Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 141: August Mindset Matters: Mental Prep for Your New School Year

Transcript

Ep 141: August Mindset Matters: Mental Prep for Your New School Year · New Teacher Talk

Welcome to our new season of New Teacher Talk,
the podcast that's all about empowering early career and
aspiring educators like you.
Whether your classroom is in a rural area, the suburbs,
or the city,
we're here to provide guidance and inspiration for your
teaching practice.
Glad you have joined us for today's episode.
I'm Dr.
Anna.
And I'm Dr.
Beth.
Today we are kicking off a new school year and this podcast
season with a little mental prep.
It's August and mindset matters.
It does. Okay, Beth, first things first,
let's normalize the mix of emotions that comes with August.
Nervous energy, excitement, dread,
a little nostalgia for summer, and some FOMO.
All of it!
Yep.
It's like packing for a trip, Anna,
where you know the itinerary but you still feel like you
forgot something.
And that's okay.
Mental preparation starts with acknowledging how you feel,
not judging it.
Mmm.
Beth, you might want to try this one exercise.
Sit down with a pen and write out three emotions you're
feeling about going back, and then ask,
what do I need to do to feel more grounded?
Often the answer isn't fancy.
It might be sleep, time with a friend,
or clarity about the first week.
Yeah, that's some great advice, Anna.
One trap I fell into early in my career,
over-planning everything in August.
I had color-coded binders, laminated quote cards,
multiple seating chart options,
and even backup lesson plans.
How about backup lesson plans for the backup lesson plans
did you have those?
I didn't have time for that,
but I know some other new teachers who did that.
We've all been there,
but the truth is your mental clarity gets clouded when you
try to predict every twist and turn.
Instead of planning everything,
try planning for flexibility.
Yes, that's great advice.
Make space in your calendar.
I mean real space where it's okay not to know yet. Block
off time for reflection after your first week.
Write something like teacher huddle in your schedule,
even if it's informal.
You are going to need breathing room and planning for it
helps.
And let's talk anchors,
the mental habits or mantras that can ground you.
My anchor during those early years, connection first,
content second.
It reminded me that relationships always paved the way for
real learning.
I love that mantra, Anna.
Mine was, they're just kids, not critics.
It helped me shake off the perfectionism spiral when a
lesson flopped.
And trust me, I had plenty of those.
Or I mispronounced repertoire for the third time.
New teachers, watch your anchor?
Choose one now.
Write it somewhere where you will see it.
In your planner, a sticky note, your desktop background,
and hold onto it during those bumpy moments.
Let's just say it loud.
The first few weeks will drain your battery,
and that is not weakness, it's biology.
You've got new routines, dozens of names,
constant decisions, mental fatigue is real.
So be proactive.
Choose one energy ritual that you will commit to.
Maybe it's stretching before dismissal,
journaling for five minutes in the evening,
or walking after work without any podcasts,
even New Teacher Talk, or grading thoughts.
And be sure to protect your boundaries early.
If someone asks you to join a variety of committees,
you can just simply say,
I'd love to help once I find my rhythm this year.
It's okay to set those boundaries.
Remember how you protect your time is part of your
professional success.
Set boundaries.
Just say to yourself,
I need to protect my time and mental space.
As Anna mentioned earlier, make recharging a daily habit.
So before we go, let's do a quick mental prep checklist.
Check in with your emotions, plan for flexibility,
choose a mental anchor, commit to an energy ritual,
and set one clear boundary for August.
Those are great ideas, Anna.
And to our audience,
you don't have to know everything right now.
You just need a foundation.
And that starts with taking care of your mindset before the
school year kicks into full gear.
Hey, Anna,
would you mind sharing with our audience the focus of this
month's podcast episodes and who will be our guests?
Absolutely,
we've got a lot going on this month because we're focusing
on supporting you while preparing for the beginning of the
school year.
We're going to feature Lori Abbott,
who will share a variety of ideas about using AI tools to
help you plan, classroom management tips,
and maintaining work-life balance.
Blake Reddick is sharing preparation tips that will
encourage you to set yourself up for success before you
ever set foot into your classroom.
You're also going to hear from Emma Moore,
who's preparing for her very first year in the classroom.
Kwame Sarfo-Mensa is going to share some of his best tips
on classroom management that you can implement right away
on that very first day.
And to close out this month's episodes,
we'll have Todd Leban with an episode titled Think Big,
Not Small,
where he offers encouragement and tips to get your year off
to a fulfilling start.
And that's just August!
And it's the start of our new season for this school year.
We couldn't be more excited about our guests and what's
coming over the next 11 months.
Thank you to everyone for joining us on New Teacher Talk
today.
Wishing you clarity, courage,
and a calm start to your year.
Let's keep this conversation going by following @NewTeacher
Talk on Instagram and Blue Sky.
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