"Welcome to EdTechAfterDark! Our community was born out of discussions for a rich EdChat type gathering for those of us who are thinking about the digital edu-landscape long after the sun has gone down. For us night owls, when the clock strikes 10PM EST, youโll find us on Twitter over at #edtechafterdark. All are welcome! Our discussions range from our philosophies about EdTech, digital best practices, and simply sharing our stories." --www.edtechafterdark.com
Welcome to #edtechafterdark I'm your host this week, and we'll be talking about the stress we all feel as educators and how we can best deal with it together! Lets jump right in! Share your name, where you work, and favorite stress relieving hobby...
I'm Zac, and I'm the admin at @AcademyEs, and I love using @Headspace and have been using it with my students for mindfulness training #edtechafterdark
Alex here from Citrus County, FL where Iโm an AP @LecantoHigh... slightly depressed that my @penguins just lost, but relieving my stress via music sweet music... #EdTechAfterDark
A1: One word: Y-E-S! Especially in teaching courses that have high-stakes testing involved. There's TONS of pressure involved with that. #edtechafterdark
A1: Of course. With so much stress and tension being applied by outside entities, itโs hard not to. My wife has turned me to Galatians 6:9 when the stress gets overwhelming:
โDo not grow weary in doing good...โ #EdTechAfterDark
A1. Many stressors~ warm- weather behaviors, testing, end of yr tasks, but a big stress is seeing it in staff and wanting to find ways to relieve #edtechafterdark
A1: It's tough not to. Teachers are in a perfect storm for developing stress. State mandates, pay tied to student achievement, acting as mentor, coach, therapist...all while trying to teach concepts and content. #EdTechAfterDark
A1 Yes! The demand for an excellence in education means thinking, planning, doing beyond what's expected as a routine...Plus all of the emotional and physical giving of yourself taxes you to the limit #edtechafterdark
A2: is there "all of the above" choice? I think it depends where in the year, how much I have left to teach, what other outside factors, and student motivation is as well. #edtechafterdark
A2 Wow! I feel several ... overwhelmed & unmotivated ... admittedly, irritability ... I think the greatest frustration is the fight for Professional appreciation when some are not acting very professional (probably due to this research) ๐ต #EdTechAfterDark
A2. Stress effects~ anxiety to get it all done to a high standard, and fatigue (at times overwhelmed) for efforts to do the previous... #edtechafterdark
A2 For me I think the more stressed we feel, the more disconnected we become to our Ss, campus, and even our families...then we cope by working more and drawing a way less...Breaking point comes soon after that #edtechafterdark
A2 My sister works at @MayoClinic and I can assure you, there is no stress there, only wellness. Of course I feel the affects of the stress of my job, but I have a great support network in my PLN and my peers at work, including @RichHayzler and @MichaelPortas. #edtechafterdark
A2: I cycle through most if not all of them on occasion... however, I find some comfort in stress as it can be a motivator for the chronic procrastinator (aka ME) This video helped me realize stressโ hidden gifts: https://t.co/3ah6xxWcXf#edtechafterdark
A2 I do oscillate between a few of these from time to time. However, knowing I have others who are experiencing the same thing makes it easier to compartmentalize. #EdTechAfterDark
A2 Restlessness. Bonus, self-awareness allows me to recognize it in students and take it as a moment to either tuck in a mindfulness break or switch up instruction to meet our needs. #edtechafterdark
A2. Children live in Chronic Stress. motional pressure suffered for a prolonged period which an individual perceives they have little or no control. suggest we check the level of empowerment to low grades in our poverty schoolsโฆ#EdTechAfterDark
EXACTLY, especially with my APUSH students are in the final countdown for Friday's test and 18 more days before my US History takes their end of course #edtechafterdark
A3 Iโve lost 20 lbs since Christmas (but really that is grief loss with my dadโs illness - heโs back to his normal ๐๐ป) ... but overeating is something I am fighting now ... not really interested in exercising either ๐ฎ #EdTechAfterDark
I also think the irritability and anger can easily get misdirected at Parents, students, peers, or administration. You canโt always change the stressors but only you can decide on your reaction. #EdTechAfterDark
A3. And a common response from children who are NOT motivated by grades and who are under chronic stress. Answer: More formative assessments, more feedback to students and teachers who actually like their students. students.#EdTechAfterDark .
I also think the irritability and anger can easily get misdirected at Parents, students, peers, or administration. You canโt always change the stressors but only you can decide on your reaction. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: I know from experiencethat when stress is at the max, I CRASH upon arrival at my house. Itโs as if my body says, โEnoughโs enough...โ #EdTechAfterDark
Q3: Engage with the person. Let them know their struggle is real. I also try to always assume good intentions even when a peer is going over the deep end. #EdTechAfterDark
A3 Lack of support or even professional courtesy...The "figure it out" attitude that is pushed on them...And maybe a life issue outside of the classroom...Fact of the matter is, in a school, we need each other #edtechafterdark
A3: Deep question! I find as the stress level rises, I do eat my room at lunch versus w/ my lunch crew. I just need those few extra minutes to decompress and reflect. But crew is good and will be like "JILL, get out of your room and eat w/ us" #edtechafterdark
I'm trying to use technology to help me be successful in these top five learning strategies to improve learning from John Hatties 2012 research. #EdTechAfterDark
Itโs so easy to forget that your colleagues have a life lives outside of the four walls of the school that could be causing them as much if not more stress than their professional lives. First and foremost, extend grace. It has transformative power. #EdTechAfterDark
My senior re-taker wrote me a letter today telling me how much she learned in my class ... it was so touching b/c it was about my teaching ... it was awesome, valuable feedback ... FRAMING! #EdTechAfterDark
A4: Testing is not going away. So, like getting on a roller coaster, you can see it as negative nervousness or excitement. We choose to get the kids excited by being excited ourselves. #edtechafterdark
A4 If we develop the magic solution, I want my cut of the royalties! ๐๐คฃ๐ I think conversations with sts - telling/showing we care is important. #EdTechAfterDark
A4. The countries that are leading in educational strategies in the classroom several times in the past two decades. America is still on a failed 'Accountability' strategy (schools in poverty). #EdTechAfterDark
A4: A paradigm shift. A new world order. A turning of the tides. The current factory model is a means to one endโself-destruction. We must dream, demand, and be MORE. #EdTechAfterDark
Itโs so easy to forget that your colleagues have a life lives outside of the four walls of the school that could be causing them as much if not more stress than their professional lives. First and foremost, extend grace. It has transformative power. #EdTechAfterDark
A4 I've been coordinating with our crisis teams and using #edtech platforms to monitor for self harm, bullying, etc. and have been able to react to situations a few students had that we wouldn't otherwise know. Win for #edtech, keeping our Ss safe! #edtechafterdark
Q4 Iโm not sure I agree that students are less motivated. I think a major stressor is the disconnect that most curriculum have from what drives kids, and teachers. โHappiness is when your beliefs and actions are in harmony.โ Ghandi paraphrase #EdTechAfterDark
A4: My students feel the pressure of testing to the point it does effect their overall performance. I just remind them that I can tell they have grown as a learner in my class and they are more than some number on a standardized test. #edtechafterdark
It's easy to go about everyday and be superficial which is ok...When we can lean on each other and hurt with each other do we truly become friends...Only get that by sharing #EdTechAfterDark
A4: My students feel the pressure of testing to the point it does effect their overall performance. I just remind them that I can tell they have grown as a learner in my class and they are more than some number on a standardized test. #edtechafterdark
A5 Our district and BOE set goals and focused on #wellness... had full district wellness PD and ongoing activities throughout the year from massages to yoga to meditation to glitter jar art creations. #flexibility w staff is also key! #edtechafterdark
A5. Listen to input, reduce unneccessay mtgs, praise and share their value, intentional focus should be targeted (focus on 1 or 2 things vs laundry list)... #edtechafterdark
A5: Listen to them. We canโt continue to let non-educators prescribe fixes for us. We are the experts and need to be heard. Losing autonomy is a surefire way to fuel stress. #EdTechAfterDark
A5 Outside of the occasional campus meeting, educators need a time of communicating how they are feeling such as a hosted teacher forum or an outside activity for teacher sharing #edtechafterdark
A5: Listen to them. We canโt continue to let non-educators prescribe fixes for us. We are the experts and need to be heard. Losing autonomy is a surefire way to fuel stress. #EdTechAfterDark
A5 - Autonomy in the classroom, administrators that see teachers as colleagues, prompt support and resources, common vision for school, less meaningless non classroom busy work... #edtechAfterDark
A6: It helps knowing there are others who are going through similar pressures and being there to support each other. So not feeling like I'm on a deserted island helps. #edtechafterdark
A6 Less now that Im out of the classroom, but I have to decide to cheat towards home more as I grew in experience as a teacher...The few outside activities helped me get to know other educators and build relationships #edtechafterdark
A6 PARCC is rocking my stress world as #techdir, but the team and I are handling it! Flex those hours and take days when we can! #vacation#edtechafterdark
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Great chat everyone! Thanks to @MrLeonard8 for moderating! Remember to take a deep breath and smile... things will be ok! Oh, and follow those with ideas you find interesting or challenging! #edtechafterdark
