Avoiding Plateaus

Yesterday I had my annual review. In my experience no matter what your profession, no one truly looks forward to their review. Some may be more helpful or pleasant than others, but there is always just that nagging feeling that a bomb may be dropped on you at some point in the meeting. I should add that this is a completely irrational fear on my part as my administrators are very good communicators, but it is a real fear to me. Near the end of the meeting it was noted that I seem to have found a renewed energy for teaching this year. This was a very kind complement and a very true statement. Last school year I had not hit rock bottom, but for a few years I had certainly hit a plateau. There are a number of factors that cause me to arrive at this plateau, but rather than explain those I would like to offer some of my thoughts on how to avoid it altogether (or at least change directions when it comes).

1. REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED

Likely, if you are a teacher you aren’t doing it for the paycheck. You don’t do home at night longing to grade more papers or plan more lessons. However, you keep grading those papers and planning those lessons for a bigger reason. For some you have known your whole life that you were meant to teach, for others a teacher changed your life and you want to do the same. There are those who teach for the love of the subject and those who teach simply for the love of the students. Whatever your reason may be, you need to keep it in front of you. One of my favorite college professors kept a drawer in his desk filled with notes and emails from students to read when he had tough days. This was his way of remembering why he started.

2. DON”T BORE YOURSELF

If you are bored, your students will be bored. It doesn’t matter if it is the first time they have heard something, if you sound like it’s the 5 millionth time, they will sense it. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do something new every minute of the day. Pick maybe one new thing a week, or even one a month. Get creative! You may try a new type of book report. You might try a new greeting at the door. Start having “Fun Fact Fridays” where you can introduce new information to your class. Maybe you want to start a new club or get rid of the club that wears you thin. The point is not what you choose, the point is choosing something to do or see in a new way. 

3. GET HELP

Enlist the help of another teacher to check in on you. Confide in someone you trust and let them know that you are struggling. Pray for God to give you renewed energy and ask others to pray for you. It is possible that in hitting a plateau you are not sure how you have arrived at this point. Ask a coworker that you trust if they have noticed anything? If you have a good relationship with your administrators go to them and tell them you need help. Maybe they can shift some of your duties or give you a new project to work on. Whatever you do, don’t do it alone.