Takeaway #1: Being A Teacher Can Not Become Your Identity
Any teacher would tell you being an educator is a time consuming job. Between the lesson plans, assignments to grade, events to plan, and staff meeting; there always seems to be something that can be done. However, Jo Trewartha explains that your whole identity can't be in the fact that you are teacher. She explains how often when we are talking to someone for the first time and when they ask us to tell them about ourselves we begin to talk about our occupation. Jo Trewartha explains that you are so much more than some who dedicates seven or more hours of their life to being with students. As a teacher, you can also be a sister, mother, dancer, hiker, or whatever your heart desires. When we spend so much time being a teacher or playing the role of our career, we have trouble letting go of the role we spend so much time playing. Jo Trewartha explains being a teacher can be part of how you are, but once you let it consume your whole identity you slowly begin to hate it. She discuss that we need to know ourselves outside of work, past the role of being a teacher. As teachers, we need to be participating in activities that we enjoy outside of the classroom and how it is important to make the choice to participate in activities we enjoy.
Takeaway #2: "Its time we normalize teachers having a life".
As a pre-service teacher, it is a fear of mine that I will let the role of being a teacher completely consume me. I understand that the role of an educator is time consuming, and I am excited to be a teacher and make that time commitment! However, I worry I will lose myself in the never-ending work of being a teacher. As I continue to work towards getting my degree in Education, I often hear that my students will be my life. While I wanted to develop relationships with future students, I think letting teaching and my students become my life is unhealthy. Especially since every year I will be getting new students that bring different qualities to my classroom environment. I believe Jo Trewartha's statement about teachers having a life outside the classroom is right! If being a teacher become my life and identity, then I know I will slowly grow to hate teaching. It is important for teachers to have a healthy stress outlet, and a great way to do this is by participating in activities you enjoy. Is it important to take the role of being an educator seriously? Yes of course! But should it become your whole identity? No! It is important to put down those assignments that need graded and do something that you enjoy, while that may be coffee with a friend or going for a run!
Takeaway #3: Ways to Let Teaching Not Become Our Identity
Jo Trewartha suggest creating a goal of when you want to leave your classroom at the end of the day. She suggest you look at your contract hours, and then stay at the most, an hour after your contract is suppose to end. For example, if your contract hour ends at 3pm then try to leave by 4pm. She goes on to discuss about how students are more likely to remember the fun and exciting games or activities rather than the lessons teachers spend hours pouring over. Teachers can't put their identity in their lessons because most likely the students won't even remember the lesson! Next she encourages teachers to write a list about who were are as person, but not write anything that has to deal with your occupation. By completing this exercise, she encourages teachers to pour time into activities that they enjoy so a burnout can be avoided.