Tips For Reducing Teaching Stress

Teaching is one of the demanding careers that require you to deal with classroom stress. Not only does stress come from teaching, but also comes along when you juggle your personal and professional life. Stress is not just a mental factor, but it is a physical factor as well. Taking care of your body and mind is paramount and that's not an easy task.

Teachers have to deal with classroom hassles, afternoon meetings and have to complete obnoxious amount of paperwork and report cards; all this certainly lays immense pressure on them. Teachers must adopt strategies for avoiding burnouts and making improvements in their outlook and attitude.

Simple tips can be followed by them, which can be very helpful-

Engage Yourself In Connecting With students- Often when we get stressed-out, we tend to disengage ourselves from the surroundings. Organizing such activities allows you to relax and enjoy, thereby helps you to connect with students. Cooperative learning activities within the classroom or group discussions can prove to be highly fruitful for building the camaraderie between teachers and students. Also, such active involvement facilitates a sense of control and empowerment. 

Maintain Balance - Teaching job, no doubt is a delicate one. Therefore, teachers need to maintain psychological and physical balance. Our society expects teachers to be educationally and emotionally well.  However, teachers experience a number of varied pressures and stressors like taking work home, dealing with difficult students and pressure from parents, teachers’ evaluation, ongoing learning etc. They must learn to balance all these pressures and empower them.

Keep Yourself Motivated - Remember why you opted for this profession. Keep those reasons close to your heart while teaching and when you are stressed. It can really help you to remain motivated. Remind yourself about goals in life and set priorities. Having direction makes situation more meaningful.

Remain Positive -  Try and remain positive no matter what. Keep faith and believe in what you are doing. Time and again remind yourself, what impact your attitude is creating on kids who see you and idolize you in school.

Take a Break – Do things you like, for example:-go for travel, watch your favorite show or sitcom, listen to soothing music etc. A little time spent in joyful activities will definitely avoid any serious burnouts in future.

So, one must eat healthy and always remain optimistic which will certainly be beneficial in reducing stress. Try and implement couple of these ideas to make you feel more relaxed.

Parent Teachers Meeting (PTM) Tips for Teachers

Parent–teacher meetings are essential component of ongoing home–school communication and it is vital for both sides to actively participate in it. It is but natural for newly appointed teachers to get understandably nervous about their first meet with the parents. Even experienced teachers may feel it to be a daunting and exhausting task. 

Some tips and preparations in advance can help you simplify the meeting process-

• To begin with, teachers must send home invitation for PTMs to parents and must ensure that they receive them. An additional exercise what teachers can do is send a brief questionnaire along with the invitation asking parents to pen down their concerns and questions about the child or school or any other specific area they want to talk about. It will make them prepared in advance for the big meeting and big questions.

• It is a cardinal rule. Teachers must always begin with something positive about the child in the meeting and then slowly move down to areas where their child needs to improve. Start with something positive and then talk about areas of improvement and then finish on positive note.

• Teachers must avoid being diplomatic rather they should be honest and truthful. Parents have right to get accurate information about their child but at the same time teacher must ensure not to use harsh phrases or comments for the child.

• Teachers must structure the entire session with parents. The agenda of the meeting must be highlighted at the meeting because that’s for what the meeting is arranged. Teachers must be prepared with work samples like homework or project assignments of the child.

• After highlighting the problems and key areas, teachers must offer a suggested course of action as well. This will help them to direct their children and they will appreciate your efforts. Teachers must also mention specific targets for improvement or changed behavior from last time.

• Teachers must also listen to what parents have to say.  You'll get more out of a parent conference if you really listen to what parents are saying to you.

• Teachers must record important points of the meetings. These details might prove to be helpful later to brief parents in future.

• Meet again if required. If you feel, you need more time, arrange another meeting with parents. It is duty of teachers to satisfy each query of them and problem solving is equally important as it may be crucial for the child.

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Women's Day: Women And Their Diverse Roles

As our society witnesses rapid changes, there is alteration in the society’s approach towards women. People have started accepting varied roles of women as professionals, as bread-earners in families and as an independent thinking individual. Crossing all inhibitions women have proved themselves as equals in varied line of works and in some occupations they are even regarded as better than men. The times are changing and so is the changing role of women.

The traditional role of a man has always been one of a figure running home and women have typically looked after house chores. But this situation is changing as women today are not only managing household but contributing to the expenses of running their homes as well. They in the present scenario are geared up in shouldering responsibilities with men. No doubt, women are shedding their typical roles and venturing into experimental roles.

Expanding Roles of Women in Society

The role of women is ever growing and has expanded a lot from what it was traditionally in the past. It varies significantly across the world. Women need to show substance in education, employment, and family roles and the interrelations between them. To achieve this, women have ventured beyond their traditional role of wife and mother, and have stepped out of their home for employment and careers. They are now actively participating in the economic and social development of the nation

Honoring Women Worldwide on Women’s Day

International Women’s Day on March 8th gives us an opportunity to honor women around us, who have significantly contributed in our lives. During this day several events are held worldwide to pay respect to women and celebrate their achievements. The International Women’s Day thus serves as a reminder to reflect on how much women across globe have achieved.

Origins of Woman's Day

The International Women’s Day originated way back in 1908, when  in New York about 15,000 women rallied through the city demanding for shorter work hours, voting rights and better pay. The owner of the factory tried to restrict these women in order to avoid publicity of the matter due to their demands and closed them in the factory. Sadly, fire broke up in the factory and 129 women died. In 1910 Socialist International in Copenhagen to commemorate this day, established International Woman's Day.

The occasion truly gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude to all the women who play vital roles as mother, sister, friend, peer and colleague. Let’s celebrate their spirit of womanhood.