Teaching has always been an isolating profession. We spend all day in a classroom with little people who get our jokes. The adult conversations we get happen during recess or staff meetings or in the bathroom line waiting for a toilet. It can leave anyone feeling disconnected.
My husband has a joke about teachers, they can seek each other out anywhere in the world. It never fails that when we travel to another country and meet another couple, one of them will be a teacher. He calls it teacher radar.
And it’s true. When two teachers meet in the wild, they talk about teaching. Because it’s another human in the world who actually gets it.
I mean, Mr. Ninja tries to be supportive, but unless you’re in the trenches, you don’t really get it.
How do you connect with other teachers? Come read about our struggles and some of the solutions.
We Were Feeling Disconnected From Everyone
Teachers across the globe have had to relearn everything they’ve ever learned about teaching since the pandemic. All the strategies for engagement have been tossed out the window because classrooms are full of students who are struggling with emotional control. Teachers are taking the brunt of societal changes.
Teachers are changing grades.
They are changing subjects.
Teachers are moving schools.
This sucks. There’s no other way to put it. It leaves everyone feeling disconnected-even more than before.
Shared From a Teaching Ninja Who has Been Feeling Disconnected During the Pandemic
We got an email from a ninja who summed it up so well. We’ve only edited her email slightly-she raved about all of our resources and we just couldn’t put that in a post š
Hi Ninjas!
Tiffany, Medicine Hat
I am sad to hear that you arenāt able to continue rocking your teaching together!It seems obvious that so much of your success comes from your ideas generated together and probably āin the moment.ā I think many in Alberta (and provincially, and nationally, and globally) will be able to relate to that idea of disconnectedness this year.
I work at a rural K-9 school. I consider it an āeasy yearā if I havenāt moved grades, subjects, or rooms. This year, Iāve done all three. I went from a few years of teaching Math/LA/SS 5 (and feeling like I was just starting to find my groove!) to Math/Science 6. In a new room. In a pandemic.
I also specialize in music for elementary students and junior high band. So this year is starting out without two of the things that really get my mental health in the right place. Singing and playing instruments in the band.
I have found it hard to connect with my teaching besties so far. We all teach different things. Kindergarten, Grade 2/3, and junior high social. I havenāt had a break with a co worker yet. (I mean, I guess it is only Day 2!)
But Iām hopeful. Iām grateful for being in person with my students. Teaching most of the students K-9 gives me relationships with the students in my school and now we can resume our fun chats.
Iām grateful for my teaching besties who are all about doing whatās best for kids. All of our kids. And they are rocking it. (We started classes yesterday!)
Iām hopeful, and cautious.
What Tiffany shared, sums up how so many teachers are feeling. Disconnected.
Our teacher besties are in survival mode just like us.
How can you reconnect?
Have a meeting
No, not a staff meeting. No one needs that.
Have a friend meeting. If you can’t meet in person, jump on a Google Meet or Zoom call together with an adult beverage and have a chat. Vent. Cry. Do whatever you need to do. Wear something comfortable.
If you can meet in person, sit outside or go for a walk together. Bring lawn chairs (while the weather allows) and have a chat. It doesn’t have to be teaching-related at all. Maybe you want to play a little game. Use these discussion cards to start you off if you’re stuck for ideas. Find them in our TpT Store ($USD) or our BN Shop ($CAN).
We also have a Would You Rather game in our Resource Library. We can send it to you for free if you sign up for our emails.
Just a short time together can help get you on track. You might be feeling like you’re failing-but don’t. No one was trained for this. You might benefit from our post: Are You Feeling Like A Failing Teacher?
Send Notes (Especially to Others Who Might Be Feeling Disconnected)
Short cards, little notes or even text messages can mean so much to another teacher. You don’t have to be Shakespeare and you don’t have to spend hours doing it. You don’t have time for that anyway. Sometimes writing kind words to other people helps lift your own spirits.
Drop a message in someone’s mailbox, leave a card on someone’s desk or send an email to your friend.
If you need something funny to send to someone, consider using our blog post Animals in the Classroom. It features the most disastrous pet incidents at school.
Use Social Media Connections (It’s Full of Other People Who Are Feeling Disconnected)
No, we do not mean read the comment sections of teaching articles on Facebook. That’s a big no.
Reach out to people on social media. They can be people you know in real life or people who follow. Don’t just like a photo. Comment. Engage others. Don’t be a troll. That’s not what this is for.
For example, if you reach out to us on Instagram. We’ll chat back. We love those connections from real teachers. So do many other teacher-authors. We’re real people and we’ve been in your shoes.
There are lots of Facebook groups designed for teachers. We haven’t started one for our ninjas yet, but maybe this is the year? If you think we should do this, send us an email. š
If you can’t find a Facebook group that fits your needs, create one. You can invite the people in your life that will help you feel connected. The upside is that you control the group so you can set the tone and can decide who is in the group. The downside is that you probably don’t need another thing to do.
Mental health is for teachers, too
There is a lot of talk about student mental health and how important the school environment is for their well-being. Very little is being said about teacher mental health.
You matter, too.
First, your mental health is more important than your job. Of course you need your job, but you can’t do your job if your mental health is suffering.
A few weeks ago one of the ninjas (me) had a visit with her doctor. He said, “Let’s talk about your glass balls.”
It would have been a spit-take if I’d been drinking something, but alas.
Anyway, the gist is that if all the things that matter in your life are a glass ball, think about all these things: health, teaching, parenting, wifing, daughtering, writing, blogging etc. Each one is a glass ball.
Now imagine dropping them on the floor and they all smash.
Which ones can you not live without?
It made it easy. I can’t do any of the other things if I am not well. Health comes above all the other things.
After that, you can start replacing the other glass balls (and of course you can prioritize and balance the ones you can manage).
So, to take care of your mental health, do the things that help you centre. That could be exercise, sleeping, planning, watching Schitt’s Creek (Ew, David) or baking up a storm.
If you ever feel that your mental health is unwell to the point you cannot manage it, please reach out to your family doctor or if you are considering harming yourself or others, call 911 (or the emergency line in your country). In Canada, Crisis Services Canada is available 24 hours a day by phone or text.
Don’t work through breaks
If you get a chance to see another teacher for recess or lunch, use that time to chat. Don’t use it to work. There will always be more work, but you’ll get that work done more efficiently when you recharge a bit.
If your teacher besties don’t have their breaks at the same time, try chatting up some newbies. You’ll never be able to replace your bestie, but maybe you’ll find someone who can relate.
Talk to the other people
Teachers naturally talk with other teachers, but there are a lot of other adults who come into schools. Your custodian, educational assistants and office staff are probably all feeling the same way.
Just saying hi or asking someone how their weekend was can be the beginning of a new friendship. And many teachers overlook these people because teachers are so busy.
Do the social stuff
You know how school staff always have those people who organize things for the staff. Do some of them. You don’t have to do them all, but sometimes just doing a few can help you de-stress with your coworkers.
Other will see you as accessible and might even reach out to you. This can be really helpful if you’re in a new position.
Keep it positive
If the venting is getting you down or the people in your circle are killing your positive spark, try changing the tone of the conversation. If that doesn’t work, limit your time in that circle. Misery loves company, but it won’t make your situation better.
Try the two-minute rule. The two ninjas and a co-worker used to regularly sit on the floor of a hallway closet with a bag of chocolate-covered almonds. We would set a time for two minutes where the one teacher was allowed to b**** about anything they wanted without any interruptions. Then we took turns.
After everyone was done, we felt so much better and weren’t allowed to complain again. It worked wonders (and the almonds were great).
Be a ninja
You’re a ninja. We’re right there with you anytime you need us. This ninja community is much bigger than we realized but join us. If you are not already on our email list, come sign up. We’ve got your back.
If you’re thinking of quitting or leaving your job, read this first: When to Quit Your Teaching Job and Why It’s Ok.
So, when you’re feeling alone. You can always count on us. We’re looking for more ideas to connect, so if you have an idea, let us know in the comments below.
