ANPS TC 2020

Teaching in pre-K-12 classrooms is not a 9-5 job. The preparation and actual work are almost impossible to separate from one’s personal life. Many teachers’ experience frustration and exhaustion due to workload, parents’ expectations and demands from the school. This can take its toll on teachers physically, mentally especially the emotionally. These may lead to teacher burnout or teachers leaving a profession they love.

What emotional competencies do teachers need? In younger grades or with more challenging students, identifying, understanding and managing emotion is certainly required. At all levels, our teachers need confidence in their teaching abilities and boundaries when questioned by parents or challenged by students. When angered…by a student, colleague, policy or parent, effective teachers need to manage their reaction and respond in a professional manner.
The mastery of emotional competencies is a lifelong process. Therefore, it is critical for us to know what are the things we need to do before entering the classroom so we are prepared physically, mentally and  emotionally.