Teaching math is a rewarding profession, but it can also be incredibly demanding. As math teachers, we often find ourselves juggling curriculum changes, classroom management, and the pressure of ensuring our students excel in this crucial subject. Math teacher burnout is real and becoming more common.
Students aren’t always used to being challenged, not knowing the answer right away, or needing patience and perseverance to tackle a challenging problem. They don’t always come to us with the great foundational skills which makes it more difficult to teach grade level standards.
Over time, these challenges can lead to burnout if we don’t recognize the signs, seek effective solutions, and practice self-care. In this blog post, I’ll explore the signs of burnout, offer solutions to combat it, and emphasize the importance of self-care for math educators.
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Recognizing the signs of exhaustion
Exhaustion: The first sign of burnout is often physical and emotional exhaustion. You may feel drained, even after a full night’s sleep. This exhaustion can manifest as fatigue, irritability, and a lack of motivation to teach. Do you ever find yourself standing in front of your class wondering if you are going to make it through the lesson?
Increased Cynicism: A growing sense of cynicism or negativity towards your students, colleagues, or the education system as a whole is a concerning sign. You might find yourself constantly complaining about your job or questioning your impact. You may be wondering if test scores, grade level meetings, grading papers and using data to group students is even worth the time.
Reduced Efficacy: Burnout can lead to a sense of reduced efficacy, where you believe you’re no longer making a difference in your students’ lives. You’ve just accomplished a very difficult goal of getting so many students to the goal target, then they increase the number. This can be incredibly disheartening for passionate educators.
Isolation: You might withdraw from colleagues, friends, and even family members. You don’t feel like you can talk with them because they just don’t understand the demands you face every day. This isolation can lead to a sense of loneliness and exacerbate burnout.
Health Problems: Prolonged stress and burnout can lead to various health issues, including headaches, insomnia, digestive problems, and even more severe conditions like depression and anxiety. How many times have you said to yourself, “I just can’t focus on my health right now because I am too busy teaching”?
Solutions to Combat Burnout
Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that you cannot control every aspect of your teaching environment. Set achievable goals and focus on what you can influence. Celebrate the small wins. Pick “random wins” like “Every student correctly answered more than 8 out of 12 on the last assignment” or “Every student finished the homework assignment from Tuesday”. Celebrate these wins with your students. The more positive your students feel, the more ready you will be to set the next goal that you feel is manageable.
Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues, mentors, or a therapist if you’re feeling overwhelmed. There are so many different forms of support you can seek out depending on what you need at the moment. When I felt like I was in a slump, I joined a free online math community that gave me ideas. I read the latest book that was getting a lot of hype about new ideas for teaching math. Sometimes you need some help with mindset – a life coach is perfect for that. Talking about your struggles can provide relief and guidance.
Time Management: Efficient time management is crucial. Create a realistic schedule that includes time for lesson planning, grading, and self-care. Teachers can tend to be perfectionists, but does every paper actually need to be graded? If you answer yes to this question, can you have a classroom or student helper correct papers? Prioritize tasks by asking yourself “What item on this list will move us ahead in learning math”? Ask yourself, “If, for some reason, I weren’t here, what would absolutely still need to get done?” Avoid overloading yourself with extra responsibilities.
Professional Development: Stay updated with the latest teaching methods and technologies. Attend workshops and conferences to rejuvenate your passion for teaching and enhance your skills.
Delegate When Possible: If you have access to teacher assistants or aides, delegate tasks that can be handled by others. Even small jobs like passing out or organizing papers can be handled by students in many instances. I learned to have my students self correct their homework during the start of class. This taught them to identify when they needed clarification, gave me instant feedback on anything I needed to review before moving on, and eliminated the need to take a huge stack of papers home every night to grade. Handing over tasks to others can reduce your workload and free up time for more meaningful teaching activities.
Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Celebrate the small wins with your students. Pick “random wins” like “Every student correctly answered more than 8 out of 12 on the last assignment” or “Every student finished the homework assignment from Tuesday”. The more positive your students feel, the more ready you will be to set the next goal that you feel is manageable and positive reinforcement can boost your morale and motivation.
Have Fun With Your Students: Sometimes we forget that school doesn’t have to be all seriousness and no fun. There is nothing that builds class climate and culture like laughing alongside your students at something. I try not to make math a competition but sometimes introducing a new game with teams or student versus teacher engages students and makes math an enjoyable experience shared between teacher and student. As an example, check out Classroom Mental Math Activity.
The Importance of Self-Care
Self-care is not selfish; it’s essential for maintaining your mental and emotional health, especially in a demanding profession like teaching. Taking care of yourself outside the classroom is just as important as your well being within the classroom. Here are some self-care strategies to remember:
- Healthy Work-Life Balance: Set boundaries for work-related activities. When you’re home, try to leave work at school. Dedicate time to your hobbies, family, and relaxation. Consciously decide you will not think about what happened during the school day while you are relaxing at home.
- Stay Physically Active: Regular exercise is a great stress reliever. It can seem daunting when we are on our feet all day. Even a short daily walk can help clear your mind and boost your energy. For some teachers, getting outside during lunch is a great way to get a break while getting some movement in.
- Nutrition: Pay attention to your diet. Do you notice yourself grabbing “whatever”, especially as a holiday break nears, or the end of the year? Many times, the staff room is continuously filled with comfort food. Consuming nutritious, balanced meals can provide you with the energy you need to tackle your teaching responsibilities.
- Quality Sleep: Ensure you’re getting enough restorative sleep. The busier it gets, the more important good sleep becomes. Create a comfortable sleep environment, stick to a regular sleep schedule, and avoid caffeine and screens before bedtime.
- Stay Social: Maintain social connections outside of the classroom. Spending time with friends and loved ones can provide emotional support and a sense of belonging.
- Pursue Passions: Engage in activities you’re passionate about outside of teaching. As teachers we often focus all of our attention on our job – it consumes us! This isn’t healthy for the long run. Whether it’s reading, painting, playing a musical instrument, or gardening, hobbies can provide a much-needed escape and re-energize you.
- Seek Professional Help: If you’re experiencing severe burnout symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek the guidance of a mental health professional. Therapy can be incredibly beneficial in helping you navigate burnout.
Final Thoughts on Math Teacher Burnout
As math teachers, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of our students. However, this responsibility can come at a cost if we neglect our own well-being. Recognizing the signs of burnout, implementing effective solutions, and practicing self-care are essential steps in avoiding burnout and ensuring that we can continue to inspire and educate the next generation of mathematicians. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for both your professional and personal life.
For more on teacher burnout, visit Kevin Leichtman’s article How Burned Out Are You? A Scale For Teachers in Edutopia.
