Session 363: Regain your teaching mojo

As someone who recently left the classroom, I am VERY much looking forward to today's #UKEdChat! Need that #inspo y'all.  https://www.twitter.com/UKEdSch/status/888107773220671490 …

OK, here we go #UKEdChat this week talking about how to: REGAIN YOUR TEACHING MOJO Would love for you to join in the chat 😇

Types #ukedchat, selects it, hits ctrl C... I is ready...

A1 Being timetabled D/C borderline kids in Yr 11 year on year because you ‘get the grades out of them’. Great way of deskilling! #UKEdChat

@ukedchat A1. Bureaucracy, non-teaching work-load pressures, disenchanted from reasons why I went into teaching #UKEdChat + some adults you work with

@_theteachr Such a tragedy #UKEdChat

A1 Oof. Actions of other adults that negatively impacted our school. Unsupportive colleagues. #ukedchat

@UKEdSch A1 marking, constant paper work, not being recognised for anything unless you go round shouting about it.... #ukedchat

@Jessicaraealt Quite a few similar themes coming forward here #UKEdChat You wonder why certain people enter the profession! :-(

A1 being told you do something a certain way, e.g. mark every two weeks with ebi statements because "that’s what OFSTED wants". #UKEdChat

@teacherchalky1 @UKEdSch Yes, a lack of recognition really wears on you. I understand how this gets tricky, but only receiving criticism gets tough. #ukedchat

@ukedchat A1 Never ending moving of goal posts from bodies that are out of touch. Workload/expectations. Pay and deemed worth/appreciation. #UKEdChat

@_theteachr And don't forget they'll all have A/B targets, and you'll have absorbed all of the underachievers from the higher sets #ukedchat

@ukedchat A1: often the other adults kill the mojo. I love my job but struggle with hugely with negatively #UKEdChat

@teacherchalky1 Which is great if you're good at shouting #UKEdChat

@Jessicaraealt @UKEdSch And they're very quick to criticise #ukedchat

@llcoolteaches Possible to overcome? #UKEdChat

@llcoolteaches @ukedchat I hate that this is my answer, too. Teaching is hard enough, other adults can either be life savers or make it unbearable. #ukedchat

@Jon_M_Bailey politicians, or leaders? #UKEdChat

@UKEdSch I'm not designed to brag at full volume #ukedchat

@teacherchalky1 @UKEdSch Oh yes......... #ukedchat

@Jessicaraealt @teacherchalky1 @UKEdSch Surely the views of your pupils and their parents are more important? #UKEdChat

@ukedchat To me, although it's difficult, the trick lies in focusing upon those in education who REALLY matter. #UKEdChat

A2 - Keep trying different approaches. Try and rethink things you’ve always taught in the same way. Don’t be scared to mess up! #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Focus on the kids! They're hilarious and always the best bit of the day/the thing you talk about when you get home #UKEdChat

@ukedchat @Jessicaraealt @UKEdSch In an ideal world, but unfortunately their views don't have much weight as far as SLT are concerned #ukedchat

@ukedchat @teacherchalky1 @UKEdSch Certainly, especially my Ss. But I taught in NYC, and kids/parents can be complicated. But their <3 did keep me there for 4 years! #ukedchat

A2 Find your tribe!! Surrounding yourself with inspiring, supportive teachers is everything! Misery loves company. Choose inspo! #ukedchat

@Jessicaraealt Where is yours? #UKEdChat

@teacherchalky1 @Jessicaraealt @UKEdSch Too true...sadly #UKEdChat

@UKEdSch A2 Keep trying new things, spice up your lessons, good lessons = engaged students = good grades = happy teacher....... #ukedchat

A2 Become responsible for your own CPD. Learning is motivating - Remember good CPD isn’t just going on that course you wanted. #UKEdChat

Some amazing teachers in NYC, like @RudyBlancs, and an excellent PLN thanks to Twitter chats like these! #ukedchat

Yes! Absolutely this. #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/llcoolteaches/status/888114500989210625 …

A2 Focus on the Ss. It all comes back to them, and that was always the one thing to keep me going. #ukedchat

This has been crucial for me. #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/_theteachr/status/888115397416833024 …

@dailydenouement 100% agree, but difficult when there are internal politics interfering #UKEdChat

Yes, a nice idea #UKEdChat Especially those heart felt ones that really meant something to you  https://twitter.com/LorraineM63/status/888116052848136193 …

This year we have worked much more closely as a team of Curriculum Leaders. It has helped to generate ideas & support. #ukedchat

@ukedchat A3. Think that ensuring positive mental health strategies are key for ALL school community members& schls should work hard at this #UKEdChat

In Liverpool we have a common INSET day, city-wide & subject specific. Thanks to @SI_Liverpool Always positive & inspiring #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/ukedsch/status/888116557334716418 …

@UKEdSch A3 a bit of SLT presence and a 'your doing a good job' every so often #ukedchat

@UKEdSch Q1: Normally a combined stress of juggling home school balance decimates my mojo, but normally bounce back quickly 😍#UkEdChat

A3 My awesome administrator had regular check-ins, inc. 3 big ones at beginning/middle/end of year. Kept her in the loop+supprtive #ukedchat

Yes. I'm going to try & champion well-being in my school next year. Not sure exactly how right now, but have a few ideas #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/digicoled/status/888116971891343361 …

@UKEdSch Q1: previous job. Poor dept management drove me insane. Lovely person, extreme lack of organisation & last minute panics made me 🙁 #ukedchat

@teacherchalky1 @UKEdSch Yes, that can make such a positive difference. In fact, we could all do a little more of that to each other, maybe? #UKEdChat

@Jessicaraealt And it helped? #UKEdChat

@_theteachr Cross-dept learning walks to share good practice; own research & reading; attending conferences; presenting at INSET etc #ukedchat #CPD

@dailydenouement Perhaps we could build something together for teachers and schools nationally? #UKEdChat

A1 Real teacher mojo never dies, it gets low, it goes slow, reduces its get-up-and-go. But it never dies - yeah baby! #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Yes. Didn't prevent me from leaving, by my admin was in my journey with me 100%. I felt very supported during difficult times. #ukedchat

@UKEdSch Q1: poor treatment of staff at a whole school level. Not current school I'm very pleased to say #ukedchat

@_theteachr True! Even out of the classroom, I'm still such a teacher. It doesn't die. But it does burn out, and it can burn out hard. #ukedchat

#UKEdChat Simple and important - just like a potato :-)  https://twitter.com/ThePOTATOgroup/status/888118130643316736 …

A1 overly prescriptive requirements for lesson planning (school wide planner which took ages to fill in) #ukedchat

Definitely think it's worth trying! #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/digicoled/status/888118112867897345 …

Yes, I'd agree with you. Even if/when you leave the profession, the desire is usually still there #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/_theteachr/status/888118186167508999 …

A2 find your own pockets of positivity, colleagues, Twitter contacts, people beyond your school gate, avoid the staffroom Eeyores #ukedchat

@ukedchat A4. Focusing on your students, patience, listening, and knowing who to keep away from #UKEdChat

A3 encourage genuine local partnerships, collaboration not competition #ukedchat

A4 resilience, creativity to see past the bull****, ability to reconnect with own core values regularly #ukedchat

A1 The day you don't feel maximum mojo on 1st September is the day to rethink. Granted mojo will take a major hit by 15th Sept... #UKEdChat

My priority this year is going to be keeping the focus on the students & try & insulate dept from as much other 'stuff' as poss #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/ukedsch/status/888119079436820480 …

@doc_kristy Yes, love this. You're spot on! Some schools can be full of negative individuals #UKEdChat

@UKEdSch A4 being generally resilient, and not taking things too personally #ukedchat

@ukedchat Also A2 keep emails, thankyou cards etc... They'll remind you of the good times when you're in a dip #ukedchat

Definitely. Resilience is so vital #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/teacherchalky1/status/888120091870601217 …

@dailydenouement That sounds like a plan, but what is the other 'stuff' you are protecting them from? #UKEdChat

I do this. I have a box & I dip into it to give myself a boost when needed. #ukedchat  https://twitter.com/doc_kristy/status/888120305725521922 …

@teacherchalky1 Indeed. Skills and attributes that we advocate to our students, but the reality is sometimes different #UKEdChat Do we need to be honest?

Read a lot. Keep trying new ideas. Network with others. Make notes of all the positive experiences to look back on. #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/ukedsch/status/888114045814939648 …

A4 - stolen from Covey but focus on what you can control (your work) and not what you can't ((some) other people's nonsense) #ukedchat

@I_am_Duffers That sounds a lovely idea. How do you make notes on the positive experiences you encounter? #UKEdChat

#UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/ThePOTATOgroup/status/888121199632318465 …

@ukedchat Just unnecessary stress, paperwork etc wherever possible #UKEdChat

@_theteachr Yes - and good stealing, by the way - but how do you deal with people who bring their nonsense to you? #UKEdChat

This. #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/_theteachr/status/888121336618401792 …

A5 Gratitude always worked for me. Thanking a student or colleague brought a lot of good mojo to by days! Spread the love! #ukedchat

Be resilience, be optimistic, be dedicated, be inspirational and be conscientious. #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/ukedsch/status/888119079436820480 …

#UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/lit_liverbird/status/888121942091235330 …

Importantly - make a concerted effort to big up other teachers for doing a great job . A few nice words for no reason go far #ukedchat

@dailydenouement Sounds like a big challenge #UKEdChat

@ukedchat A5. I know it sounds simple, but get a hobby/interest in something that helps distract from your job #UKEdChat Escape entirely for a while

@I_am_Duffers Brilliant, and it takes dedication to keep it going. Some days easier to do than others? #UKEdChat

As always, I'm going to try & commit to a better work/life balance. No more sending stupid o'clock emails! #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Absolutely. I've not yet managed 3 everyday. But I manage most which helps! Guess this also answers Q5. #UKEdChat

@ukedchat A6. Don't feed the negativity monster. Stifle it all with your positivity & appreciation for life, teaching, & for your students #UKEdChat

@ukedchat #UKEdChat seeing young peoples progress both academic but more importantly personal.

@SWconsultancyUK Indeed, sometimes the un-measurable stuff that we see with our eyes is more pleasing than what the data is showing #UKEdChat

@ukedchat I think there needs to be a clear vision & strategy from SLT so everyone knows the reasons/priorities. And then thank people #ukedchat

A5 I would love to see it possible for teachers to be able to take a year out after 10 years to do absolutely whatever they wanted #UKEdChat

@dailydenouement @ukedchat Agree, and it's not rocket science, but some get wrapped up in their own self-importance and petty agendas. It's so sad #UKEdChat

Yes. Find & appreciate the positive folk in school. #UKEdChat  https://twitter.com/digicoled/status/888124511119302657 …

@ukedchat #ukedchat positivity, honesty, knowledgeable, confident, supportive and patience, patience and yet more patience !

@_theteachr Paid? #UKEdChat Imagine the outrage from certain news outlets!

@SWconsultancyUK ...and lots of quiet deep intakes of breath! #UKEdChat

@ukedchat #UKEdChat mindfulness for educators is greatly required! New project maybe...... @MikeArmiger

A6 Know when you need a break or change of scenery. Staying unhappy is not the solution! #ukedchat

#ukedchat You can't "withdraw" sadness,discontent.Who knows what people go through beyond? People are complex -listen to them, show you care  https://twitter.com/ukedchat/status/888124133904490496 …

@ukedchat Defo paid. Say 70% of salary plus the rest if they complete a masters or something interesting. News outlets can go for a walk! #ukedchat

Thanks for another great #UKEdChat!

@ukedchat A6. Listen to the staff and establish whether their concerns are valid. Complaints can be used to move things forward. #ukedchat

@teachahoy Indeed, if you are open-minded to the complaints :-) #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Remember why you got into it in the first place.... take pics of progress etc to remind you of the difference you make 😊 #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Other members of staff and school politics.... ever increasing workload a close second #UKEdChat

@ukedchat Listen and engage with any issues...but also be willing to face negativity head on...no room for it #behappy #UKEdChat