The resounding tool that stuck with me was to not only be present but to be completely present. Being in the moment with your students, in your classroom, prevents you from displacing emotions from other things that may be going on in your life. Even when you have to stop instruction to take a phone call or to deal with an issue in the hallway, grounding yourself before continuing instruction compartmentalizes those tasks and emotions.
Speaking with colleagues is certainly another useful, everyday tool. The best benefit that I get from speaking with colleagues is to just remember that we share students, situations, and the burden of their well-being and education. Sometimes it's good to vent but other times it's great to naturally fall into a conversation unrelated to work to break up some of the stress of the day.
Speaking with colleagues is certainly another useful, everyday tool. The best benefit that I get from speaking with colleagues is to just remember that we share students, situations, and the burden of their well-being and education. Sometimes it's good to vent but other times it's great to naturally fall into a conversation unrelated to work to break up some of the stress of the day.