Teachers are tired. Yes, it’s only the start of the semester but they are tired. have spoken and presented to over 300 teachers across the country in the past few weeks. This is a problem we have to solve.
Tired teachers don’t make for effective teachers. If we have emotionally drained teachers how can they possibly motivate and inspire students? If we have exhausted teachers, they are not being their best selves.
If teachers are not being their best selves, how can they inspire their students to be their best?
Teaching is a tiring job. But, how can it be made a little easier? There are plenty of systematic issues at play from low pay, poor conditions, ineffective training, lack of on-the-job support, irrelevant curriculum, lack of materials, and shortage of trained support teachers. The list goes on.
As a school leader, what is the one thing you could do to make teachers less exhausted?
How could you have a faculty that is more energized, engaged and more likely to inspire students to learn and put forth effort?
Unleash the strengths of your teachers!
In the ten schools I currently work with, school leaders have given their teachers the opportunity to learn who they (and their colleagues are) at their best!
Using the CliftonStrengths assessment, teachers unlock their potential to instigate greater performance. They focus on their natural talents and gifts to unleash them in the classroom. Teachers see their uniqueness, and the value they add to their team and students. There is an almost immediate rise in self-confidence, joy, energy and teamwork.
Why? Because they are shining a light on who they are at their best, and aiming to be that more often!