Dear We Are Teachers,
I am struggling. The other day while I was putting gas in my car, a child in the backseat of another car pointed at me and said, “Look, Mommy! A witch!” (To be fair, I was in the linen outfit I use to teach “Strega Nona.”) But I hate that every year around this time, I struggle so hard with basic self-care: getting enough sleep, handling stress, and juggling the million end-of-year activities required of teachers. What can I do to combat stress that isn’t going to exhaust me further?
—Brewing Some Self-Care
Dear B.S.S.C.,
Oof. This is one of the rough times we all dread. It’s bad enough when you don’t feel like you’re at your best, but it’s another issue entirely when other people—even a child with no ill intentions—call it out.
For what it’s worth, this is a rough time of year for everyone. My students feel it. My colleagues feel it. I feel it. Burning out at this time of year is incredibly common, and you’re certainly not alone.
I really appreciate this list of tips to avoid burnout. A key one I stand by is making space for breaks and doing something for yourself. Breaks are key. Taking some time to do a calendar audit, even just for the upcoming week, helps me feel better. Intentionally plan some time to take care of yourself.
I also really like KC Davis’s work, including the book How To Keep House While Drowning. Davis’s ideas about reorganizing tasks in manageable ways help when I feel overwhelmed. The book is short, but if that’s too much, the site offers several resources. Davis has also done several interviews (like this one, this one, and this TED Talk) that offer great ideas as well.
Finally, don’t be afraid to draw boundaries and protect your peace. Feel empowered to say “Thanks but no thanks” when necessary.
I hope you make it to the end of the year feeling strong or at least with some Good Witch vibes. Good luck, and I believe in you!
Dear We Are Teachers,
Am I expected to respond to emails when I am out on leave? I have checked my email periodically to keep it manageable. However, some are asking me to respond by certain dates. Should I be expected to answer?
—Leaving the Inbox Behind
Dear L.T.I.B.,
This question is a great one that is too often overlooked!
Generally speaking, the answer is probably NO.
If your leave is medical-related (e.g., maternity leave, anything regarding FMLA, etc.), or some work-without-pay situation, you may actually be violating the terms of your leave agreement if you do respond. So, if that’s the case, I would set up an auto-response and direct the messages elsewhere.
If you’re unsure whether your leave qualifies as something non-responsive, check in with HR or admin (department head, VP, principal). They can clarify where to direct people who are asking you questions. If your leave is being violated, I’d contact either the union if you are a member or HR.
The only variable to consider is whether you are on some sort of school-sponsored professional leave. Last year, I was part of a faculty fellowship, so while I was not in the classroom, I was still working for my school in another capacity. If your leave still involves you being actively employed by the school, it might be fair for you to engage. Again, I’d check with HR or admin if you’re unsure.
Also, if something is happening that you feel strongly about—like they’re planning on making a curricular change in your department and you want your voice heard—it’s probably best to find a way to weigh in. While your leave should be honored, people still need to make decisions and move forward on more significant decisions.
I hope your leave provides some relief or respite. Sending you lots of love and care!
Dear We Are Teachers,
I am totally over passing back graded assignments. The moment I hand them out or post something in the grade book, students rush to argue for more points without even reading the feedback. It’s like they care way more about the grade than the learning. How do I shift the focus back to growth and understanding—and keep my sanity in the process?
—Stop the Points Battle
Dear S.T.P.B.,
I was just having a conversation with my department chair about “grade-grubbing.” It absolutely aggravates me. I do think that grade inflation and a focus on product over process have led to a culture where some students fight for every point.
There are some big ideas on how to shift this culture, including providing retakes (as a writing teacher, I do allow for re-submissions) or even grading less frequently. These are big shifts, likely at the beginning of a course or within a department/grade-level/school, but they certainly are possible.
At this point in the year, I give as much clear and meaningful feedback as I can muster. I have students go over the rubric and even self-grade before they submit something. I have their peers grade their drafts on a rubric before they submit something. For more formative assignments, I tend to do credit/incomplete/no credit grading to minimize some of the grubbing (I can’t give points to things that aren’t there).
Once I know I have strong systems and clear language in place, though, I also hold my ground. I redirect them to the syllabus or rubric. I’m happy to meet with them and explain my grade if they’d like, but the odds of it changing the grade, unless I’ve made a mistake—which does happen, and for which I apologize profusely!—are very small.
Some of that is to build a level of trust with me, even this late in the year: If they know that I’m going to value their opinion but also come prepared to hold them accountable, I find that students get the message that I’m caring and prepared but no pushover. Sometimes the boundaries we have are ones of love and care: We want them to be better, so we ask for better.
Good luck, and sending lots of love and care.
Do you have a burning question? Email us at askweareteachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear We Are Teachers,
Summer is less than a month away, and my principal just announced that he expects our entire ELA team to do four weeks of training in July. His email specifically said this training isn’t optional. But how can he require that with such late notice? I don’t have plans—I just don’t want to spend half of my summer in PD! What should I do?
—PD-Swamped Summer