One Teacher's Adventures

Feeling Burned Out as a Teacher? You’re Not Alone Teacher burnout is real, and right now it’s affecting more educators than ever. Between increasing demands, student needs, and the emotional weight of the job, many teachers are asking: “Is this sustainable?” This post isn’t about convincing you to stay in teaching if it no longer works for you. But if you’re still in the classroom and looking for ways to make the day-to-day feel more manageable, and even enjoyable again, these small, practical shifts can help reduce teacher burnout and bring back a sense of positivity. 1. Find Your People (and Choose Them Carefully) Having even one or two trusted colleagues can make a huge difference. But here’s the key: not all venting spaces are helpful. There’s a difference between: “That was a rough day. Let’s figure out what might help.” and “Everything is terrible and nothing will ever change.” Try to find colleagues who: Listen without judgment Are ...

  Knowing Your Learning Targets (Even If You Don’t Post Them Everywhere) If you’ve spent any time on teacher Instagram or TikTok, you’ve probably seen the jokes: “Have you tried posting your learning targets?” “Just write the objective on the board—problem solved!” And honestly, I laugh at those posts too. Because no, writing “I can add fractions” on the board is not some magic fix for engagement, behaviour, or learning. But here’s the thing I’ve come to realize over time: Even if students don’t always read them, it still matters that I know them. The Shift That Made a Difference Earlier in my teaching career, I would plan lessons and assessments more holistically: “This is a fractions test” “This is a project on identity” “This is a unit on early civilizations” But over time, and especially through working with student teachers and refining my assessment practices, I started asking myself a different question: What specific skills am I actually assessing here? That ...