If I’m being honest, one of the biggest struggles for me during the summer is finding my inspiration.
I love being a teacher and working with my students. But, sometimes I hit a lull! Does this ever happen to you? Well, here is what I find to be most refreshing for myself and what brings me the most inspiration.
Taking a Break
When I hit a wall, the very first thing I do is try to remember the last time I took time for myself. I like to think this is something I will regularly incorporate into my school year, but it rarely happens how I want it to. This will look different for everyone but a few of my favorite ways to take a break from school are: going on a weekend trip with my husband, leaving my work computer at work for a night, or spending time working on a favorite hobby of mine.
Taking care of yourself is just as, if not more, important than taking care of those around you – even your students! Give yourself permission to take a break. If you aren’t recharging every once in awhile, how can you expect to give your students your best energy? They deserve that and so do you!
Working on Professional Development
Another thing I do to help gain some inspiration is working on my professional development! This can be found in reading a book, attending a workshop or conference, taking an online course, or meeting up with other teachers. There is just something about being around others who understand the struggles of teaching that makes me feel so supported. It’s different than venting to your bestie or partner, you’re talking to someone who really gets it.
Scrolling the Feed
The final way I find inspiration is by scrolling through my social media feeds. It’s no secret that there are a handful of great resources online when it comes to early childhood. Whether you’re on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook, you are bound to find something that will inspire you! I personally love going through my favorite educators’ Instagram feeds for processes they’ve done in the past. Even if I can’t completely replicate the process, it gets me thinking creatively on how I can use those materials in my own classroom.
Whether you’ve been in the field for one year or 40 years, I hope you find these tips helpful and applicable in your own teach career. These are strategies I personally love to use for finding that spark again, but I know we are all different. So, what do you do to help yourself stay inspired in the classroom? I’d love to know in the comment section below.
Miss LaurenÂ
