Teachers: Do you like school?
Why Don’t Teachers Like School?
Ever wondered why some teachers don't like school anymore, even though they're passionate about education? In this blog post, we'll explore the cognitive challenges that can overwhelm teachers, especially those who have chosen unconventional pathways into teaching. But fear not, we'll also delve into strategies to address these challenges and make the teaching experience more enjoyable and effective for everyone.
The Cognitive Challenge: A Barrier to Teacher Satisfaction
Teachers, especially those taking alternative routes to certification, may find themselves struggling under the weight of various demands. In the world of teaching, educators often find themselves balancing various tasks simultaneously. These include managing student behavior, delivering complex content, and assessing understanding, all while racing against the clock. Experts refer to it as "cognitive load," and it can be mentally exhausting. The constant unpredictability can be emotionally draining.
Connected Community: The Power of Support
One reason why some teachers don't fully enjoy their school experience is the sense of isolation and lack of support. This is where the "Connected Community" principle comes into play. By joining a community of educators who face similar challenges and share common goals, teachers can find the guidance and encouragement they need. This collaborative approach fosters self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy, which significantly impact student learning outcomes.
Teaching Simplified: Finding Clarity Amid the Chaos
The concept of "Teaching Simplicity" addresses the overwhelming complexity teachers often encounter. Especially for unconventional teachers, the education system can seem like a bewildering puzzle. However, by implementing neuroeducational approaches, teachers can establish effective routines that reduce their cognitive load, making teaching more manageable and enjoyable. Simplifying teaching methods not only eases the cognitive burden on teachers but also enhances student engagement and comprehension—a classic case of "less is more."
Real Habits, Lasting Change: A Path Out of Survival
Teaching can be a demanding journey, especially for those without traditional certification. "Real Habits, Lasting Change" focuses on building effective teaching habits that benefit educators and students alike. By converting routines into habits, teachers perform tasks more efficiently and with less cognitive strain. This approach not only lightens the cognitive load for teachers but also creates a more structured and enjoyable learning experience for students.
Practical Professional Growth: Support for Unconventional Educators
The philosophy of "less is more" remains a guiding principle, particularly for unconventional teachers. Leveraging neuroeducational approaches allows educators to experience learning that translates into effective teaching practices. As Daniel Siegel points out, the brain's adaptability hinges on experiences. Therefore, teachers must experience effective neuroeducational approaches to effectively implement them in their teaching journey.
In conclusion, recognizing the unique and diverse journeys that teachers embark on as they enter the profession is paramount. Providing scaffolds, streamlining teaching approaches, nurturing effective teaching habits, and customizing professional growth opportunities can be transformative. These measures empower all teachers to not only learn the science of teaching but also implement it effectively. By addressing cognitive challenges and the demands of teaching, these efforts can pave the way for an educational environment where both teachers and students flourish, fostering a welcoming, supportive, and ultimately more enjoyable and rewarding experience in the teaching profession.
Reflective Questions for Teachers:
Am I Feeling Overwhelmed in the Classroom? Reflect on your experiences in the classroom. Are you frequently overwhelmed by the demands of teaching? If so, consider seeking support to help you manage your cognitive load and reduce stress.
Do I Feel Isolated or Lacking a Support Network? Do you need a sense of community and support from fellow educators? Reflect on whether you could benefit from joining a network of teachers who share your challenges and goals.
Are Your Teaching Methods Becoming Overly Complex? Examine your teaching methods. Are they getting too complicated? Reflect on how simplifying your approach could lead to a more welcoming and supportive learning environment for both you and your students.
Are My Teaching Habits Effective and Sustainable? Consider your teaching habits. Are they helping you and your students, or do you feel trapped in a cycle of inefficiency? Reflect on the need to build lasting, effective habits to improve your teaching experience.
Are You Creating a Culture of Learning in Your Classroom? Reflect on your classroom environment. Are you fostering a culture of learning that supports both teachers and students? Building effective teaching habits and implementing the science of teaching can help create a more enjoyable and rewarding educational experience.
Want to get better results by doing less? Join our Finita Community!
Reflective Questions for Administrators:
Are Our Teachers Experiencing Cognitive Overload? Assess whether teachers in your school or district are facing cognitive overload due to the demands of teaching. Explore ways to alleviate this burden through training or support.
Are Teachers Developing Effective Teaching Habits? Assess whether your teachers are building habits that enhance their teaching. Explore the role of scaffolds in supporting them on this journey.
Could Teaching Methods Be Simplified for Better Results? Examine the complexity of teaching methods within your educational environment. Reflect on whether simplifying these approaches could enhance engagement, comprehension, and reduce cognitive load.
Are Teaching Habits Supporting Teacher Well-being? Evaluate the effectiveness of teaching habits among your educators. Reflect on whether there's a need to help teachers build more efficient and sustainable habits that contribute to their well-being. Explore how scaffolds and customized support can enhance teacher effectiveness.
Are You Fostering a Thriving Learning Environment? Reflect on the overall learning environment within your educational environment. Are both teachers and students thriving, and is the experience enjoyable and rewarding? Consider how scaffolds, simplified teaching methods, and effective habits can address cognitive challenges and create a more supportive educational atmosphere.
Could your teachers benefit from a scaffold for planning lessons?
This is a temporary tool meant to serve as a scaffold for teachers to consistently plan effective lessons.
Why use a scaffold for teachers to plan lessons?
Most alternative pathway teachers don’t know how to write a lesson or how to implement a lesson plan that is provided for them. The questions in the Finita Lesson Plan Routine form are selected so that the teacher can develop the process of thinking like an effective lesson planner.
The biggest mistakes teachers make in planning are the standard does not match the objectives and the objectives are not aligned with the assessment. This Finita Lesson Plan Routine guarantees alignment between ELA standards (which are thinking and problem-solving standards), objectives, and assessment.
Teachers are not experts in all content areas and spend too much time on the content instead of how to learn the content. This Finita Lesson Plan Routine can be used in multiple content areas creating an opportunity for the teachers to become more effective and trust the students to do more work.
Try this Finita Lesson Plan Routine and experience teaching simplicity!
References:
McKeown, G. (2014). Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. Crown Business.
Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind. Random House.
Willingham, D. T. (2009). Why Don't Students Like School?: A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom. Jossey-Bass.
