84: Take a Step Away from the Overwhelm

There’s so much overwhelm out there today, and our teachers are feeling the brunt of it. They’re tasked with so much right now, from their regular teaching duties to “catching kids up” to navigating the trauma of kids, families, and themselves. It’s no wonder that my own micro-school is seeing higher than normal teacher absenteeism. Maybe your schools are having a similar challenge.

It’s time for solutions that don’t overwhelm even more. With good teachers leaving the classroom at an alarming rate and fewer college graduates going into teaching, we’re in a crisis.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing more of the challenges that we’re all facing (a reality check, if you will) and some of the solutions we’re incorporating at my micro-school. And I welcome input on other solutions you’ve tried!

Tune in now.

Jump in the Conversation:

• [1:08] 2021 is harder than 2020
• [1:30] Time for reality check
• [2:14] We don’t need more assessments
• [4:40] Time to take things off teachers’ plates
• [5:58] Simply say no
• [6:20] We can’t return to business as usual
• [6:41] Rethink your resources
• [8:01] Two ways to address the overwhelm
• [8:34] Now is not the time to do more of the same

Link

• Ed Week article: Teachers are Not Okay, Even Though We Need Them to Be
• Ed Week article: Enrollment in Teacher Preparation Programs is Declining Fast. Here’s What the Data Show.
• Cult of Pedagogy: Teachers are Barely Hanging On
• Bob Newhart clip
• Email Maureen
• Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools
• The Education Evolution
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• EdActive Collective
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep