Catch up with RRR

 Teacher burnout is real.It is a killer. Fight it positively with everything you got.Refill,Relax and Reconnect with yourself. It won't cost you much.Be intentional about rest.

Teacher burnout is a serious issue that can have detrimental effects on both educators and their learners. It is essential to recognize the signs of burnout and proactively take steps to combat it. 

 Refill: Take time to engage in activities that rejuvenate and replenish your energy. Find hobbies or interests outside of work that bring you joy and help you recharge.

 Relax: Practice self-care and stress management techniques. This may include mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, , or any other relaxation methods that work for you. Prioritize your mental and physical well-being.

 Reconnect with yourself: Reflect on your purpose, passion, and goals as an educator. Remember why you chose this profession and the positive impact you can make. Engage in self-reflection to ensure your work aligns with your values and interests.

 Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Create a schedule that allows for dedicated time for relaxation, hobbies, and spending time with loved ones. Avoid bringing work-related stress home.

 Seek support: Reach out to colleagues or support networks within your school or educational community. Share your experiences and concerns with others who can offer empathy and understanding. Collaborating with colleagues can also provide a sense of camaraderie.

Delegate and prioritize: Learn to delegate tasks when possible and focus on the most important responsibilities. Avoid taking on too much at once and be realistic about what you can achieve within a given timeframe.

Take breaks: Incorporate regular breaks throughout the day to recharge. Step away from the classroom or workspace, even if only for a few minutes. Use this time to stretch, take a short walk, or engage in a brief mindfulness exercise.-use your break for its purpose 

 Practice gratitude: Remind yourself of the positive aspects of your job and express gratitude for the opportunities you have. Focus on the progress and growth you witness in your learners, as well as the impact you make in their lives.Embrace God and his goodness  over your life irrespective. 

9. Pursue professional development: Continue to learn and grow in your field. Seek out workshops, conferences, or online courses that can enhance your teaching skills or introduce you to new strategies. This can reignite your passion for teaching.Do not allow yourself to expire. Constantly upgrade your capacity and ensure your cups runs over.Be a life long learners(checkout one of our episodes)

10. Be intentional about rest: Prioritize rest as a vital component of your overall well-being. Get sufficient sleep each night and listen to your body's needs. Additionally, plan regular vacations and time off to disconnect from work and recharge.

Remember, combating teacher burnout is an ongoing process. By implementing these strategies and being intentional about self-care, you can better equip yourself to handle the demands of teaching and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Check out one of our episodes 

Individual learning, the energizer

 

Group learning is important but individual learning is equally valuable. The skill prepares a learner in a way he or she can reach out to others in an authentic way. Individual learning is simply the conscious effort of a learner to study or carry out academic tasks by himself or herself. 

This practice allows a learner to work separately on individual tasks, rather than as a group. It is an autonomous kind of learning; personalised and engaging. That means that for a learner to engage in individual learning, that learner must be determined to work hard intentionally with consistency.  As I said, it is a conscious effort. When an effort is conscious, people deliberately do things and deliver because there is a positive force behind it. 

 In individual learning, learners think deeper by themselves to construct meaning, and find answers. By this, they are filled and their cups run over. They gain more information and acquire knowledge. When learners know that they can learn individually, it gives them a high level of confidence and morale to operate authentically in a collaborative setting.

Allowing learners to learn at their own pace is essential to their learning. The teacher should be mindful of the entry point and the learning needs of learners if the approach is in the classroom. They should also encourage them to take individual learning seriously outside the four walls of the classrooms by giving them self-paced assignments, and projects.

Wondering about the benefits of individual learning, here are some tips

It promotes learners' confidence and trust in themselves

Learners work individually at their levels and pace to achieve a common goal

Deepen the understanding of learners

Individual learning promotes readiness for connectedness

It increases the passion to learn and try new positive things.

 Are there challenges of Individual learning? Absolutely!Individual learning can be challenging at times

Lack of motivation -Failures or life issues can hinder individual learning. If learners do not have a strong desire or interest to learn on their own, they may not put in the effort needed to engage in individual learning. It can also be difficult to stay motivated and disciplined when learning on your own. Without the structure and external accountability of a group or a teacher, it may be tempting to procrastinate or lose focus.

 Lack or Limited resources: Individual learners may face challenges in accessing necessary resources, such as textbooks, materials, or technology. Lack or limited access to resources can hinder the learning process and make it more difficult to acquire new knowledge or skills. If learners do not have access to the necessary materials, tools, or technology, it can be difficult for them to engage in effective individual learning.

  Lack of support or guidance: Learners may encounter moments where they feel overwhelmed by the amount of information, workload or stuck on a particular concept or problem. Without the immediate support or guidance of others, it can be challenging to overcome these obstacles. Learners can benefit from the guidance and feedback of teachers and mentors to help them navigate their individual learning journey.

 Self-doubt or lack of confidence: Learning on your own can sometimes lead to self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy. Without the input or validation of others sometimes, it can be challenging to gauge your progress , which may affect your confidence in your abilities.

  Individual learning can be a solitary endeavour, and some learners may miss the benefits of collaboration and social interaction that come with group learning. The absence of peer support or opportunities for discussions and exchange of ideas may make the learning experience feel boring or less engaging.

Poor classroom management is a big issue when a teacher is not vigilant enough to control the classroom. Noise-making and other learner distractions might take over and hinder effective individual learning and apprehension.

Teacher -centered environment may not allow the learners to learn autonomously because the teacher controls everything even the learning.

Poor parental control -Some parents do not have time to monitor the learning pace of their children. As learners take charge of their actions at home, playtime and television might outweigh the learning time. 

However, despite these challenges, individual learning also offers unique opportunities for self-discovery, personal growth, and independence. Overcoming these obstacles requires perseverance, adaptability, and a proactive approach to seeking support or finding alternative resources when needed

The key is to keep learning, growing, and pushing through any difficulties that may arise.

Teachers' voice ,a nitty-gritty in teaching and learning

 What is your voice/ tone like in your classroom.?

A teacher's voice is a nitty-gritty in teaching and learning because it is one of the basics required for effective 👌 learning. As a teacher,  your voice should be as refreshing as water.

Communication is a powerful force. With our voices, we communicate with our learners 

What we hear and how we are addressed go a long way to affect our being.

No one can underestimate the power of voice. The power of voice has been recognised since time immemorial.It is so powerful that light came upon the earth through the voice of God.

in Genesis 1vs 3-"And God said, "let there be light", and there was light.

That means that what we say can give or take away life.

Confusion in our voices and tones can disrupt meaningful activities and actions. The building of the tower of babel is a common example in regard. Nations go to war when voices and tones are not carefully managed. 

In the context of teaching and learning, the voice/tone of a teacher is crucial.This is because it is one of the entry points to learners' success. A teacher should have a shepherd voice to enable the learners to understand it and follow. 

The eacher's voice/tones is one of the determinant factors  for  meaningful learning whether it is verbally or non-verbally displayed. Whichever way; the learners hear. 

A teacher's, voice should be capable of elevating learners not tearing them down. The voice of a teacher must speak hope. Learners should be able to stand respectfully and without fear because they know they are covered. The learners and their teachers should have a powerful connection as they speak. 

With voice, learners are taught, counselled, nurtured, mentored and reprimanded when necessary.

As an educator with years of experience, I have seen learners avoid or negatively react to a teacher because they feel discouraged when the teacher speaks to them without respect. 

The teacher's voice should be like a soothing balm, a promoter, not an inhibitor.

The teacher-learner relationship exists . The proof of this relationship can be shown as we speak to and with our learners.

What's your voice/tone like in your classroom as a teacher? building or destroying? How do you communicate with your learners during lessons? Do your learners' opinions count?

Wondering what a teacher's voice/tone will look like, here are some tips

Voice of Hope-Teaching is a challenging job but you have the power to make a positive impact on your learners. By approaching them with hope and encouragement, you can build trusting relationships that lead to better learning outcomes. Keep in mind that your portfolio is a valuable resource that can help you empower your learners and showcase your achievements. With dedication and a constructive mindset, you can make a real difference in the lives of your learners. 

Voice without anger and yelling-Dealing with learners who misbehave can be a challenging situation, but it's important to approach it with a constructive mindset. Rather than getting angry or raising your voice, it's better to maintain a calm demeanor and work with the learner to find a resolution. By focusing on positive feedback and constructive criticism, you can help the learner get back on track and maintain a respectful relationship. Remember that a constructive approach can help learners overcome obstacles and achieve success in their academic journey

Avoid flat tone during lessons-To keep your learners engaged and motivated, it's important to maintain a constructive and dynamic tone when teaching. Avoid using a flat or monotone voice, and instead, use positive feedback and constructive criticism in an energetic and lively way. Encourage your learners to participate and share their own thoughts and ideas. By keeping the energy high and the conversation flowing, you can help your learners stay focused and inspired to succeed. Remember, a constructive and engaging lesson can make a considerable impact on the academic journey of your learners

I end with a quote from Diane von Furstenberg:

"I have always believed that when you have a voice, you have an obligation to empower others"

Let your voice be powerful enough to inspire your learners. 

Additinal resourcesThe teacher's voice a powerful instrument

Give a red card to Poor handwriting

 Learning is an active process but may lack Lustre without  legible writing .Writing is one of  the ways we communicate to the world. So learners must write clearly .

The word legible is of Latin origin Legibilis meaning

  "that can be read".

This is quite emphatic  meaning that people should  be able to read what others wrote.

According to Natalie Goldberg :

if handwriting is connected to the movement of the heart, then  it shows that it is important. Therefore  it must be done properly to convey the meaning and avoid confusion and misinformation. 

Legible writing is simply the ability to write in a way others can read and understand  with ease. It  is not about the craftmanship per se but legibility .

Have you ever had trouble reading a learner's work as a teacher ? You can tell how difficult it is.

Take medical prescriptions for instance. Most of us complain about them because  we can't easily read them.

All we do is to quickly  hand over our prescription paper to the health personnel concerned. WHY? BECAUSE we don't wanna deal with the writing because it is confusing. 

Same when people don't write legibly. 

As part of teaching and learning process, teachers must ensure they emphasize and encourage their learners to write in a legible manner .

Learners love and believe in their teachers and as long as we constantly remind  them to write legibly ,it will become a culture that dominates their thinking zone and anytime there is a need to write,legible writing will hit their memory. Keep saying it.keep reminding them.Dont give up 

 Let me also remind  you that  some life / learning issues   may have a role in the handwriting appearance  but let us leave that for now.

Wondering what can  cause illegible writing-

Here are some tips

Rushing the learners - Due to poor teaching style of  loading learners with content, Some teachers dictate notes for learners  or write faster on the board in an attempt to finish the curriculum. In this case,they rush the learners .This is a common practice: For learners to meet with the demand that 'you must complete the note'before the lesson is over write  fast and poorly. Most times, punishment is given to those who did not finish their notes. To avoid the punishment; learners write excessively fast to escape the teacher's punishment. In this case, the learners goal is to finish the note even if it means writing anyhow. 

Poor sitting position- Some school desks and chairs are not properly built  to suit the age of the learners. Sometimes they are lower and higher than normal  .This affects the sitting position. Height and sizes must be considered before the construction of seats and desks to ensure that all learners are accommodated. 

Sometimes due to high class size; some learners write while standing and this will definitely affect the legibility of their writing. 

Poor class control &management 

Due to lack of proper  class management skills,some teachers do not not pay strict attention to what the learners are doing during lessons. In regard, some will be writing and playing at the same time,writing sitting on the floor , talking and writing and so on.

These actions must affect the legibility of the writing. Sometimes they even mix up issues and write out of context aside from writing rough.

Poor teacher encouragement 

Encouragement can do  wonders for any learner.A teacher should endeavour to move around  as learners are writing. He or she should encourage the learners to write clearly  and with accurate word spacing. Standing in front of the classroom from the beginning of the lesson  to the end is concerning. A concerned teacher must move around,inspect what the learners are writing , correct and encourage them to improve accordingly. 

What the teacher need to do 

Identify learners that don't write legibly. Encourage them on a daily basis. Do not quit

Encourage handwriting exercise  

Make your notes concise 

Teachers should  read and mark the learners note with constructive feedback concerning the writing. 

Ask them to rewrite if necessary  because  legible writing is not an instantaneous process. It requires practice and repetition. 

Carry your line manager and parents along to ensure a total commitment to inspiring the learners to write legibly. 

Additional resources 

Poorly legible or illegible writing?What the possible causes (Ecriture sans frontieres)