Managing Outrageous Student Behavior: Want help?
In which I make a free offer of support to teachers on the verge of burnout
I just read an article from The Hechinger Report with the provocative title
Biting, kicking, wandering the classroom:
Teachers say there’s a rise in misbehavior even among the littlest kids
This article was written by Jackie Mader and was published on February 17, so it’s been sitting on my computer screen for over a month. Why? Because anyone with half an ear tuned to education knows this is true. So it wasn’t actually news to me. And I doubt it’s news to you.
But UHHH. It makes me really sad. I know how exhausting it is for teachers at any level to manage outrageous student behavior. I know how easily this part of the job leads to burnout, and I know this is the Season of Burnout for too many teachers.
I’m heartened that schools and the organizations that support them are starting to address teachers’ needs around student behaviors. And I know that teachers aren’t therapists or social workers.
But they are what I call developmental partners, now more than ever. Developmental partners are the people charged with helping humans develop and grow healthily. Like parents. Like nannies and babysitters. Like teachers at all levels.
Raising humans is not just about delivering content, whether related to subject matter or household rules or social-emotional learning. Raising humans means being in healthy relationship with them. In actual practice. At all levels.
It doesn’t appear to me, though, that many schools or supporting organizations are explicitly thinking about the practice of everyday relationships. And the emotions that arise in teachers as a result of those relationships.
But preventing bad behaviors and managing burnout, in my experience, means examining negative emotions boldly and transforming them into plans of action that address foundational student needs and, yes: strengthen relationships. Which precludes the eruption of bad behavior.
All it takes is one hour a week with a few other teachers and a trained facilitator.
I’ve got the trained facilitators.
Where are the teachers?
If you are in pain, if you are crispy from burnout or sliding down the slippery slope towards burnout, if you love your job but don’t think you can go on, please. Try a Teacher Support Group.
For free.
Send me your name and contact information at betsy@teachingthroughemotions.com. Or at 413.239.4158. These channels are completely confidential. I’ll get back to you to get scheduling information and, if we get enough teachers, I’ll organize an online TSG (so anyone anywhere can participate). Questions? Please send them along. I’ll answer them.
Got a few friends who are feeling the way you are? Invite them! Create your own TSG!
I swear to you: A TSG will change your life. If it doesn’t, you’ll get your money back. Which will be $0 because this experiment costs you nothing. Time, yes. And your time is precious. But so is your health. It’s worth finding some precious time to inoculate your precious self against burnout. And maybe even bring your joy back.