Managing Stress While Teaching During COVID

I wanted to do a rah-rah back to school post this year, but I couldn't.  I can show you a pile of discarded attempts.  This just isn't the year for it, at least not here in America.  This is a year to be reflective and take care of each other and ourselves.

This came into sharp focus for me the other day during our back to school professional development day.  As a PLC leader, I had a provided agenda to get through about pacing, pedagogy and assessments, but, after our ice breaker about how the summer went, it became obvious that curriculum was the last thing on anyone's mind.  Everyone was very stressed and more than a little scared.  So, we put the agenda aside and talked about what we can do to manage our stress better in this trying time.

These are some of the things we came up with.  I hope they help...

1. Allow the curriculum to take a back seat - This year, getting through the content takes a back seat to getting through.  So, we decided it is okay to take a less is more approach to planning and delivering content.  Of course we will continue to provide the best education possible given the circumstances, but we will not get over-concerned with pacing guides, etc.
2. Find an outlet - We all agreed that school can be consuming.  It sucks up most of our effort, energy and focus leaving little time for us to worry about us.  Normally, this is okay.  We slowly get stressed out until Christmas Break then get relaxed and repeat with Spring Break and then Summer Vacation.  This year, with all the added COVID stress, we talked about the importance of finding something else to do to our minds away from school - exercising, running, knitting, writing or reading, whatever is a release for you.  Just make sure you make time for it.
   
3. Check in with each other - Our team typically does a really good job of this - we're very cohesive - but this year, we all committed to being sure to check in with each other frequently, and to be honest with our answers.  We're not always going to be fine, and it's okay to let each other know that.  We can help.
   
4. Stay flexible - This is very hard for over-planners like me, but we need to commit to being flexible - able to o with the flow.  Maybe we flip from face to face instruction to online overnight, midweek with no forewarning.  Our plans are scrapped.  It's okay.  We can adjust.  We're teachers, the most flexible (sorry gymnasts) professionals out there and we will get it done - we always find a way.  What we quickly flip to might not be perfect, but it will be the best we can do, and we have to be okay with that this year.
   

One last thought, please stay healthy and safe and know that we can and will get through this stronger than we went in.