5 Warning Signs You're Headed for Teacher Burnout (And How to Stop it Before It's Too Late) Teaching isn’t just a job—it’s an all-in profession. You were probably thinking or working on something teaching-related before you started reading this (and it's probably after hours on a school night). Right now, many teachers are feeling like this school year might be the one that finally breaks them . With new demands, bigger class sizes, and the weight of the world showing up in our classrooms, it’s no wonder burnout is accelerating at light speed. Note: this post may contain affiliate links. Discover 5 signs of teacher burnout and learn how to address them with the Teachaholic Action Guide. For more information, visit erinsporaug.com/book. The truth? Burnout doesn’t just “happen.” There are warning signs—physical, mental, and emotional—that show up first. And recognizing them early can help you take back control before teaching drains the life out of you. In this post, I’ll share the five warning signs you’re headed for teacher burnout (all of which I’ve experienced myself as a burnout survivor). I’ll also share the mindset shifts and boundary strategies I teach in my new book, Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching . Recognizing Burnout: 5 Warning Signs Every Teacher Should Know to Prevent Overwhelm and Stress. Because teachers deserve more than survival— we deserve to thrive and not feel like we're hanging on by the thread of our favorite emotional support cardigan. Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. Episode 29 of the "Next Chapter for Teachers" podcast dives into the warning signs of teacher burnout and explores effective solutions with host Erin Sponaugle. What Teacher Burnout Really Is Burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s when the stress of teaching eats you from the inside out. You feel depleted, shut down, and like you have nothing left for your students, your family, or yourself. And here’s the scary truth: when teachers are at this breaking point, students feel it too. That’s why teacher well-being isn’t just “nice to have.” It’s essential for the future of education. Kids need teachers who are happy, healthy, and whole. If kids see their teachers in a constant state of burnout, what's the likelihood that they will have an interest in pursuing a career in education. Recognizing Burnout: Understanding the Signs and Promoting Teacher Well-being. The system absolutely needs reform, but the one thing we can control right now is how we respond—our mindset, our boundaries, and the way we prioritize ourselves. The 5 Warning Signs of Teacher Burnout we're going to look at are: Exhaustion Detachment Lack of Motivation Brain Fog Irritability Teacher Burnout Warning Sign #1: Exhaustion That Goes Beyond “Tired” This isn’t just about needing a nap after school. This is physical and emotional exhaustion where your body has no steam left. You collapse at home, you feel anxious or on edge, and eventually, your immune system gives out too—hello endless colds. When exhaustion has drained every drop from your cup, it’s not just about rest—it’s a signal your lifestyle and workload need to change. As you get older, the implications of letting your body take a beating from exhaustion increase and can lead to even more serious health issues than the sniffles. The time to take action is now. Explore methods to combat teacher burnout with Teachaholic, a book focused on establishing boundaries and rekindling your enthusiasm for teaching. Teacher Burnout Warning Sign #2: Detachment from Your Work Does nothing about teaching feel joyful anymore, even the things that you loved to do. (like bulletin boards or game day with your class)? Detachment sneaks in when you no longer feel joy in the classroom. The things that once lit you up now feel flat. You stop caring about the lessons you used to love, and you start questioning whether you matter at all. That loss of connection is one of the most painful parts of burnout —and it’s also a huge red flag. When we cease to love what we wake up to each morning, we are selling ourselves short of a life that brings us joy and happiness. You deserve better than that. Learn to recognize and address the warning signs of teacher burnout—exhaustion, detachment, and lack of motivation—and discover strategies for preventing it. Teacher Burnout Warning Sign #3: Lack of Motivation A stack of papers sits on your desk all week. You know how to fill out a field trip request, but the thought of doing so is as enticing as cleaning the cafeteria restroom after lunch. Simple tasks you've done for years feel like mountains. You procrastinate even on things you know would only take a few minutes. It’s not laziness— it’s burnout . Your brain is protecting itself from further overload by shutting down your drive. You might feel like the teacher who has given up, but it's really your body's defense mechanism as it not-so-quietly pleads for a break. Combat teacher burnout with the free Teachaholic Action Guide, featuring reflection questions and graphic organizers. Start your journey today at erinsponaugle.com/book. Teacher Burnout Warning Sign #4: Brain Fog This is the one that freaked me out the most. I pride myself on being sharp as a tack. When I started feeling "glitchy" and hazy all the time, I panicked. For the longest time, I thought I had something seriously wrong with me. Burnout doesn’t just make you tired; it makes you fuzzy. Concentration slips. Lesson plans take twice as long. Even answering parent emails feels like wading through molasses. That haze you feel? It’s your mind’s warning light that you’re pushing beyond your capacity. Brain fog can be associated with other health conditions other than teacher burnout, but that sloggy feeling is a clear indicator that something in your life needs to change. Recognize the warning signs of teacher burnout and take action to prevent brain fog, irritability, and lack of motivation from affecting your well-being. Teacher Burnout Warning Sign #5: Irritability and a Short Fuse As teachers, we take pride in our patience. Every once in a while we hit our breaking point (hello, 6-7, I've had enough of you, no cap), but for the most part, we tend to stay in control of our emotions. But when burnout sets in, even the little things set you off—students, colleagues, or the never-ending to-do list. You snap more easily, and it can impact both relationships and classroom climate. Your tone and reactions may be uncharacteristically harsh, and every little annoyance feels like a full-on aggravation. This isn’t who you are. It’s what burnout does when you’ve ignored your own needs for too long. When teachers are overwhelmed and at their breaking points, it's only human to have big emotions, even if we aren't so proud of them later. Discover "Teachaholic," the essential book for educators seeking to overcome burnout and rediscover their passion for teaching. Available now on Amazon, this book offers strategies to transform your mindset and establish healthy boundaries, with a special Kindle offer for just 99¢ until 11/08/25. Visit erinspounagle.com/book for more details. Why This Matters (And What You Can Do Next) Teacher burnout is real. I know because I lived it. Nine years ago, I hit a wall so hard I thought I had no option but to quit teaching. However, I discovered another approach—a way to remain in the profession I loved without compromising my health, relationships, or myself. That’s why I wrote Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching . It’s not another “do more self-care” pep talk. (I don't even like those kinds of books.) It’s a practical, proven guide to reclaiming your energy, setting boundaries that stick, and rediscovering the joy of teaching again. Final Thoughts If you’re nodding along to these five signs, it’s time to take action—not just for your students, but for yourself. You don’t have to let burnout be the end of your teaching story. ➡️ Grab your copy of Teachaholic here and take the first step toward a healthier, more fulfilling career in education. You won't want to start reading Teachaholic without the Teachaholic Action Guide! It's a FREE resource I created with reflection questions, graphic organizers, and guidance that goes along with every chapter. Get your copy below!

Navigating the Decision: Weighing Whether to Quit Teaching or Adjusting Habits for Better Work-Life Balance. It’s 24 hours until my book Teachaholic launches on October 8th, and I feel like a teacher waiting for the first day of school—excited, nervous, hopeful. I wrote this book to serve as a lifeline for teachers during one of the busiest and most overwhelming seasons of the year. Discover "Teachaholic," the essential guide to overcoming teacher burnout and setting healthy boundaries, now available for just 99¢ on Kindle. Reignite your passion for teaching with this seven-day mindset shift! Right now, it’s not just pumpkin spice season or spooky season. For many educators, it’s disillusionment season —the time of year when everything starts piling on. Paperwork, testing, progress monitoring, behavior issues, and meetings stack up. The joy you started the year with begins to fade. If you’re a teacher feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and questioning your future in the classroom, you’re not alone. Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This post is for you. Because maybe you’re already whispering the question so many of us have asked: Should I quit teaching? Struggling with burnout? Discover whether it's time to quit teaching or simply adjust your habits and mindset. Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. Exploring whether a change in mindset and habits can rekindle your teaching passion, or if stepping away might be the right choice, in Episode 32 of "Next Chapter for Teachers" with Erin Sponaugle. Why October Feels So Hard October is when the workload hits full force. You’re tracking data, prepping for assessments, managing student behaviors that seem to pop up out of nowhere, and trying to keep it all together. You’re also battling your own inner voice: I should do more. I can’t say no. I have to be everything to everyone. That guilt weighs heavily on already overworked teachers . And while your heart is in the right place—you care deeply about your students—the reality is you’re human, not superhuman. It's a perfect storm to whip an overworked teacher into a hurricane of teacher burnout . I always started the school year with high hopes that things would go better than the year before. There were many years where things may have improved (such as having a group of kids that got along better or having a better handle on teaching a particular subject), but every year, that heavy feeling of things slowly piling on would happen right with the change of the leaves and the first sign of a jack-o-lantern. Reality would hit right when the workload picked up, and that one kid dared to keep trying my patience (over and over). "Discover strategies to overcome teacher burnout and reignite your passion for teaching with 'Teachaholic: The 7-Day Mindset Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries.'" Teaching may not be what they show in the movies or what they say it is in those Facebook groups (where absolutely no one is a teacher), but does that mean we need to start googling how to change careers as a teacher? “Should I Quit Teaching?” Isn’t a Bad Question If you’re asking yourself this, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re paying attention. The truth is, many teachers reach this point—especially in their first few years—but also veterans who’ve been in the classroom for decades. If you’re new, you may be shocked at how unprepared student teaching left you for the real job. If you’re experienced, maybe you’ve watched expectations multiply year after year with no end in sight. Defining a Teachaholic: A committed teacher driven to the edge by boundless dedication and external pressures, risking burnout in their educational journey. Feeling trapped, hopeless, or convinced that quitting is the only way out is a normal response. But it may not be your only option. Are You a “Teachaholic”? In my book Teachaholic , I define a teachaholic as a teacher who’s deeply dedicated, genuinely cares, and wants to have a huge impact on students—but puts their own needs last, always. Teaching stops being just a job and becomes their entire identity. Sound familiar? You say “yes” to everything because that’s what you think a good teacher does. You work yourself to exhaustion, ignoring your own breaking point. You consistently put your needs last. Find rejuvenation with the free Teacher Burnout Recovery Action Guide, a perfect complement to the Teachaholic book. Visit erinsponaugle.com/book for more details. If you nodded along, you’re not a bad teacher, nor are you a teacher who needs to quit the profession. You’re just caught in a very messed-up system that rewards self-sacrifice and normalizes burnout - with little regard for how teachers repair the damage it does to their lives or the lives of their families. But you can break the cycle. I started teaching in 2003. In 2014, I was named the West Virginia Teacher of the Year. By 2016, I was sobbing and crashed out on the couch the week before Spring Break due to burnout. It took leveling myself to come to terms with the fact that I had zero boundaries and a very flawed perspective on my self-worth to start making changes and reignite my spark for teaching. Embracing New Boundaries: How I Rediscovered My Passion for Teaching What Teachaholic Offers I wrote Teachaholic as the book I needed eight or nine years ago. It’s a seven-day guide designed to help teachers like you reset your mindset, reclaim your boundaries, and build a healthier relationship with the job you love—without having to quit teaching unless that’s truly the right decision for you. Inside, you’ll find: The hidden “think traps” that lead to teacher burnout. A step-by-step approach to setting boundaries (even when it feels scary). How to handle social media and comparison culture. What to do when people aren’t happy about your new boundaries. How to recover from setbacks and sustain your teaching career long-term. Discover "Teachaholic," a guide designed by a teacher to help educators combat burnout and set healthy boundaries, available now on Amazon. Enjoy a limited-time Kindle offer for just 99¢ until 11/08/25. Each chapter pairs with a free Teachaholic Action Guide you can download at www.erinsponaugle.com/book . It includes reflection questions, graphic organizers, and prompts to help you apply what you’re reading right away. Why Boundaries Aren’t Selfish One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Sometimes change doesn’t start with the source of the problem. Sometimes it starts with us. Sometimes it starts with someone doing better for themselves.” Teacher boundaries aren’t selfish; they’re survival. Without them, burnout accelerates, and students lose the stable, passionate educators they deserve. With them, you model for students—and future teachers—what a healthy work-life balance looks like. Are you a "teachaholic" feeling overwhelmed? Instead of quitting, consider adopting healthier habits and setting boundaries to rejuvenate your passion for teaching. Teaching’s Future Depends on Us Our students see us every day. They’re quietly forming their own opinions about the profession. If they see teachers exhausted, resentful, and leaving in droves, they’ll think twice before stepping into our shoes. When I taught fifth grade (the last few years especially), sometimes the students woudl ask me I liked being a teacher. Even when I was tired, sad, or exhausted, I would say, "Of course I do!" But the would give me a look that told me they knew I wasn't being completely truthful. The truth is, the kids are watching. And they know that if teaching isn't a healthy, sustainable career for us, it probably won't be for them, either. We can’t fix every broken policy or top-down mandate. But we can control how we show up for ourselves. That ripple effect matters. A moment of realization in a classroom highlights the importance of mindset over resignation: "I thought I needed to quit teaching, but what I really needed was a mindset shift." Before You Quit Teaching… If you’re wondering, “Should I quit teaching?” take a breath. It’s okay to ask the question. It’s okay to consider leaving. But it’s also okay to give yourself permission to try something different first—to shift your mindset, reclaim your boundaries, and see if teaching feels different from that place. You are worth saving. Your joy for teaching is worth saving. If you’re ready for a fresh start, grab your copy of Teachaholic on Amazon this Wednesday for just 99 cents on Kindle (until 11/08/25). Download the free action guide at www.erinsponaugle.com/book and start putting the steps into practice immediately. Discover "Teachaholic," the essential guide to overcoming teacher burnout, now available on Amazon. Grab the Kindle version for just 99¢ for a limited time and reignite your passion for teaching. Visit erinsponaugle.com/book for more information. You don’t have to be another statistic. You don’t have to give up on your calling. There’s a way forward—and you don’t have to do it alone. Ready to reclaim your joy for teaching? 📚 Teachaholic: The 7-Day Mindset Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching launches Wednesday, October 8th on Amazon. 💜 Download the free Teachaholic Action Guide to start today at www.erinsponaugle.com/book or fill out the form below!

Teaching Through a Personal or Medical Crisis: How to Protect Your Peace and Stay Afloat When you’re a teacher, life doesn’t hit pause just because the school year’s in full swing. Some seasons bring more than lesson plans and data meetings — they bring you face-to-face with personal challenges, medical scares, or emotional upheaval. Note: this post may contain affiliate links. And here’s the truth: teachers are people too. It's a recurring theme in my new book, Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching   — available now on Amazon. We carry invisible loads while managing classrooms full of kids who depend on our consistency and care. I’ve been there — through personal crises, through health scares — and I know how disorienting it feels when your world spins faster than you can manage. Revitalize your teaching passion with "Teachaholic"—a 7-day mindset journey to overcome burnout, establish lasting boundaries, and rediscover the joy of teaching. For more information, visit erinsponaugle.com/book. If that’s where you are right now, take a breath. You are not failing. You are simply human. Here are some gentle ways to keep teaching through a personal or medical crisis — and protect your own well-being along the way. The things we will be going over that will help you get through teaching during a personal or medical crisis are: What to Share and When Letting Things Go Giving Yourself Permission Not to Care Keeping Things Predictable Asking for Help A Resource for a Time of Support Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. Episode 31 of the Next Chapter for Teachers Podcast dives into "Teaching When Your Life Is In Crisis: What To Do" with insights and guidance from Erin Sponaugle. When You Are Teaching Through a Personal Crisis, You Decide What to Share — and When When personal or medical challenges arise , remember that you’re in the driver’s seat of your own story. You don’t owe anyone full disclosure. It’s appropriate to let your administrator know if your situation might affect your attendance or energy level, but beyond that, share what feels right to you. Colleagues and students don’t need all the details — and sometimes, protecting your privacy is part of protecting your peace. If your emotions spill into the classroom, it’s okay to acknowledge to your students that you’re having a tough time — just as they do. It becomes a quiet lesson in empathy. But never feel pressured to overshare. Boundaries are not barriers; they’re a form of self-respect. Navigating Challenges: Teaching Resilience Amid Personal Struggles Let Things Go When You're Going Through a Personal or Medical Crisis — You’re in Emotional (and Physical) Triage When life falls apart, your energy becomes a finite resource. You can’t do it all, and that’s okay. This is your emotional and physical triage moment. If you’re serving on committees, running clubs, or volunteering for extra duties, it’s time to step back. The classroom will be enough for now. You might not get to be the teacher you’ve always been this year — but that doesn’t make you a bad teacher. It makes you a human one. Finding Wellness in Teaching: Navigating the Classroom During Personal Crisis Run in “Safe Mode” When your computer glitches, you restart it in safe mode — just the basics, nothing extra. The same principle applies here. Teaching through a personal crisis requires you to conserve your energy so you can focus on your own needs and prioritize your health. Run your classroom (and your life) in teacher safe mode. Focus on essential operations: your students’ safety , learning flow, and your own basic well-being. Everything else can wait. This won’t last forever, but during the storm, you need permission to do less. Guidance for Teachers Facing Life Crises: Self-Care Strategies for Navigating Difficult Times. Give Yourself Permission Not to Care (As Much) As a Teacher Going Through a Life Crisis Let’s be real: test scores, data walls, and performance goals can feel meaningless when your personal life is unraveling. To be honest, I doubt how meaningful they are when life isn't in crisis either, but when your life is falling a apart, those teacher things we are primed to obsess over become even less important. It's okay not to are as much when you are doing your best to keep your own head (and possibly your family as well) above water. You’re not neglecting your job by emotionally detaching a bit — you’re protecting your mental health . Not everything deserves your energy right now. You are allowed to stop chasing perfection and start chasing peace. The classroom work will be there, and time will march on. But if you are going to get through this rough patch, you need to allow yourself to direct your energy elsewhere. Guidance for Educators: Navigating the Challenges of Teaching During Personal or Medical Struggles During a Personal or Medical Crisis, Keep One Thing Predictable in Your Routines as a Teacher When everything else feels unpredictable, routine becomes an anchor. Keep at least one classroom routine that grounds you — morning meetings, music during work time, even a small ritual like a daily affirmation with your students. That sense of stability helps you and your class feel tethered in a season that otherwise feels chaotic. When there are things going on in your body or your personal life that are out of your control, those little things that bring routine and order to your life can be a grounding force. Guide for Teachers: Strategies to Leave School on Time and Protect Your Schedule During Life's Challenges (Free Download Available) When Teaching Thorugh a Personal or Medical Crisis, Ask for (and Accept) Help Teachers are professional givers. Asking for help? Not our default setting. But when you’re in crisis, that mindset can become your undoing. If you’ve opened up to your administrator or team, accept support when it’s offered. Whether it’s coverage for a meeting, a day off for medical appointments, or a colleague sharing lesson materials — take it. Those small mercies can lift more weight than you realize. Help is not a weakness. It’s a bridge back to balance. Discover how to prevent burnout and nurture your well-being with the Teachaholic book—essential reading for every overwhelmed teacher. Download now to reclaim your balance. The Only Way Out Is Through As Robert Frost said, “The only way out is through.” This isn’t the season to prove how strong you are — it’s the season to heal while holding on to what truly matters. And when you make it to the other side (because you will), you’ll carry more empathy, perspective, and compassion into your teaching than ever before. If you’re navigating a season of burnout, boundary battles, or personal crisis, you’ll find even more support inside my new book Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching — available now on Amazon. 🎁 Grab your free Teacher Boundary Action Guide to start creating space for yourself — even in the hardest seasons. It's the perfect complement to Teachaholic , featuring reflection questions, graphic organizers, and guidance to help you prepare for a better life, both in and out of the classroom. Get your FREE copy below!

Signs You're a Teacher Who Needs to Set Boundaries If you’re feeling like your classroom has taken over your entire life, you’re not alone. Last week, we talked about the five signs of teacher burnout , and I shared a peek at my new book, Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching (coming October 8th 🎉). Today, let’s talk about the not-so-subtle signs that your teacher boundaries have gone missing —and what to do about it. Note: this post may contain affiliate links. "Discover 'Teachaholic,' a guide for teachers to overcome burnout, establish healthy boundaries, and reignite their passion for teaching." Because here’s the truth: even if you love teaching, if your job is consuming every ounce of your time and energy, it’s only a matter of time before resentment creeps in. You deserve a life outside of school. You deserve rest, hobbies, and joy that isn’t tied to a lesson plan. Let’s get real about the habits that are holding you hostage and how to break free. The 5 signs your a teacher who needs to set boundaries that we'll go into are: Last Car in the Parking Lot Grading or Lesson Planning into the Night Answering Emails After Hours Saying "Yes" to Everything No Identity Outside of Teaching ...and the Boundary Blueprint that could save your teaching career Discover the power of setting boundaries in teaching with insights from the book "Teachaholic." Learn how redefining limits can transform your career and well-being. Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. Episode 30 of Next Chapter for Teachers Podcast, hosted by Erin Sponaugle, explores how teachers can recognize the need for setting professional boundaries. Teacher Boundaries Sign #1: You’re the Last Car in the Parking Lot It’s quiet. The sun’s setting. The custodian waves goodnight as you drag yourself to the car… again. If this sounds familiar, you might be struggling with boundaries. Sure, sometimes staying late is unavoidable— parent conferences , school events, or that one day you got ambushed by unexpected meetings. But if you’re always the last one out, it’s a sign that your workday is spilling too far into your personal time. You deserve more than a life spent under fluorescent lights. When you stay too late, you rob yourself of time to eat dinner, connect with your family, or even just sit in silence for five blessed minutes. There’s always “one more thing” to do—but if you never draw the line, your energy tank runs dry. Sometimes you have to walk away… even when it’s not all done. Discovering the Signs: Do You Need to Set Boundaries as a Teacher? Teacher Boundaries Sign #2: You’re Grading or Lesson Planning Late Into the Night Let’s be honest: grading and planning have a sneaky way of turning into your evening entertainment. You sit down “just for a minute,” and suddenly it’s 11 p.m. and you’re still squinting at essays or adjusting your slides. I get it. I’ve been there. Between fifth-grade essays, data tracking, and ever-growing to-do lists, it can feel impossible to shut it down. But when your laptop becomes your life partner , something’s got to give. Here’s what’s really happening: the later you work, the less effective you become. Your brain fogs up. You miss things. And the work that was supposed to make you a “better” teacher actually makes you an exhausted one. Start asking: What can only be done at school? What can I let go of—or simplify—to protect my nights? Because planning should not be your bedtime routine. Teacher Boundaries Sign #3: You’re Answering Emails After Hours If your inbox has turned into a 24/7 customer service line, we need to talk. You might think you’re being helpful by responding to parents at 9 p.m., but what you’re really doing is teaching everyone that your time isn’t your own . Parents, administrators, even students—will learn that you’re always “on.” You don’t owe anyone instant responses. Try setting a boundary: block off the last 10 minutes of your planning period for emails or calls, and shut it down after that. Remember: teachers are not robots. You’re a human being who deserves to close the laptop and recharge. Balancing Act: Discover if Your Teaching Habits Are Impacting Your Work-Life Balance and Learn How to Set Essential Boundaries. Teacher Boundaries Sign #4: You Say “Yes” to Everything If “no” isn’t in your vocabulary, burnout is knocking at your door. You might think saying yes makes you helpful, respected, or team-spirited. But here’s the truth: if you say yes to everything, your yes means nothing. It’s just expected. Every “yes” comes with a hidden cost— your time, your energy, your sanity . And when you’re spread too thin, you can’t give your best to anyone. Not your students, not your family, not yourself. Learning to say no isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. It’s how you protect your purpose. Teachers: Set Boundaries by Saying No—Protect Your Time for a Healthier Work-Life Balance. Teacher Boundaries Sign #5: You Have No Identity Outside of Teaching If your hobbies, interests, and conversations all revolve around your classroom, it’s time to take a breath. Teaching can easily become an all-consuming identity. Especially when you’re new or passionate, it’s easy to get wrapped up in lesson planning, decorating, and “teacher talk” 24/7. But when your entire self-worth comes from your job, the line between work and life disappears—and that’s when burnout moves in. You are a whole, complex human being outside of your classroom. Explore new hobbies. Read books that have nothing to do with pedagogy. Take a pottery class. Dance. Write. Nap. You ’ll come back to your classroom more creative, grounded, and fulfilled. Struggling with your teaching career? Explore whether it's time to leave the classroom or redefine your boundaries in this insightful blog post. The Boundary Blueprint: Teachaholic If you saw yourself in any of these signs (or all of them—no judgment here), it’s time for a reset. That’s exactly why I wrote Teachaholic: The 7-Day MindSET Shift to Conquer Burnout, Build Life-Changing Boundaries, and Reignite Your Love for Teaching . Discover "Teachaholic: The 7-Day Mindset Shift to Conquer Burnout," now available on Kindle for just 99¢! Learn to set boundaries, say no, and practice self-care to rekindle your passion for teaching. Limited offer until 11/08/25. Visit erinspoonaugle.com/book for more information. This book guides you through practical strategies to establish lasting boundaries, shift your mindset, and rediscover joy in teaching without letting it consume your life. 👉 Grab your copy here and start your seven-day shift today. And don’t forget to download your free Teachaholic Action Guide —a reflection workbook that helps you personalize your boundary plan. Because you don’t just deserve to teach—you deserve to live. Want immediate support to help you set boundaries? Download my FREE Teachaholic Action Guide, complete with reflection questions, graphic organizers, and guidance to lead you through each chapter of Teachaholic. Download it here or complete the form below!

Fifteen years ago, my classroom management was in shambles. How do you teach when the kids won't listen to you, overly absorbed in recess and lunch drama, and won't do their homework no matter how much extra recess you're willing to offer? By the end of the school year I was at the end of my rope with students who were unmotivated, unkind, and uninterested in doing their best. I needed to create something to engage my fifth graders in being responsible classroom citizens, while not talking down to them or being too babyish for their almost middle school mentality. After doing some research, I came across the idea of starting a classroom economy. I loved the lidea of teaching my students financial responsiblity alongside motivating them to make better choices in the classroom . True to form, I went all out to make this an authentic experience - check writing, paying rent, paychecks, shopping at the classroom store. I had to try something so I never had another year like the one I had just experienced. Classroom Economy Program for Grades 3-5: Enhance Financial Literacy and Behavior Management with Editable Resources by Erin Sponaugle. And you know what? It worked! My students loved it. It became their favorite thing about fifth grade! Sometimes I run into former students and they still tell me they remember how much fun they had with Sponomics (TM), the name of my classroom economy. If you are looking to start back to school or even in the middle of the school year when your class behavior needs a reboot , you'll want to consider using a classroom economy system . It could change the entire dynamic of your learning environment. In this article, you will get the answers to these questions What is a classroom economy system? What are the benefits of using a classroom economy system? What do you need to get started with a classroom economy system in your upper elementary classroom? Does a classroom economy system really work with students? What Is a Classroom Economy System? A classroom economy system is a behavior and financial literacy program rolled into one. Students earn classroom “money” by completing jobs, following expectations, and participating in classroom life. They then use that money to pay rent, shop, and budget for various classroom privileges. In short? It’s real-world learning in action — and kids love it. The Classroom Economy System: Enhance Financial Literacy and Personal Responsibility for Grades 3-5 with Sponomics (TM). Discover Four Reasons to Implement This Engaging Math and Behavior Management Tool. Why Use a Classroom Economy in Upper Elementary? Upper elementary students (grades 3–5) are at the perfect age for learning responsibility, independence, and real-life math skills. A classroom economy taps into this developmental stage by giving them ownership over their role in the classroom community . A Classroom Economy System Teaches Financial Literacy Through Experience Instead of worksheets and hypothetical word problems, students balance a checkbook , write real checks , budget for needs vs. wants , and earn a paycheck based on their behavior and contributions. These are lifelong skills — taught in a way that actually sticks. For many kids, this may be their first introduction to how money works in the real world - from writing a check, to saving for rent, to applying for a job and earning a paycheck! No matter the age, kids love to play. Getting tp "play" with classroom cash and banking is an age appropriate activity for upper elementary students who will need the financial literacy learned from Sponomics (TM) later in their middle and high school years - and beyond! Creative Classroom Economy: Teaching Financial Literacy to Upper Elementary Students through Hands-On Learning Tools. A Classroom Economy System Builds Personal Responsibility When students have a classroom job, they begin to understand their role in maintaining a positive learning environment. They become accountable not just to the teacher, but to their peers. When I implemented my classroom ecnonmy system in my 5th grade, it eventually got to the point (often within a months time) where the students were running the entire program. The ownership my students got from accepting charge over their behavior and actions as well as how the system operated was priceless - and it gave me back valuable time to focus on teaching instead of managing student behavior. A Classroom Economy Doubles as a Behavior Management Tool Forget prize boxes. With a classroom economy, students are naturally motivated to follow rules and complete tasks because they’re working toward something meaningful — like a shopping day at the classroom store! You can certainly incorporate a classroom economy system as part of your current classroom or school behavior management program. I did that for several years when it was required - using a clip chart, card system, and even incorporating Class Dojo. What I found, hovever, that the authenticity of the classroom economy was much more meaningful to them - so much that the card pull or clip down was much less impactful than having to write a check and deduct it from their account. Engage students in grades 3-5 with Sponomics (TM): an interactive and customizable classroom economy program featuring slides and resources on check writing, bank account management, and more. A Classroom Economy System Makes Math Meaningful Managing money makes math personal. From adding up deposits to subtracting for rent or fines, students apply real math skills in a way that’s engaging and relevant. The daily practice of adding and subtracting from their transaction (or bank account) log helps them retain their basic math facts. Depending on if you choose to incorporate decimals instead of just whole dollar amounts in your classroom economy, they'll get the added benefit of adding and subtracting decimals as well. Want to add even more math? You could even use percentages as part of your classroom store or fees and penalties when it's time for kids to pay up! Engage your upper elementary students with a real-world classroom economy system, promoting accountability through behavior incentives. Everything you need to start today! How to Get Started with a Classroom Economy System Implementing a classroom economy system might sound complicated, but with the right tools, it’s totally doable — even during that busy back-to-school season . In fact, the start of the school year is the best time to get your classroom economy up and running, so you can reap the benifit and excitement all year long. That being said, if you are in the middle of a stressful season in your classroom where you desperately need to reboot your class' interest in making good choices, dont hesitate to start a classroom economy today. It could be the thing that gets your class back on track (and saves your sanity). Here’s what you’ll need: Classroom job descriptions and applications Bank account logs or check registers Classroom currency or check-writing materials Rent system or “cost of living” Classroom store or prize menu A plan for paying fines, bonuses, or fees (💡 This is exactly what’s included in Sponomics (TM), my Classroom Economy Resource for Upper Elementary — designed for grades 3–5 and modifiable for homeschool use too!) "Explore how to incorporate a classroom economy system in your upper elementary classroom with engaging tools and resources to enhance student learning." Classroom Economy Systems Work — I’ve Seen It Firsthand The first year I implemented Sponomics (TM) I was just hoping that my students would be more motivated to make better choices than the year before. I just wanted things to be a little more manageable and to not feel so defeated at the end of the day from how my students acted in my classroom. I had no idea that a classroom ecnonmy system would change not only how I approached my classroom management and behaviors incentives with my 5th grade, but how it would completely transform my students' motivation, independence, and choices. They were excited to learn how to be "grown ups" by having a bank account and a paycheck. They were eager to be the banker and be in charge of ensuring the transaction logs were up-to-date. I got some concerned parents at conferences about why their child was worried about their desk rent going up and if they were going to have to pay another paper tax, but that just added to the fun and connection to home (the parents thought the entire program was great)! Implementing a classroom economy system revitalized my 5th grade class, improving behavior and creating an engaging atmosphere. Read more about our journey here. The most standout moment of all was how my own bleak outlook on student behaviors and student choices changed after I implemented a classroom ecnonmy system. Not only were my students excited about Sponom'cs (TM) but I felt energized and exctied as well. So often in teaching we get bogged down with everything that is added to our already full plates, and we understandably forget what we love about teaching and about our students. Getting to "play" with my class through Sponomics (TM) reminded me why I love teaching and that teaching could still be all the good things my students deserved. Engage your upper elementary students with an exciting and effective behavior management system using Sponomics' Classroom Economy. Download this high-interest, editable resource today! Is a Classroom Economy Right for Homeschool Too? Yes! Many of the same principles apply in a homeschool setting. A modified classroom economy can help teach financial literacy, responsibility, and routine — all within the home environment. Plus, it’s a great way to bring real-world learning into your homeschool curriculum. Whlie classroom jobs may look more like chores, the same principles could be applied to earning a paycheck and maintaining a bank account log. Final Thoughts: Start Building Your Classroom Economy Today A classroom economy system isn't just a fun game — it’s a framework for teaching essential life skills in a way that’s engaging, structured, and meaningful. Whether you're looking to motivate your students, manage classroom behavior, or bring math to life, this system delivers. 🎉 Ready to get started? Check out Sponomics (TM), my Classroom Economy Program for Upper Elementary , complete with editable resources, a teaching slideshow, and everything you need to launch your own classroom economy today! Engage your students in real-world learning with this comprehensive Classroom Economy System. Includes editable resources and slides to teach personal finance and math skills effectively. The start of a new year is a great time to start a classroom economy system and establish routines and expectations that will bring you peace and order throughout the year.   Have you read your FREE copy of  The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over?  It's a checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back to school season, during and after the holidays, or any time your classroom needs a reset. Get your copy below!

Sticker charts, treasure chests, bribery - 5th graders are a tough crowd when it comes to getting good behavior and choices in the upper elementary classroom. I've tried all of the above. The sticker would get placed on things they didn't belong to (ahem, desk), treasure chest items ended up on the floor, and the bribes just got tired and true as they inched closer to middle school. When I implemented a classroom store for behavior management paired with my Sponomics ™ classroom economy system , I finally had a complete, low-stress solution that students actually loved! Three Reasons for a Classroom Store Upper Elementary What if behavior management could be fun and functional in your classroom? Keep reading to learn three reasons why a classroom store for upper elementary can change the game and be a "cents"-able solution! "Sponomics Classroom Store for Grades 3-5: Engage students with an exciting reward system featuring editable resources, coupons, and a slideshow!" Reason #1: A Classroom Store Turns Rewards into Real World Shopping Students Aren't Just Shopping - They're Budgeting! My fifth graders had rent and expenses to pay as part of their Sponomics ™ classroom economy experience. When the classroom economy store was approaching, they would have to review their bank account logs and account for how much money they would have left to spend at the classroom store after they paid for their "needs" (such as desk rent). On store day, the financial literacy in the classroom increased as students had to compare prices and prioritize their wants vs. needs. Sometimes, students realized they would need to save up for bigger items. Discover three compelling reasons why a classroom store might just be the missing tool for boosting student engagement, fostering independence, and teaching real-world math skills effortlessly. To make the store experience even more authentic, students had to weigh their priorities against sales, clearance items, and the occasional coupon. This may have helped them save money, but they also had to do some mental math on the spot to calculate their savings. Students would proudly show me their receipts after exiting the classroom checkout, explaining how they had saved money and taken advantage of the sales. A classroom store is money math for kids with instant "buy-in" for students. Create an engaging classroom experience with the Sponomics Classroom Store—complete with signs, editable slideshows, receipts, and more for grades 3-5. Download now to motivate your students! Reason #2: A Classroom Store Motivates Better Behavior — Without the Nagging A Classroom Store is Positive Reinforcement for Upper Elementary on Autopilot My 5th-grade students began managing themselves because they wanted to earn and spend their classroom money on store day. No more reminding, bribing, or redirecting - just built-in motivation . This is one of those rewards in the classroom that does the heavy lifting for you, because the students are so excited and feel so "grown up" about the responsibility of the classroom economy and store that they will move heaven and earth (or, in this case, cash or check) to do whatever it takes to rake in the dollars for good behavior and completing their classroom jobs. Empower students with real-world math skills and financial literacy through a classroom store, enhancing engagement and motivation in upper elementary learners. Whether they realize it or not, students' classroom jobs, rent, paychecks, and fines all connect to the reward of shopping at the store, making behavior feel like part of a real economy . Students had to have all their expenses, such as their classroom rent and taxes, paid before they could shop. This motivated them to keep an eye on their bank account logs to ensure they had enough for expenses, including the cool art set they saw on the last shopping day. A classroom store is behavior management with a classroom economy that your students will talk about with their friends, like it's the real world. Engage students with real-world financial literacy using the Sponomics Classroom Store, offering low-cost or no-cost rewards for budget-friendly shopping and motivation in an editable format. Reason #3: A Classroom Store Made My Life Easier (and Kept Me Sane) Low Prep. High Engagement. Totally Worth It. As a 5th-grade teacher, I didn't have a lot of time in between grading papers and lesson planning to invest in setting up a classroom store. I also didn't want to sink a lot of my own money into this reward system. Sponomics ™ Classroom Store is designed to be print-and-go , with editable options for your own reward. The physical store items are low-cost and could even come from parent or student donations. Not only that, but no-cost student rewards are also included so you can alternate between actual items if needed - or just keep it simple if you're a teacher on a budget. Student-Run Classroom Store Inspires Motivation and Responsibility All Year Long For my classroom store setup, I had all the store inventory arranged in small baskets with price signs, so my bankers or students in charge of the store could easily set things up for the store in our small classroom. Once the students knew where and how to set up the checkout area, they could prepare that as well without my assistance. A PowerPoint presentation, ready-to-go and editable to meet the needs of the classroom, finished out our classroom store setup, transforming our classroom into a store with the flip of a slide. Transform your classroom into an interactive learning experience with the Sponomics Classroom Store! This editable slideshow includes everything you need—merchandise, checkout receipts, coupons, and more. Make shopping educational and fun. Download now at TeachersPayTeachers . A classroom store is one of those classroom management tools that work because it's creative and holds students accountable. To review, here are the three reasons class store rewards pay huge dividends in your upper elementary classroom: A Classroom Store Turns Rewards into Real Shopping A Classroom Store Motivates Better Behavior without Nagging A Classroom Store Makes Your Life Easier - because the Store Runs Itself! Empower students with real-life skills by setting up a classroom store. Enhance math learning, teach budgeting, and inspire excitement through this student-run initiative. I used to dread managing student rewards. Now my classroom economy runs smoother than my morning (decaf) coffee routine. Ready to set up your own classroom store? Grab your copy of Sponomics ™ Classroom Store and get editable templates, display signs, coupons, price tags, and even a shopping slideshow to make class store days extra fun and functional. Enhance your classroom management with a fun and educational classroom store! Encourage students to budget and save for items like crayons, stickers, and games while learning valuable money management skills. Your sanity will thank you! Want your students to be money-smart and behavior rockstars? Get everything you need to launch your own classroom economy right here . No stress. All success. Sponomics™ Classroom Store Sponomics™ Classroom Economy System Sponomics™ Classroom Economy Bulletin Board Set Engage your upper elementary students with the Sponomics Classroom Store, integrating fun money math lessons with a complete classroom economy system. Includes resources, slides, and exciting activities to get your students eager to learn! A new school year is a great time to start a classroom economy system (and class store!) to establish routines and expectations that will bring you peace and order throughout the year.   Have you read your FREE copy of  The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over?  It's a checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back-to-school season, during and after the holidays, or any time your classroom needs a reset. Get your copy below!

Decor with a Purpose: How to Set Up a Classroom Economy Bulletin Board That Works During back-to-school season, teachers spend countless hours hanging posters, cutting borders, and stapling letters onto bulletin boards that students will hardly notice once they see who is in their class. Interactive classroom economy bulletin board teaches financial literacy and management skills with engaging tasks and incentives. What if your bulletin board could actually do something??? My classroom economy system could run itself and keep my 5th graders motivated . Still, I needed a place in the room to provide visuals and reminders for all their tasks and responsibilities. I created the Sponomics™ Bulletin Board Set not just to decorate, but to drive engagement, behavior, and financial literacy . It's more than just a classroom economy display. This is decor with a purpose - a bulletin board that does more than look cute! It's a classroom management bulletin board that combines financial literacy with a behavior management system. Editable Classroom Economy Bulletin Board Set for Grades 3-5: Enhance your classroom with engaging economic decor, complete with job wheels, sample checks, and motivational signs. Ideal for teaching responsibility and financial literacy. Here are three steps to make "cents" of behavior management with a Classroom Ecnonomy Display: Step 1: Set the Stage — Designing a Classroom Economy Bulletin Board That Supports Your System Think Function First for Your Classroom Economy, Then Make It Fabulous Creative Classroom Management: Setting Up an Engaging Classroom Economy Bulletin Board for Student Success! The Sponomics™ Bulletin Board Set acts as the visual core of the classroom economy. It's not just decor, but a tool for: Posting expectations Displaying fines, fees, and bonuses Introducing the classroom "bank" and transaction concepts (such as making deposits, withdrawals, and writing checks) Reinforcing classroom jobs and systems The charts for fines, bonuses, and classroom rules are all editable, so you can customize them to meet the needs of your classroom! Classroom economy bulletin board set featuring colorful decor with a "Bank" theme, promoting positive behavior and responsibility through engaging visuals, sample checks, fines, and action rewards. Step 2: Make It Meaningful — A Classroom Economy Bulletin Board Display That Drives Student Buy-In If They Can See It, They Can Lead It Classroom Economy Bulletin Board: Integrated Behavior Management System with Rules and Charts for a Positive Learning Environment. There are a lot of moving pieces to having a student-run classroom economy system that truly teaches kids about managing money and their behavior. Without having things out and available to review, it's easy to have your well-intentioned behavior management incentive go down the tubes fast. Having a visible, interactive bulletin board helps students take ownership of the classroom economy: They check their own fines/bonuses. They track goals and expectations. They understand the flow of money in the system. They pay their classmates using the classroom job resources - without interfering with the teacher's teaching responsibilities! Engaging Classroom Economy Bulletin Board for Student-Led Behavior Management System Once my students were accustomed to checking the classroom economy bulletin board, they took charge of everything. The only thing I did was make sure there were enough copies of checks and paychecks! Someone would turn the job wheel on Monday morning, and the students got into the habit of checking to see what their jobs were for the week. Bankers knew they could work on paychecks for the week once their work was complete. It was truly a self-running system that my students took pride in participating in! Engage students with a vibrant classroom economy bulletin board set featuring customizable borders, letters, and editable charts to create an interactive learning environment. Step 3: Connect the Dots — From Classroom Bulletin Board Decor to Classroom Economy Daily Routine When the Bulletin Board Becomes the Behavior Manager This is how my classroom economy bulletin board became the store of my classroom management system: Arrows directed students to examples of how to correctly write a personal and paycheck Decor that represented our "bank" made it visually appealing and alerted even new students to the classroom what it was for (they caught on quickly) Rules, Fines, and Bonuses were posted so students could reference them quickly - they would even cut a check for a classroom infraction before I could say anything! Students didn't need to be reminded or given bank account logs or checks when they needed them - they knew where to find them and took care of it without prompting! The visual consistency (matching colors, borders, signage) reinforced structure and expectations. Enhance your classroom with the Sponomics Bulletin Board Set, designed for grades 3-5, offering high-interest decor to support a vibrant class economy, complete with rules, rewards, and editable features. Download now for engaging and educational decoration! What’s Included in the Sponomics™ Bulletin Board Set ? Editable fines/bonus charts Folder covers for students' bank account logs (sold separately in the Sponomics™ Classroom Economy) “Bank” display letters Printable decor pieces Teacher tips and example boards Color + black-and-white versions Engage students and manage behavior with this functional classroom economy bulletin board set, designed to be both practical and educational. Ready to Set Up Your Own Financially Fabulous Display? Classroom management doesn’t have to be chaotic — sometimes, it just needs a good layout and a little lamination. Take the leap and turn their classroom walls into tools that motivate and manage. Get the Sponomics™ Bulletin Board Set , and check out the complete Sponomics™ Classroom Economy Bundle if you want everything to get your classroom economy system - complete with a classroom store. - started today! Engage your students with this vibrant and editable Classroom Economy bulletin board set, featuring charts, letters, and creative borders to enhance learning and excitement. Are you ready t start a new school year? Now is the time to start a classroom economy system (and class store!) to establish routines and expectations that will bring you peace and order throughout the year.   You'll find all of this in your FREE copy of  The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over?  It's a checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back-to-school season, during and after the holidays, or any time your classroom needs a reset. Get your copy below!

Classroom management. Wherever you are in your teaching career, whether it’s just starting out or you’ve been here a while, your classroom management strategies (along with your mindset) can make or break your teaching career. There are many components to it - it’s not just managing student behavior. But that’s what we’re going to start with. Because from the first day of school, you are "on." If you want to be able to teach the kids, have the kids behave, have your classroom not look like someone turned it upside down and shook it (well that might happen regardless), you have to have your classroom management strategies on lock. And it starts with how you teach rules, routines, and expectations. So, I’ve got a goody for you to take back to school with you in a few weeks, or next month, or in two months depending where you are in your summer break. I have created The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over . This is going to become a classic. You are going to get this out for years to come, and use it as a checklist of things to teach your students how to do life in your classroom. It is geared more for upper elementary (because that has been my world for the past two decades), but you may find it useful if you teach outside of that age range as well. Why are classroom management strategies so important? Rules? Routines? Shouldn’t we let them get to know each other, get started with some content…won’t the rules just come up naturally as we go? I mean, if they’re in upper elementary (and I consider that grades 3 and up), they’ve done this before right? Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. NO. They have not. Girl. Boy. Real talk time. They have had two months off. (If you are in the U.S., and maybe not, if you’re on a year round school schedule). But anyway, they have been off a school schedule, more than likely not on anyone’s schedule for a few weeks at least. They have reset. They are coming back from being wild and woolly, and that’s good, cause you know what? You probably needed to be wild and woolly after last last school year too! And unfortunately many of the home environments our students come from aren’t stable and lack structure. So they are coming back, and just assume when it comes to behavior, they remember nothing. You also have to take into account that your expectations may vary greatly from that of the last teacher your students have. What wasn’t a big deal last year, like noise levels or transitions, may be a big deal for you. Assume they know nothing. Treat it like a blank slate. So I’ve got the great 88 for you , but I also have some other guidance for you for how to establish classroom management strategies in the new school year. They all begin with P. Are you ready? You're about to learn about the important of presence , procedures , and practice . The first "P" that will impact your classroom management strategies is presence. That is, your demeanor. Your confidence. How you project your voice. It all matters. And when you’re just starting out or your coming back from a bad year or experience teaching, I know it’s hard to find your voice. But you’ve got to go in there from day one and establish you are the teacher. You are the boss. Now that doesn’t mean that you have to be mean. No. Not at all. We don’t want our students to associate use with that, they have enough of it from other surrounding forces in their lives. But you can be firm. And assert your boundaries . That’s what your students need, and it’s secretly what many of them crave. They want someone to be in charge and provide structure. It helps them feel safe to know that it’s you they can count on. But that means no wishy washy form you. You’ve got nothing to be afraid of. Well, maybe a little. But no. You’ve got to tell yourself “I am the adult. I am the teacher. These kids are looking to me. I set the tone.” The more sure you are of how you want things, want your students to do things and to behave, the stronger your presence will become. The next "P" that should influence your classroom management strategies is procedures. And this is all what The Great 88 is about . You have to teach them everything! If you want it, teach it. You may have heard that before, but it makes the difference between smooth sailing and…hitting an iceberg in October. You have to teach them everything you want them to do…and you’re going to need to do it consistently. Like…how to sit in your seat. Don’t want to see their feet on the chair? Gonna have to teach them that! Do you want certain supplies on their desk by the end of announcements every day. Better not just show them what supplies, but where you want the supplies on their desks. Sounds a little over the top, but as you’ll see with The Great 88 Checklist , you’ve got to leave nothing to chance. And…you won’t be able to teach them every rule, every procedure, on the first day. Or even the first week. You do need to let your class get to know each other, get to know you and have fun, but you also need to keep the focus on the long term goal - which is having your students ready to learn with as few behavior disruptions as possible . Seriously, going over how you expect the pencil sharpener to be used and when to to use it may seem excessive now, but it won’t in a few months when they know to sharpen their pencils first thing in the morning (notice I said pencil s not just a pencil) when it’s not interrupting your math lesson. Or teaching them how to clean it out and when so you don’t have pencil shavings strewn all over your floor. And the last "P" for classroom management strategies is practice. You will need to practice anything you want your students to do just like you will reading and math. They have to practice the procedures until they can do it…and if they forget (or try to push the envelope just to test you), you’ve got to reteach it until they get it. Practice may seen like it’s wasting class time, or being excessive, but it’s not. Not in the long run. Practicing also helps to establish your presence. They’re going to learn that you aren’t kidding! This is how things are going to be in your room. And you don’t need to be emotional about it. Don’t get angry when they need to practice. It’s not about the reaction. They’re kids, kid’s brains are developing, they’re going to forget stuff, especially at the beginning of the year. A lot of this practice will come from modeling the behavior or procedure that you want. Remember that “if you want it, teach it?” It’s also if you want it, show it. Show them what it looks like to stand in line keeping your hands to yourself. Show them how to walk from one center or station to the next without making a lot of noise and leaving a mess behind. Probably most important is showing them how you expect them to interact with one another. Especially if they don’t have a model of it outside of school, an adult who can model for kids how to have control of their emotions and work respectfully with others become that more important. So to review, the three P’s to establish classroom management this year: Presence - establishing your authority in the classroom. Authority isn’t a bad word or thing. Kids need authority figures. Leaders to show them the way. But you’ve got to act the part and believe in yourself and your power. Procedures - teach - all - the - things. Every little thing. They can handle it. If you want things a certain way, show them. How to talk softly. How to hang your coat. All of it. It will all make the difference and focus them to learn. And Practice. You won’t just show them once. You may have to show them all year. But what ever you want you will have to teach and to reinforce with practice. It’s not a bad thing or even a punishment. It’s learning how to be and how to do things in a way that will keep the calm and contribute to learning. We’re going to keep diving into classroom management in the lead up to back to school. Make sure you grab The Great 88 - Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over - I promise it’s something you can take back to school and use all year long. While it takes time and requires resolve, standing firm on your classroom management strategies will give you the foundation for a better school year - regardless of what comes your way. Grab it below!

I remember feeling crushed. Utterly disappointed. Everything was ruined before it ever began. My first year teaching was going to be nothing like I had imagined. With one course standing between me and a December graduation, my best hope for beginning my teaching career in 2003 was to get hired as a long term substitute for the upcoming school year. Five days before the first day of school, I got an offer to teach third grade. It was the only job they could offer me, and it was the only job I needed. I accepted the position sight unseen, without going to the school, meeting the principal, or having a clue what I was getting into. For the 45-minute drive to my first classroom, all was right in the world. Persistence had paid off, and I saw my first teaching position as a chance to finally live my purpose. I remember excitedly asking the secretary on the phone if there were any bulletin boards in the room. Of all things, I was envisioning how I was going to deck out my classroom to the nines with all the exciting things I was going to create…in the five days before school began. The uncertainty in her voice should have tipped me off that I was in for a not-so-great surprise, but I was too excited to pay attention. All that chutzpah evaporated after I climbed the four flights of creaky stairs to the dusty, tattered classroom that needed to be habitable in less than a week. Broken desks and towering, rusty filing cabinets outfitted the room. Jagged staples poking out of the walls like jagged teeth momentarily took my attention away from the dried flower arrangements hanging from the ceiling. A collection of California Raisins strewn around the room smiled blankly at me, almost like they were daring me to ask them if this was all a bad joke. A quick scan of the other third grade classrooms - bright, clean, and cheerful with matching name tags and carefully curated libraries - was enough to topple any remaining hope I had of quickly remedying this situation. I was so far behind where I needed to be, and didn’t know where to start. I paced my classroom, my inherited mess, in the dark, dust particles clinging to the air. I had no books. I had no resources. I had no teacher friends. …and, after prying the warped drawer of the desk that was to be mine open with a ruler, I realized I didn’t even have a stapler. Just another giant, dusty California Raisin that sang “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” when you threw him against the wall (squeezing his middle would have worked, too, but wouldn’t have had the same affect on releasing my frustration). This was not what I had studied and prayed for. In my 21-year-old mind, it was a disappointment of epic proportions. What I envisioned would be an exciting start of a promising career instead consisted of doing triage on a scattered assortment of student chairs and piecing together a set of teacher manuals. It wasn’t what I expected. Chances are, if this is your first year teaching, how this school year may begin isn’t what you were planning on either. Whether it’s teaching virtually or face-to-face with major restrictions, this era of masks, social distancing, and online classrooms is more than anyone bargained for as we prepare for back-to-school. We all share some sense of disappointment regarding the experiences and expectations we had for this year. Although the sadness and grief stemming from these losses is valid, there is good and purpose to be mined from all of them. Here are three things I have found to be true from experiencing disappointment - in the classroom and beyond. 1: With the right mindset, disappointment makes you focus on what you can control - and what you can control is usually the most important thing. There was no way I was going to have the classroom environment I envisioned my first year of teaching. I was lucky to be able to clean the room and doctor the furniture enough to have it be presentable on back-to-school night. What I quickly realized, with every meeting and handout I shoved into a growing three-ring binder, was I was going to need to teach these kids regardless of what I lacked. They were coming Monday morning, and above all, they needed me to put as much energy as I could into teaching them the best I knew how. You can read more about choosing to focus on what you can control when you download my free ebook The Thrive Guide . The same is true this year. You may not be able to structure your classroom the way you always intended, and there will be many things you do or don’t do this year that go against everything you believe about teaching. However, you can control more than you think. How you teach your students, in the classroom or through the internet, is up to you. How you choose to use your voice and ability to connect to your students, making them feel important and cared for, is your decision. Your attitude and response to the safety measures will determine in part how your students view them, and will serve as an example of how to deal with unpleasant circumstances in the future. Most importantly, you are in control of your own thoughts and attitude. How will you use this moment in time to form the beginning of your teaching career? Focus on teaching and reaching the kids - the rest will either fall in to place or fall by the wayside. 2: Unexpected circumstances are often a chance to rebuild and create something better. Many things in the education system are broken, and the crisis teaching situation that arose from the pandemic revealed even more inadequacies with access and equality. Despite the shortcomings, technology has been the uniting force allowing any semblance of normalcy and connection to continue with teaching. The flexibility and personalization possible with online or hybrid instruction is just being realized. In another blog post, I’ll go into detail about the things that changed in my classroom when I had to implement distance learning. Just as important is the review of the role and necessity of standardized testing . This crisis effectively moved assessments and their associated test prep to irrelevance. As one who has always seen the emotional and intellectual danger standardized testing has on student progress, the possibility we will have a chance to reimagine the role assessment has on determining achievement and effectiveness makes me hopeful. Much is going to change in education regarding the delivery of instruction and the creation of content . You will get to be a part of this change from the start of your career. While many teachers are adjusting to the shift in the role of technology, you will start your career out as part of the change. Aside from the grave seriousness of the events of the world, I see great potential for us all to be a part of what teaching and learning will look like when we come out of this on the other side. 3: Your experiences will help someone else someday. The mess I walked into almost 18 years ago this August? It made me able to empathize with many teachers who were dealt issues and circumstances that felt unfair and unconquerable. It prepared me for far greater disappointments I have encountered during my career that made finding order in a disordered classroom look like a snow day. I learned I could be resourceful, persevere, and overcome things that seemed destined to destroy my resolve. Most importantly, I have come to realize that everyone is seeking someone who relates to them, to feel validated by seeing themselves in someone else’s story. None of this makes sense now, but someday, be it 8 or 18 years, the wisdom you gain in this season of your career will form the message that other teachers grasp as a lifetime in their own storms. When they do, you’ll know - and it will suddenly all make sense. We’re all navigating this new normal and all the emotions it brings together. It’s one chapter of our lives we’ll look back at as pivotal in our lives and careers. Instead of letting the circumstances of this year’s back-to-school break you, let them make you into the person and teacher you have the potential to be. Be different, but more importantly, be the difference - and I’ll see you in the next chapter. Together, I know we’re going to make it - I heard it through the grapevine.

I didn’t realize how tired I was from teaching this year until…everything stopped. The routine, the schedule, the countdown to Winter Break. Once I put on the brakes - crash! Until the “car” or life stops moving as its usual pace, you don’t realize how fast you're going. Sound familiar? Just wanted to let you know that if you’re starting into a haze (or the television) and it seems like a monumental task to remember what day it is or to turn on the dishwasher, you aren’t alone. The end of the semester for schools usually signals the start of a break from school for teachers and students - but that doesn't mean the stress from the classroom and stress from the holidays have you feeling full of cheer. Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. The holidays bring as much good tidings as they do great stress. This time of the year is not joyous for a lot of people. And when you are in a school all day managing the emotions of very hyped-for-the-holidays children as well as your own, it just compounds the the sad. You can lose yourself in the holiday hoopla at school and even let it drown out your own feelings for a bit…but all those emotions, all of the things you carry around with you personally that you have to shove down all day (along with your lunch)…they don’t go away. And they’re there staring you in the face after the 25th (or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year). As I’ve mentioned before, our identities are very intertwined with our jobs as teachers because so much of what we do is emotional - and many elements of teacherhood spill into life after students go home for the day. And then…we get what we’ve been waiting for. A week, maybe even two, off and away from it all. Except now, you’re going to navigate the family stuff, the personal stuff, the social stuff that not just comes with the holidays but from being a human being. Getting through the holiday teacher stress can feel like a monumental task when your body and soul is begging for a break. Personally, I’m relieved when the 25th has passed. Christmas, and the holiday season, brings up a lot of sad, stressful memories. Once it’s over, I can put the year that’s coming to an end into perspective and use the remaining days of the year to adult - not that I don’t adult any other time. But adulting without the attention that I give to teaching and students is different, more focused…and, do I dare say, more difficult? Just certain things that normally run in the background are now front and center, for one week only - except for still feeling in recoil from finishing the first semester. All that to say…this week, holiday break, winter break, Christmas Break, whatever you call it, is not about to do lists. It’s a time to heal and feel. Because whatever you struggle with during the holidays -  grief, depression, angst from your family situation - it’s like a wound that gets opened every December. And it takes some time, away from the hoopla, to recover from it. And…no one can tell you how to grieve, how to recover. This is a week to focus on your health, your family, and you. But that’s not to forget that we’ve got to go back to school in a week or so. And there’s no denying that school, teaching and all it entails has contributed to that numb and fried feeling that you have as you try to motivate yourself to be productive (reminder: resting can be productive). To stay motivated and keep afloat through the stress during the holiday season and as a teacher, I focus on two things. First, it helps me to think of the school year in halves. So when we return in January, it’s part two. New year, new half of a school year. With the rush as the first part of the year over, part two can be a chance to review and rethink things that aren’t working. Also, thinking of it as a fresh start of sorts helps as we enter the winter months when the days are short, dark, and cold (as least where I live it’s cold). Seasonal Affective Disorder is for real and the motivation to improve and try new things personally helps me get to spring. Even if you aren’t religious, now is a good time to think about the Serenity Prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr as we go into a new calendar year and a new semester of school. It reads, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I’m going to go for the elephant in the room and say that there are many teachers in this current era of education wondering how long they can continue to stay in the classroom. Right before a break, student behaviors are off the charts. In addition to being kids excited for the holidays, what ever trauma and emotions they are processing is showing itself in full force - and dealing with that, in addition to your own life, in addition to all the demands placed on teachers to begin with - I believe you if you feel you have blown a fuse or two. It’s difficult to love something that causes you insurmountable stress. The holidays amplify that. Back to that Serenity Prayer. Accept the things I cannot change. There are things we have little control over other than to speak out and voice our perspective (I won’t call it opinion because that to me is solution less statement). Chances are, there’s a student or two (or many more) that will still be or will be entering your classroom trying your patience. I bet there’s going to be at least one more thing you have to document - if not, those same things will be waiting for you when you return. I mean, report cards have to come out sometime soon. The rocks in the road will be there, but you don’t have to trip on them. We’ll talk more about this in season four. Courage to change the things I can. There are things we can all do better. There are things we can do differently. Coming back in January for a new semester gives us the opportunity to start fresh, reteach routines, and try another approach. I’m not just talking about the classroom. There are things we can work on in our lives outside of teaching that won’t just help us during the school day, but will help us be healthier and happier. Here are some resources to help you get through the stress of the holiday season and the stress you encounter as a teacher: First is this blog post on Setting Goals and Boundaries for the New Year. There are resources and links in this episode that you can use over your break to think about what you want to do differently in the new year. The second is a project I worked on with TeacherVision last December (I’m a little late to the party with sharing it). TeacherVision is a website with webinars for teachers on a range of topics, and last year I was a part of helping to create a free series on teacher self care. You can watch the webinar or read the accompanying article at the link in the show notes. And the last part of the Serenity Prayer, “The wisdom to know the difference.” You are wiser and more capable than you realize. Sometimes, what we know isn’t what we want to act upon, because acting on what we can change or making choices based on what’s not going to go away is more than our mental load can bear. You deserve to be happy and fulfilled. Only you know what that means for you. If you are feeling drained by this season in life and teaching, I wish for you to have the wisdom and the courage to make the choices that will bring you peace. We all have something valuable to contribute to this world. It’s next to impossible to bring our best to the classroom and to life when we’re living in a state of distress and disarray. With the time you have away from school this week, I encourage you to let yourself heal and recover from the past year - so you have the energy and wisdom for the decisions you’ll have to make in the year ahead. The start of a new year is a great time to review and establish routines and expectations. Did you get your FREE copy of  The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over? It's a free checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back to school season, during and after the holidays or any time your classroom needs a reset. Get your copy below!

Nothing will sink your battleship and enthusiasm for teaching more than having to deal with student behavior. I'm not talking about the day-to-day small corrections - I'm talking about noise that makes your eardrums feel like they're about to blow, student interactions that make you feel more like a referee than a teacher, and feeling like you would accomplish more talking to a brick wall than telling that one (or ten) students to complete their work/ not to touch each other/ speak respectfully/ etc. I'm writing this in November, well past the honeymoon phase at the beginning of the year and entering holiday season. And if you haven’t noticed already - who am I kidding - the not-so-great behaviors in your room are ramping up. Just let me say this now - you are not a bad teacher, or incompetent, or unfit for the classroom if your head was about to explode from the insanity that ensued prior to Thanksgiving Break. Or the week of Halloween. Or anytime there is a full moon. Or the currently loading December, jingle all the way to the end of the semester. Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. It’s not you. Once the kids are more comfortable with you, with each other, they will not only test you but let loose with everything they carry around emotionally each day - and that usually presents itself in many undesired, impulsive behaviors. If you need more resources on dealing with student behaviors, make sure to read these posts on statements and phrases to manage student behavior and establishing the structure behind any behavior management in the classroom - although its geared for back to school, there’s a lot you can implement at any time during the year, especially after you come back from a school break. You can reestablish control and structure - or, if you feel like you didn’t get off on the best start with behavior in your classroom, it’s not too late to get back on track. It takes a lot of resolve, but you can do it. Whatever you do, don’t give up on teaching your students how you expect things to be in your room and how you expect them to treat you and one another. It’s a long haul until May or June (or maybe for some of you even July), so now is NOT the time to throw up your hands. I decided to end the year on how to handle disruptive behavior in the classroom because how you approach it is something you can control - maybe you can’t control how many assessments you’ll have to give your class at the end of the semester, but you can master how your classroom will run and what behaviors you won’t tolerate. Also, I know that an unruly class chock full of chaos can damper your joy for teaching. You can be the captain of the ship - no mutiny, my friends! It takes persistence, but if you want to be a teacher and DON’T want your class to make you feel like walking the plank, keep reading! So let’s get to it. I want to give you three things you can take action on as soon as your finished listening to this podcast that you can take back to your classroom when you return from your break. Problem #1 - your class is loud. Really loud. This is one disruptive behavior in the classroom that I personally have to handle ASAP - because I need (as do my students) a calm learning environment. When I say a loud classroom, this is as in the volume button on the remote is stuck on up. And they're not loudly discussing how much they love writing or multiplication facts - the conversations get more off topic and the amount of work getting completed is dwindling with every passing minute. My solution to this has been Voice Levels. This is something you have to teach your class, but it’s worth it. It goes like this: it’s basically a volume control remote that you hold (and no one can hide or lose). Voice level 0 - no talking. Voice Level 1 - whisper. Voice Level 2 - six inch voice in groups. You can decide the parameters, and you can decide what classroom activities should be what voice level - and you can change you mind at any time! You do need to teach your kids what each Voice Level sounds like, when they use them, how they transition to one voice level to another - but this is you taking command of the loud. And it’s worth it. When your ears aren’t pulsating from the noise, you’ll wish you did it sooner. If you want slides and posters to teach and reinforce Voice Levels in your classroom, I have them available in my TpT store, ready to go! Problem #2 - You kids’ interactions with each other are OFF. THE. WALL. The disruptive classroom behaviors are taking your (and their) attention off of learning and putting the bulk of the energy on resolving peer-to-peer contact. We’re talking impulsive. We’re talking demonstrating feelings in ways that are very distracting to the learning environment. We’re talking not giving a fluff about those Voice Levels you taught them and going off the chain with the noise volume - AGAIN. This is were you teach kids to STOP. You shut it down, make them think, removed from whatever they were doing, and they come back to what they were suppose to be doing - after they take a moment to STOP. This gives the kids that are affected by the behaviors a break (and a chance to work without distractions) and makes the offender(s) take a minute or two think about what they are doing and how it impacts their peers. The best way to STOP a student is silently. They’ve taken enough  of the time and energy that should be going into learning - it’s time to shut it down without drawing anymore attention to the issue at hand. This can be with a hand signal or code word you teach your class, or it can be with handing the kid something physical, like a stop sign card. I’ve created color coded stop sign cards and slides - the code matches the issue, such as talking, off task actions... you’ll have to check it out! They’re color-coded as opposed to a traditional red stop sign so you don’t have to worry about the text on the card - just associate the color with what you want the student to stop. Again, you’ll have to teach and reinforce how the stop signs work - the goal is to turn off the undesired behaviors as quickly as possible so your class can refocus on learning. Problem #3 - By this point in the year, you have repeat student offenders disrupting your classroom, and if you haven’t already, you need a means of documenting how you are handling the issues in your classroom and communicating it with home. If you haven’t already, it’s never too late to start. Documenting, having students reflect, and sending communications home about behavior can end many unnecessary behaviors - it’s almost like once their cover is blown as to their behavior in the classroom, a lot of the minor things that students have been doing that make it more difficult to teach will cease. How do you get this paper trail going? Student reflections - it doesn’t have to be very long, just long enough that they write down what they did, what happened, and how they plan to correct the behavior. Weekly reflections - again, no need to be long, just enough to check yes or no to statements and think about actions. For longstanding issues, a communication log that travels between home and school to give a quick, daily snapshot of what occurred that day. There are many ways to quickly capture the essence of what needs to be addressed without adding a lot to your already overflowing workload (student reflections put the work mainly on them). If you are looking for some easy to implement forms that you can you for documenting and communicating going into the holidays, here are my simple, no nonsense forms for behavior management that you can start using tomorrow to set your students on a better path to making better choices in your classroom. That’s all for part one on student behaviors - next time I’m going to deep dive into group work and ways to get your students to work cooperatively without chaos. Until then, remember this: even when things are out of control, you are still in charge. It’s your classroom, your rules, your presence that sets the stage for how things are going to be and how students can expect things to go. No event or season can take that fact away from you. With guidance and reinforcement, you can maintain a classroom that, while not perfect, runs on high exceptions so that focus is on learning. It's never too late to create structure and order in your classroom environment. Get your FREE copy of  The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over? It's a free checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back to school season, during and after the holidays or any time your classroom needs a reset. Get your copy below!

I’m going to revisit a topic that I have discussed before, but from a different angle. And that topic is…being a people pleaser. I haven’t directly written on this, but some post that will be referenced and are worth reading if you haven’t yet done so are on setting boundaries, boundaries but from the perspective of making goals for the new year (you could also think of it as setting goals for the new school year), and saying "no." Want to listen to this message instead of read? You can hear the audio version in my podcast or click the Mp3 below. So…people pleasing. Please disease. Do you feel like you need to go with the flow and agree to everything everyone asks or wants of you? Now, I realize many things that are asked of you as a teacher, you may not have much of a choice because it’s required of your job as a teacher. I’m referring to the things that are not so much requirements, but more in the favor category. Fulfilling someone else’s needs and wants (not a student, this is more adult-to-adult). Are you afraid to not give someone what they want or expect of you, because you don’t want to make them mad or come across as difficult? Do you go above and beyond, straining yourself and your resources, feeling the need to prove yourself, because you want to be in someone’s good graces (or are worried about not being in them)? When you can't say yes or are able to help, do you feel you have to go into great detail as to why to justify your stance? That’s all people pleasing, and we’ve all been there at some point during our time in the classroom, and just in our lives in general. You know that feeling when you’re put on the spot, and you know this isn’t what you need right now…but you don’t want to disappoint someone - or make them angry? It’s the fear, isn’t it? We fear what will happen if we say how we really feel and express if that doesn’t work for us, isn’t what we need right now. That ask feels more like a command that you have to comply with, when you really do have a choice in the matter…you just fear the outcome of it. …and that fear is heightened as a teacher, because it’s also covered in guilt. Wouldn’t a “good teacher” take on an extra duty, stay late, let someone use their classroom or supplies, be on another committee, fill in at the last minute, go above and WAY beyond…it makes my head feel on the verge of exploding just saying all that! And it’s all the more reason why you need to stop being a people pleaser. I went through a people pleasing season as a teacher. Then, I ran out of steam. Then, I burnt out. When the spark got reignited, I not only had to set some boundaries, I had to learn to say “no” and commit to the things that lit me up - and turn down the things that created more work than I needed - or just sucked all the joy out of me. So why do we do it - this people pleasing nonsense? I mean, we aren’t kids - we teach the kids! Shouldn’t we be on the other side of this already?!?! We teachers tend to be nice people who want to do good things for kids and for others. Teaching tends to attract these kind of people, thankfully! Along with that comes wanting to do the best we can for kids. Being a people pleaser seems like it should be a part of the job. We want to be “good” - and going against someone’s wants when it will help them or someone else out just feels “bad!” Maybe you were made to feel shame when you were a kid about not agreeing with others or saying “no” - so people pleasing just feels like the right thing to do because you fear the same response as an adult. Or, perhaps that one time you expressed your needs and weren’t in alignment with someone else’s requests it all blew up in your face - and you don’t want to feel that distress again. That’s a normal, natural response. But you can recognize the feeling without letting yourself remain in people pleaser-ville for life. This is why people pleasing is bad: Resentment. You can agree to all the things, do all the things, be the ultimate yes man/woman…but it’s going to eat away at you. It's the number one reason for a teacher to stop being a people pleaser ASAP. Even if you don’t vocalize it, the resentment of feeling dumped on leads to resentment and being even more displeased with your job as a teacher (or if you aren’t displeased…it will make you displeased). Resentment affects your relationships with everyone, whether it’s students, parents, your colleagues. It will catch up with you. Everyone is happy when you’re a people pleaser…but you. Usually, the person who is a people pleasure isn’t someone who asks others for a lot. Chances are you’re a little more on the ultra independent side (goes along with being shamed for having needs or saying “no” in the past…not that I would know or anything). So not only are you not getting your own cup filled, you’re attempting to fill everyone else’s with the few drops in your cup that you have. And that is a guaranteed recipe for teacher burnout. You can give and give and yes and yes, but the truth is that it won’t make you a good teacher. It will honestly make you less effective because you have fewer resources. It won’t make you better liked or respected, because the people who tend to drain your cup - not always, but often - are often those who don’t respect boundaries or really care about you to begin with. It may seem harsh, but not everyone has the same emotional quotient or level of empathy as you. When you have nothing left to give, feeling bad about not meeting the needs of others will be the least of your worries - because you won’t have anything left to function effectively and joyfully in your classroom. I used to be a people pleaser. Now, I am not. The pandemic and my new role as an art teacher was a reawakening for me. I had to start doing and approaching things differently if I wanted to hold to my newfound joy and pursue the things in education that were my strengths and interests. That doesn’t mean I don’t help others out and care about others. I do, deeply. But I can now be objective and sort out in my brain the gives and the give-nots. The heck yes’s and the heck no’s. If you are a people pleaser, this isn’t going to be easy. It won’t feel nice, right, or good. But it may save you from feeling unhappy and put upon all the time - and maybe even from quitting your teaching job. Here’s what to do instead: If you are a teacher who needs to stop being a people pleaser, you need boundaries STAT. This requires deep work on yourself. What are your times, quotas, and priorities? You’ve got to check episode #2 on boundaries. You are a person, too - what pleases you? What do you need from people. People pleasers tend to be very caught up in what others need while ignoring the things that light them up. But this is your chance to rewrite the script. You have to define where your own stop signs are so you can devote your energy fairly between the classroom and your personal life. Start using “don’t” instead of “can’t” once you’ve set those boundaries to make the stop of your people pleasing ways stick. When you say “can’t” it can seem wishy washy, like you could be persuaded otherwise if you could be psyched up a bit. Don’t is a brick wall that can’t be scaled. Be upfront about your “don’ts,” especially if this end of people pleasing is going to be a huge about-face for you. If you are the go-to person for certain things, sometimes it’s better to have a conversation about changes you are making to your life. You don’t have to over explain to justify why you feel the way you feel! There is no need to defend yourself as you stop people pleasing. To be blunt, it weakens your position and makes you look like you feel guilty or ashamed for not pleasing them (and even if you do…sometimes you’ve got to assume the character of a non-people pleaser until it becomes you). You have to start saying “no” and stop saying "yes" to a lot of things to realign your compass and get out of the people pleaser forest. Once you have your boundaries and goals (see episode 5), this is where you have to look your fear of not being liked or making people upset in the face. You’ve got to tell the truth. If you don’t want to do it, if it’s going to create more work for you that you can’t take on, if it disrupts your family life or your goals, if you don’t feel comfortable with the person who’s requesting this of you - it’s a big, juicy NO. If you aren’t sure about how you feel about something, you can think about it. Just because you are on a mission to stop your people pleaser ways doesn’t mean you can’t give things you aren’t sure about your consideration. Some things don’t require a right away answer and deserve your thought. There are times when I’m not having a good day and am sensory overloaded that I say “can I get back with you?” That’s because I can recognize in myself when my emotions are starting to strangle my actions and I can feel myself…loosing my footing. Needing a break from decision making. Maybe the ask really isn’t that big, but everything in that moment feels big. I stop back. But also, thinking about it can also allow you to stick to your guns and not feel so bad about turning down a people pleasing request. Give yourself time to revisit what you need and want. It’s only fair to point out that some people will not be happy when you quit your people pleasing ways. It’s not pretty. Your greatest fears about upsetting and disappointing people will be realized. You will probably have an argument or a not-so-pleasant exchange of words. Those that respect you and truly care about your wellbeing might be surprised at first, but they won’t think less of you. They may even respect you more. I’ve experienced all of this. You often see people’s true colors when you start having more self respect. The people that expect people pleasers to please are either not people pleasers themselves, or feel that that yes mindset makes you a good teacher or person. It’s a tough chain to break, but once you free yourself, it’s truly like lifting a weight off yourself. We want our students to lead productive, happy lives where they don’t feel they have to be less or give every last drop in order to be who they are meant to be. We have to as teachers be models of that mindset. Being a teacher doesn’t mean you have to live with please disease. You can have a servant heart without letting yourself be treated as a servant. It’s a lot of self work, but stopping your people pleasing ways will allow you to be a more present teacher and a happier human being. You know what else will give you peace? Classroom management that covers ALL the bases. Where's your copy of The Great 88: Rules, Routines, and Expectations to Go Over and Over? It's a free checklist of ALL the classroom management things you need for back to school season! Get your copy below!