1. Cut Flowers

This needn't cost a lot.  A cut boquet from a grocery store or from a field of wildflowers can suffice.

2.  The Grass Is Always Greener

Primary grade teachers know how easy this is.  Fill a pretty container with potting soil, cover with grass seed, and water.  You can have the best lawn in the neighborhood right in your classroom or office.

3.  Sand Gardens

You have probably seen the zen gardens with white beach sand to "play" in.  Add some pretty stones, shells or a mini rake for your very own sandbox.

4.  Bird Calls

CD's of bird songs, bubbling brooks, or crashing waves are another way to bring the outside in.  There are now several apps that you can even download on an ipod, ipad or phone.

5.  Water Fountains

The sound of water is soothing and a desk fountain can help alleviate dryness of school airconditioning or heat.

6. Outdoor Trophies

Momentos from a day outside or a great vacation can remind you of the pleasures of nature.  A pretty stone, piece of driftwood, cut branches or even pine cones, can be enough to muster up memories of a different season.

1.  Trailblazing

Look for a local trail or walking path to hike out of doors.  Bring water and snacks and be sure to protect yourself from the elements with bug spray and sun block.

2.  Climb your way to the top

Weather bad or don't have time to go somewhere to get your walk in?   Bring your sneakers to school and do your walk in the building.  Stairs can add a great challenge and inside the school you are safe from the weather and whatever else may be lurking outside.

3.  City Sidewalks

If you don't live near a trail or are looking for a change of scenery, walking through a city can be just as invigorating.  The Freedom Trail in Boston, for example, offers a great adventure in history and culture, while offering great opportunities for people watching.  The city has it's own nature sightings, so keep your eyes open.  You'll be surprised where it pops up.

4.  Sandy Toes

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or another body of water, try a bare foot walk in the sand.  Getting are feet wet and sandy can help us to feel grounded.

5.  Getting Caught in the Rain

Go back to your childhood.  Throw on a rain coat or poncho and enjoy the peacefulness of a rainy stroll.  Puddle jumping is optional.

Just as our students have different learning styles, I recognize that so do we.  The videos are another format that you can access for support and resources to help you to build balance before burnout.

Look for them to be posted soon here on my blog and check them out on YouTube.  I have plans of weekly short bits that continue building on the subject matter of teacher wellness and working on helping "The Whole Teacher"  "the whole you", so that you are better able to help your students and school.

Enjoy!

There are many ways our students help us to keep our passion.  Their passion and perserveranceare often what keep us working on inspiring them to be excited about their learning.  The following website is an example of how they often do this with humor.

The answers to the questions on essays, tests, and quizes may not always be correct, but they are quite often humorous!

Check out http://www.adprima.com/humor.htm for some histerical student responses. 

I am sure many of you could add to the list. 

What’s your funniest student story or response? 

In  October’s Whole Teacher Tidbots I suggested you spend more time with people who lift your spirits.  One of the characteristics that is often associated  with burnout is negative talk.

We all know someone who is challenging to be around because they are constantly complaining about how bad things are.  Sometimes it feels as though they could suck the life out of the room.  There is a very fine line between venting and just out right complaining.

Complaining can become a bad habit and seems to breed more negativity, as we seek proof to validate how bad we says thing are.  Remember we spoke of 100% responsibility in the last blog?  Complainers play a very real part in creating their own reality.

Next time you’re met with a difficult or frustrating situation, instead of complaining, try putting on your "suit of armor".  Finding humor in a situation will quickly shift your energy, and often improve the outcome.  It will also attract others who are looking for the positive.

Be the change you are looking for!

Preparing for back to school means a fresh start with organizing the mountain of paperwork we know is inevitable.  There are a variety of systems we can use to help tame the paperwork we are inundated with at school. 

One system to explore is a binder system.  Keep your three-hole punch close at hand and organize your paperwork into known categories.  Binders are great for papers you will need to keep for a while, want on your finger tips, prefer to keep in chronological order, or keep by student or topic.  A benefit of the binder system versus a regular file folder is this added protection, and consistent order.  They also can bee easily stored and look better on your shelf or desk than a file overflowing with mix-matched papers.

So, what are some areas of paperwork that would be best organized with a binder system?  Here are a few:

Student/Parent contact information and Log – Important phone numbers, etc together with contact log and pockets for notes.  One cover sheet with one pocket per student in alphabetical order for easy access.

Classroom procedures or sample lessons  for Substitutes

Homework binder – organize by subject if necessary, separate by date with post it or colored sheet.  As homework is passed out to students a student helper could put an extra copy in this binder for future reference and absent students.

Subject notebooks – a safe place to keep resources for specific lessons or subjects to alleviate researching the topic the next year.

Office notices and protocol – Keep important papers from administration and meetings in chronological order for quick reference.

Professional Development – Paper work on completed courses with a section for your plan.

What else could go in a binder?  Please comment below and share with others.  Best of luck preparing for a successful new year!

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.

I had an amazing  time sharing The Whole Teacher with some truly special educators at the MTA Summer Conference at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.  I am so grateful to each of those who chose to attend the first session of the final day of the conference ... especially considering the weather was perfect and it was, after all, the morning after "The Bash".

Thank you to each of you for sharing, brainstorming and offering such heartfelt support to your fellow teachers.  I came across this poem this morning.  It seems to embody the true meaning of the Balance Before Burnout Reserves and simplifies them beautifully!

Enjoy the final weeks of summer!  This is when the "sunshine, water, rest and air; exercise and diet," are most easily found.  Keep checking in The Whole Teacher for help finding them throughout your school year when it's a bit more of a challenge!

Your Wise One can help by listening to you, offering suggestions, or just supporting you.  In our guidance office we have 2 women who will be retiring at the end of this year.  They have been amazing mentor’s for myself and the other 2 counselors who also started the same year.  One thing I truly appreciate is that when things have gotten really tough and overwhelming and I feel like I can’t keep up, they often are feeling the same way and this validates the fact that sometimes the job is just tough and that I don’t need to be so self critical. 

A  mentor can help with learning the ropes of a specific subject or the social constructs of your school.  In addition to receiving help from your wise one you may also be offering the new perspective of the Fresh Colleague.  In a few days I’ll share about the importance of someone "fresher" than you.