Moments of Stillness in the Busy

This time of year is jam-packed with activities, traditions, excitement and lots of energy. The holidays can be a wonderful time and also can be filled with sadness for adults and kids. Changes is schedule can be fun-filled and also exhausting. Being aware of the many dichotomies is important for teachers for our own well-being and also as we support our students.

This month for PBIS, our school is focusing on Mindfulness. Being aware of what is going on, how we are feeling, and being present is always important. Taking a moment to breath and be still is so helpful, especially when everything seems so busy.

This school year, I am more aware of myself, my energy levels and how I am spending my time. I have made it a goal to take care of myself, establish and keep boundaries, and be present for myself and my family above all. I truly believe that doing this enhances my teaching and allows me to show up better and more present for my students. 

When I feel overwhelmed this time of year, I have been taking a moment to pause. Being in my classroom and taking a breath, being in the silence (before students come or during a prep) and really thinking about what is the next most important thing to do, helps keep me grounded. I also am trying to squeeze in a walk outside after school when I can depending on my schedule, the weather and the amount of light available. In Western NY, these days the amount of sunlight is getting shorter and we can feel it. 

Helping my students pause can be very powerful as well. We all feel the energy and can be spun up a bit It can be a simple belly breathing or square breathing activity to reset before or during a lesson. Last week, we had a lockdown drill and I used that quiet time to do some square breathing. I also noticed the anxiety and feel of my students shifted as we took a few moments to breath, despite the drill. 

It can be difficult to take a few moments just to pause. Am I perfect? Far from it. I have to remind myself to pause. Last week each evening I was exhausted. Being kind to ourselves is important. We won't be perfect. We don't need to do all of the things all of the time. We just need to show up for ourselves first and then for others. Today, even if it is just 20 seconds, take a moment to be still. I'm going to try to throughout my day. 

Pause to Appreciate the Growth

 

Being in a classroom can be busy. Working with elementary students can feel like you don't have a moment to yourself to breath, much less reflect. It's amazing what students and teachers get done during a day. It is also a bit daunting to think about what is expected in a day, in a month, in a school year. 

This past week, we had parent-teacher conferences. For a full day, I was able to connect with parents and share about the growth for each of my students. I was blown away at the growth already this school year. Typically the growth explosion happens between January and March as this is the most uninterrupted time in our school year. No breaks or changes in schedules allow students to really get into the flow of learning. 

As I prepared to meet with parents and complete report cards, I did some assessments to monitor progress. All of my students grew. Some more than others, but the fact is each student has made progress. It was so rewarding to see this. Some are growing but need additional support. It is great to really start to see what they need and work together with parents to try to meet those needs. Some of my students' reading is really taking off. That is so exciting as I start to focus on higher level thinking and examining text. 

Some days I feel like I can't keep up. I want to follow the curriculum, meet the needs of students, be a valuable teammate, and connect with students to build relationships. It can feel daunting. But taking time to stop and look at where we have come from to where we are right now is really valuable and so important. We shouldn't rush through our days and forget to see how far we've come. This is true in the class. It is true in any aspect of life.

During this busy season, take a few moments to remember where you started this fall. As a teacher and as a person. Maybe jot it down in a notebook or even on a Post-it to remind yourself you are doing more than you realize.

Clipart by Melonheadz