Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 113: Recharge & Reflect: A Teacher's Guide to Holiday Renewal

Transcript

Ep 113: Recharge & Reflect: A Teacher's Guide to Holiday Renewal · New Teacher Talk

• 0:01
  Hello, it's Dr.
• 0:03
  Beth here.
• 0:05
  This episode of New Teacher Talk is our little holiday gift
• 0:08
  to you, our listeners.
• 0:11
  As we approach winter break,
• 0:13
  there are so many activities and thoughts that compete for
• 0:16
  our time and attention.
• 0:19
  So in this episode,
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  we will share ideas about reflecting and regenerating over
• 0:24
  the holidays.
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  One way that I reflect and regenerate is to end my day with
• 0:30
  a rundown of things that I'm grateful for.
• 0:33
  Doing so fills my evening meditations,
• 0:36
  which brings me to a happy place letting me embrace sleep
• 0:39
  with positive thoughts running through my head.
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  Here are other strategies that have been shared by
• 0:46
  listeners and contributors to New Teacher Talk.
• 0:50
  Hello, my name is Nicole Heaver.
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  My idea of relaxing and rejuvenating as an educator has
• 0:55
  changed over the past 20 years.
• 0:58
  The strategy that works best for me is to use the week
• 1:01
  before break as your time to just get it all done.
• 1:04
  I know you're exhausted,
• 1:06
  the students have been participating in dress-up days,
• 1:08
  and their excitement for the time off almost matches your
• 1:11
  excitement level.
• 1:13
  But use these moments to finish your grading,
• 1:15
  write your lesson plans for January,
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  and then when the bell rings on that last day before break,
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  leave it all at school.
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  I promise whatever work you leave behind will be there for
• 1:25
  you when you return.
• 1:27
  By leaving this work,
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  I have found I can connect with the ones I love most,
• 1:31
  read a good book,
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  and practice my music without the pressure or teacher guilt
• 1:36
  of needing to be school-related productive.
• 1:42
  Hi, this is Jacqui Fabian,
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  and my recharge strategy is finding time to reconnect with
• 1:49
  friends, family, whoever really recharges your soul,
• 1:55
  and make those dinner plans,
• 1:58
  pick out a restaurant that you've been
• 2:00
  wanting to try,
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  but haven't been able to because it's been so busy.
• 2:03
  Make time to reconnect and have some giggles and some fun
• 2:09
  and really enjoy the time with your loved ones during this
• 2:13
  break.
• 2:14
  You will definitely not regret it.
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  I know sometimes I felt so tired once our break started,
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  but I never regretted those moments I shared with my
• 2:25
  friends.
• 2:28
  Hi new teacher friends, my name is Dion Copeland.
• 2:31
  I am a fourth year educator out of Kentucky and I'm excited
• 2:35
  to share with you how I regenerate myself during the busy
• 2:38
  holiday season as an early career educator.
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  One of the best and most enjoyable things that I do to give
• 2:44
  myself a boost of energy,
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  pick myself up and help me get to that finish line at the
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  end of the year, or towards the middle of the school year,
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  if you will, is to enjoy the holidays by decorating.
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  I really enjoy getting into the mood for fall,
• 2:59
  for Thanksgiving,
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  and even for the winter holidays decorating according to
• 3:03
  what you celebrate.
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  I found that that brings me a lot of joy,
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  that allows me to spend time at home with my friends and
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  with my family,
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  and really just connect and appreciate all the wonderful
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  things I have going on in life outside of school,
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  even though I enjoy all the fabulous things that I have
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  going on in life inside of
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  school. I hope this helps make your holidays a bit brighter and a bit more joyful.
• 3:28
  Hi, my name is Dr.
• 3:29
  Alisa Ross,
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  and the strategy that I would like to suggest is to create
• 3:34
  a vision board.
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  As you begin to reflect on this previous semester,
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  I would encourage you to think about what made you decide
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  to become a teacher.
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  Include those pictures, words,
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  or phrases on your vision board.
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  Next,
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  what were some amazing moments that occurred in your classroom?
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  Maybe it was an email from a parent,
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  or perhaps a colleague.
• 3:59
  Maybe it was feedback from your administrator after he or
• 4:03
  she conducted a classroom
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  observation. Finally, include what you would like to see occur in your classroom next semester.
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  Hi, this is Raven Talley.
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  One strategy that I use to re-energize or rejuvenate myself
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  over holiday seasons is to really lean into the concept of
• 4:28
  rest.
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  There is a difference between sleep and rest,
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  and when I am at my best, rest is a priority,
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  and I am intentionally doing those things or not doing the
• 4:43
  things that will keep me in a state of motion.
• 4:47
  And so rest can look like laying down and relaxing.
• 4:53
  It could be the purest form of sleep.
• 4:56
  It could just be the refrain of not engaging in over
• 5:01
  stimulating activities.
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  So my strategy for holiday seasons is to truly lean into
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  rest.
• 5:13
  Thanks for listening. We are going to follow our own advice
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  here at New Teacher Talk to take some time to reflect,
• 5:19
  relax, and recharge with our families and loved ones.
• 5:23
  You will have a fresh episode drop on January 6th.
• 5:29
  As always,
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  we are here to support you. Happy Holidays and New Year!