The further we get into the school year, the harder it is to muster up that same level of motivation we have in those first few new weeks.
Elementary
Teaching & Staying Motivated!
The further we get into the school year, the harder it is to muster up that same level of motivation we have in those first few new weeks.
This is especially true when it comes to educators who have taught for more than a few years. After a while, it can feel like each year is bleeding into the next. But if we want to be the productive, engaged and passionate teachers our kids need, we must stay motivated.
Not only is it good for our students, but it’s good for us too. If you can be excited about walking into your classroom daily, you’re in a far better mindset to start your day well. Does motivation make a difference in how we teach? We think it does. Here are a few reasons why:
- A motivated teacher is an educator that pushes their students to do more and succeed against the odds
- We need a little positivity to deal with the toughest days, and good motivation makes the better days a breeze, which is of advantage to all our students
- We’re more likely to pass that motivation on to our class if we’re motivated. More than 79% of students have said the encouragement of their teacher has allowed them to follow their dreams.
With motivation so important for the classroom, getting yourself pumped up and ready to teach should be a vital start to your day just as much as that first coffee or the precious time before your classroom is flooded with students.
Struggling to figure out how to bring back that teaching mojo? Here are just a few ways to get started:
Education resources
Think of every day as something different
Michele Rose, a special education teacher and YouTuber knows the struggle of being unmotivated with your students. But one of her top solutions to helping keep that motivation going is taking each day as it comes.
Instead of lumping ‘school’ into one giant, insurmountable part of your life, take each day as something new. This is especially easy when no two days are the same, such as in special education, but this works just as well in a traditional school setting. A bad day doesn’t mean a bad week, so start each day fresh, and that motivation will soon flow again.
Be creative and connected to your class
Simply following along with a provided curriculum to a tee is the perfect recipe for a lack of motivation. If you’re teaching on auto-pilot, with no opportunity to input your ideas and have fun, being productive and excited about what you’re teaching can be difficult.
Taking the time to sit down and think out-the-box regarding your lesson planning can help transform your classroom and help you feel passionate about what you teach again. Think about interactive exercises, fun ways to break up the day, or even outdoor lessons. As long as it’s educational, there’s no reason it can’t be fun.
Think positive and be optimistic
It may be a cliché, but a positive attitude does make all the difference to your motivation, according to Impact Teachers. If you’re struggling to maintain forward momentum as a teacher, look internally at what’s going on instead of thinking about all the problems and issues with your school or class.
We all struggle with motivation from time to time, and teaching is an especially tricky career path. Taking time for yourself outside school, changing your perspective on problems, or even getting support from a therapist can all be valuable ways to help make your outlook more positive.
How do you stay motivated as a teacher? Let us know in the comments below.
