For the past couple of years, I have been searching for ways to support teachers and the hard work they do. As a learning support coordinator, my focus is usually on assisting students with their various learning needs. However, it is evident that student success is closely tied to the relationships they build with their teachers. I started thinking about teachers’ needs also, and their desire to feel seen, heard, and valued. Recently, I came across Suzanne Dailey’s book Teach Happier This School Year: 40 Weeks of Inspiration and Reflection, hoping for some positive insights.
Dailey says, “There are no mistakes on class rosters. Each and every adult and student in your classroom is there to teach others something.” This idea has been central to my life in education. This attitude helped me navigate some tough situations when I was a classroom teacher. It helped me flip the script and made me concentrate on learning from each and every child and adult with whom I came in contact. My focus shifted away from problem finding to solution seeking, and I felt empowered, confident, and more content.
I wanted to be able to share these ideas with my colleagues. I remembered all the times in my day and week when I felt completely drained, times when I had nothing left to give. I made a concerted effort to find strategies to help me and teachers like me to reenergize. Classrooms are more joyful and engaging when teachers take care of themselves and replenish their energy. Dailey also makes the case for what she describes as rational optimism: “Seeing the cup as refillable is the mark of a rational optimist. Remember, your cup is refillable.” I wanted to create space for teachers to refill their cups, so I created seven simple ways to honor teachers’ hard work, reminding them to take time for themselves so they have enough in reserve for their students. In this way, I hope to offer short times in the day for teachers to reflect and refuel.
Seven Simple Ideas to Support Teachers
- Start a Book Club: I offered a book club for teachers this year during lunchtime (25 minutes) once a month. Our book of choice? Teach Happier by Suzanne Dailey. I was surprised that eight teachers signed up and were eager to take some time to discuss the book. I typed up some discussion topics and put them in a glass bowl, and we took turns choosing a question or quote to discuss. This has been an enjoyable bonding experience, helping us reflect on our “happy” practice.
- Let’s Laugh: I printed out a bunch of comic strips about life and teaching to make teachers laugh. I put them in a pretty box and placed it in our faculty room. I will replenish the comics every so often to keep them fresh.
- Behold Beauty: I spent a little money and ordered a few packs of art postcards to fill our eyes and minds with beauty. I placed them in another pretty box and put it in the faculty room. I have asked other teachers to add beautiful photos and pictures to the box, so this becomes a community endeavor.
- Nourish Nature: I filled a third pretty box with natural objects I’ve collected over the years: shells, starfish, sand dollars, pinecones, acorns, pebbles, geodes, and other wonders. I’ve always taken solace in nature, and I thought these objects would help bring peace and serenity within a hectic day.
- Wish Box: Our director and administrative assistant came up with the idea of a Wish Box. Each month, there is a drawing and faculty are encouraged to submit a wish, whether big or small. So far, teachers have received books, a milk frother, a lamp, and other sundry things they wished for. The Wish Box definitely is contributing to an increase of joy!
- Give Them a Break: I am planning throughout the year to intentionally gift teachers with small break times (5–10 minutes) during the day. During these short breaks I step in to read aloud, play a listening game, or step into the teacher’s shoes and keep a lesson going. I know this simple act of providing brief relief will be much appreciated.
- Happy Hours: Throughout the year during professional days, our school offers a variety of “happy hours,” which include knitting, yoga, tai chi, cardio kickboxing, and pickleball. The possibilities are endless!
Books for Teacher Personal Development
- Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy by Kim Strobel
- What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers Across America by Ted Dintersmith
Books for Student Engagement
- Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners by Ron Ritchhart
- Teach Like a Champion 2.0 by Doug Lemov
- The Passion-Driven Classroom by Angela Maiers and Amy Sandvold
