Teachers around the world are burnt out. While the reasons for this are varied, researchers have found that educators who are mentally and physically fatigued struggle to carry out their daily tasks. This, in turn, has a negative impact on student learning.
Admittedly, there are numerous articles online which outline strategies one can use to overcome this exhaustion. Often, these papers talk about the importance of collaborating and reflecting on one’s teaching practice. However, very rarely do they comment on the importance of taking a break and letting students become responsible for their own education.
Speaking from a personal perspective, it is easy to feel as though we have to do everything for our students. This is particularly true for those of us who work in contexts where we are assessed on the results our students receive in external examinations. Thus, it is tempting to stay up late editing worksheets or creating mentor texts.
Nonetheless, we have to realise that it is not always possible, nor advisable, to do everything.
This ‘in brief…’ article originally appeared in the May 2016 edition of UKEdMagazine. Click here to freely read online.
@Sally_Johnstone History Teacher – Australia
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