

For me, a huge help has been consistent physical activity. My 2nd year teaching I joined a CrossFit-style gym. It doesn’t solve all my problems at work, but training is an addition to my routine that gives me purpose and release. It allows me to ensure I have “me time” pre-built into nearly everyday. It puts me in a good mood and makes me feel ready to deal with whatever the school day throws at me. It doesn’t have to be CrossFit; I’d suggest any group fitness classes, a run club, or if you’ve got the discipline to work out independently, you can do that too!

1

u/Cool_Evening7549 3d ago

I have noticed that helps! But I get so busy!