Category: teacher struggles

Linda Markley

Resources and Support

calling to make a difference, creating community, Essential questions, Maslow before Blooms, Resources, Teacher Appreciation, teacher resources, teacher struggles, teacher support

More and more funding for resources and support for teachers is being reduced, or worse, eliminated altogether.

Teachers have always had to buy materials and supplies and pay for them out of their own very tight personal budget.

Teachers have always had to write grants and jump through fiery hoops of paperwork and accountability just to get money to fund everyday needs in the classroom.

Why???

And I SHOUT more loudly WHY???

We are a wealthy nation capable of providing for teachers.

So, why are teachers taking their precious time, money, energy and other resources to seek the support they need to teach?

Why do so many reply on social media to The Spirit of Teaching’s post to share their Amazon Wish List for back-to-school?

And, they share with heartfelt pleas and deep gratitude for “anything you can do to help out my kids is greatly appreciated!”

I don’t see any other employees in my community of businesses purchasing their own supplies, resources and begging for support in order to do their jobs.

So, once again, I ask WHY??? 

Do you have an answer or solution?

(more…)

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Linda Markley

Teacher Behavior

calling to make a difference, Essential questions, Intention, Introspection, Spirit of teaching, Spirit practices, teacher behavior, teacher choices, teacher mental health, teacher self-care, teacher struggles, teacher support, teacher vulnerability, teacher well-being, teachers as role models, Wholehearted teaching

I have always been a big cheerleader and supporter of teachers.

That is why I founded The Spirit of Teaching and my podcast, Teacher Tales.

However, in the past year or so, I have been losing faith and hope as I witness more and more inappropriate behaviors on the part of some teachers…

…in fact, too many teachers!

Let me explain and give some examples. (more…)

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Linda Markley

Teacher Mental Health

professional development, Spirit of teaching, Spirit practices, Strategies, teacher burnout, teacher mental health, teacher resources, teacher self-care, teacher struggles, teacher support, teacher vulnerability, teacher well-being, Wholehearted teaching

As a long-time attendee of teacher conferences, I can say that the topic of teacher mental health was never a topic for a session of professional development.

This has certainly changed in the past decade, especially after the pandemic!

The number and variety of sessions on teacher mental health and well-being as well as teacher burnout has increased tremendously and, quite frankly, are quite well-attended at conferences.

I,  myself, present often these days on this very topic, and as a result, have gathered quite a bit of research on the topic.

  • 21% of teachers report poor mental health (American Federation of Teachers) 
  • 75% of teachers experience stress (Education Support) 
  • 41% of teachers experience anxiety (American Psychological Association) 
  • 44% of teachers report feeling burnt out (National Center for Education Statistics) 
  • 25-74% of teachers experience clinically significant burnout (ResearchGate) 
  • Teachers are more likely to experience burnout than other professions
  • 68% of teachers feel overwhelmed by their job (NEA) 
  • 48% of teachers are dissatisfied with their job (EdWeek Research Center) 
  • 55% of teachers plan to leave the profession earlier than expected due to burnout (Education WalkThrough) 
  • Teacher mental health has been declining in recent years 
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among teachers 
  • Younger teachers are more likely to experience mental health problems 

And it is just getting worse by the day.

The mental health of teachers is declining. The Spirit of Teaching is committed and dedicated to helping teachers with the struggles and the challenges that they face every day in the classroom.

Here is how we are helping. (more…)

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