In the land of teaching, October has quite the reputation. The October Teaching Slump. The October Blues. The month of disillusionment.
In October, the excitement of beginning the school year has passed. The jaunt from summer to Thanksgiving seems more like a forced march than anything else, lacking breaks to catch a breath. And the once-theoretical workload of lesson planning, grading, and managing behavior is at an all-time high. Our best laid, well intentioned plans have a way of going awry. It’s no wonder educators hit a wall!
If you’re feeling discouraged, burned out, tired, know that you’re not alone. Even the most seasoned teachers—in both the classroom and homeschool space—experience disillusionment this time of year. The October slump is just part of the teaching cycle; it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out to be a teacher!
Here are a few tips to mitigate the October blues. You got this!
- Put your energy where it matters. All of our teaching tools, routines, and curriculum plans are there for a reason—but we also have to think about the actual needs of our classroom and students. Take a moment to analyze which teaching techniques most resonate with your students and which ones seem to glance off. Put your energy towards what works. Leave behind what doesn’t.
- Take care of yourself. Teaching can be all consuming. There’s always more work to do! That’s why it’s important to spend some time taking care of yourself, be it through exercising and walking, eating nourishing foods instead of relying on caffeine, and prioritizing sleep. Everyone, both students and teachers, seem to get sick in October. Do your immune system a favor and carve out moments for yourself!
- Notice the little wins. October isn’t usually when we see the fruit of educating our students (which contributes to that feeling of endlessly pushing a boulder up a hill). This is the time for planting seeds and watering sprouts—the harvest will come. In the meantime, celebrate the baby steps your students take in becoming readers, writers, and thinkers. Little wins are there when you look for them!
Stay strong. Educating the next generation isn’t easy—but nothing worthwhile ever is!
~ Claire S.