Abundant Teaching: Teaching From a Place of Gratitude

Losing Passion

In today’s education system it is easy to describe deficiencies in schools. Teachers are working in less than desirable conditions with minimal resources and high expectations. Due to the famine of support public education gets from lawmakers and society in general, education is in a critical position in the U.S. This lack of support leads to many problems including overloading and demoralizing teachers leading to burnout and the result is our education system losing good teachers. This article is not about taking action to make the appropriate changes that need to be made to shift society’s mindset about public education. Instead, this article is about shifting the mindset of good teachers to help them stay in the classroom until the education system can be fixed.

Scarcity is Easy to Find

Most of us entered into the education field because we were passionate about making a difference in the lives of children. As we entered our classrooms for the first time, we would soon realize that not everyone shares our same passion. The bad news is those people can impact our classrooms by refusing to fund our public schools and attack teachers and administration. So let’s focus on scarcity for a moment. The lack of funding and support from lawmakers and other stakeholders leads to larger class sizes, minimal resources, added responsibilities, and heightened expectations among many others. This can lead to disengagement and weakened empowerment of teachers. When we walk into our classrooms in the morning, we should feel refreshed and excited for the day but many walk in feeling overwhelmed with all the meetings, expectations, grading, lesson planning and anything else that unexpectedly arises during the day. However, even with all of these responsibilities, I can help you feel refreshed and excited for the day. Here’s how.

Starting With Abundance

Remember back when you were a student working toward your education degree. As you would work on an assignment or fill in your practicum hours, you would daydream about the day you had your own classroom. Well guess what?! That dream has come true. You worked hard and you made that dream a reality. The next time you walk into your classroom I challenge you to just focus on everything you do have from your teacher desk and chair to the classroom library you worked hard to build. Curriculum resources and materials are in your classroom and whatever is lacking in that area you have the power to fill in. You have the creativity and skill to open up a browser, get on Pinterest or Teachers Pay Teacher to find supplemental materials and activities for whatever your curriculum might be missing. No one can take that away from you. At the end of the day you have everything you need to be the best teacher you can be, because your most valuable resource is you. You have already proven you can do hard things by finishing your degree and taking on the challenge of being a teacher in today’s education system. I promise, if you start focusing on the things you do have, your days will become less overwhelming and more exciting again.

Gratitude is Key

Simply start by writing down at least three to five things you are grateful for before you even start your day. This can be done before you leave for school or as soon as you walk into your classroom, but this practice can be life changing both professionally and personally. For the sake of this article, though, we will focus on the things you can be grateful for professionally.

Teaching Partners or Co-Workers

Seriously, how could we make it through the day without them? Start out your day writing at least one thing you are grateful for about your teaching partner or a co-worker who is your support system.

Administration

Don’t roll your eyes at me. Administrators also have a passion for education and they want you to succeed. I have a fantastic principal in my school, but I know not every teacher feels the same about the principal in their building. However tough or awesome your administrator might be, there is always something you can be grateful for. Write it down every morning and watch the relationship with your principal grow.

Students

It is easy to get caught up in focusing on the tough students. They are the ones who require more of your attention and energy during the day. So before the day begins write down a student you are grateful for and why. This can be any student, but make sure you write down a different student each day. Keep this close by so you can reference it when you get frustrated with your class. You can also share what you are grateful for with the student you are writing about to help strengthen your relationships.

Yourself

Don’t forget to include yourself in your daily gratitude. You are an amazing teacher and I want you to write down something you did to help make your day easier today. For example, you could write down you are thankful you corrected the spelling the day before so today you can focus on organizing the science materials. Remembering your accomplishments helps to relieve the overwhelming feeling of pressure to get everything done. It will get done!