Mindful Teaching: The Self-Care Toolbox

As teachers, we invest countless hours over the summer to create the perfect environment for our students. We ensure our students have everything they need to feel safe and be successful in the classroom. Among the small spaces we create within our classrooms is a calm corner, a space for students to go when they feel big emotions, equipped with tools to help them self-regulate. However, what about us? What systems or spaces do we put in place for ourselves to feel safe and succeed in our own classroom?

If you are scratching your head and saying, "Hmm," right now, you're not alone. It is not the first instinct for teachers to think about themselves. We always put the kids first but should start bringing ourselves to the forefront. Can a dysregulated teacher effectively teach if students cannot learn when they are dysregulated? The answer is no. So, what can we do for ourselves when we are dysregulated? We can create systems or spaces for ourselves when we feel big emotions and need a minute. One effective strategy is creating a self-care toolbox.

We become ineffective when we're dysregulated and not feeling our best selves. We also put ourselves at risk of burnout. That's why taking care of ourselves on the job is crucial, not just after work hours. A self-care toolbox can help you manage the stress of the day-to-day chaos of teaching. It consists of tools that help us calm down, stay present, or prevent overstimulation. In mine, I keep earplugs, a voice amplifier, a stress ball, and eucalyptus lotion—each serving a specific purpose.

My class was very loud. I am sure many of you can relate. On several occasions, I just wanted to scream, "SHUT UP!" Repeating "voice level zero" every five seconds was exhausting and overstimulating. After talking with a colleague, I tried earplugs. Earplugs were a game changer! I could still hear, but the noise was muffled, allowing me to be present with my students instead of being overwhelmed and seeing red. Earplugs also helped me change the perception I had of my class. Naturally, I perceived that my students were off task because of the noise level. When I removed the noise, I realized my class was on task despite the noise level. Earplugs removed an incredible amount of stress and anxiety from my day. Knowing that I had a tool that prevented me from becoming overstimulated and allowed me to be present with my students was empowering.

Did I already say my class was very loud? Well, my class was loud. In addition to the high noise level, I naturally have a calm voice, which often gets lost in the chaos. I frequently found myself raising my voice, which led to both physical and mental stress. After my success with earplugs, I decided to invest in another tool, a voice amplifier. Now, when my class is too loud, I use the voice amplifier, which allows me to maintain my calm demeanor while still being heard. It's fantastic!

The stress ball and eucalyptus lotion are for those days when my students really tested my patience. You know those days when students lose their minds because it is a full moon, someone's birthday, or Friday the 13th… Those are also the days when I call someone to physically come to my room because I need a minute (or 20, if I am being honest).

We are human—superhuman, really—but human nonetheless. We cannot be perfect all day, every day. That is an unrealistic expectation. We experience big emotions, too. In those moments, taking a minute, using a tool or a space to regulate ourselves before continuing to teach, is essential. Teacher self-care and awareness need to be the new norm in the classroom, not just an afterthought.

If you don't already have a self-care toolbox, I encourage you to create one and share your experiences with us!

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