Fifth+PLC


 * Week 11: Teacher Inquiry: Developing as a Healthy Education Professional **

PLC Group Name: iTeacher PLC Meeting Location: Farish Hall PLC Meeting Time: Monday 3:30-5:00 PM Tuesday 3:30-5:00 PM

Teachers wear so many hats: counselor, parent, referee, etc. You nurture others all day long, and sometimes, you’re all out of nurturing ability by the time it comes to taking care of yourself!
 * Hour 1 **
 * ENGAGE **

We’ve talked about being a better teacher by inquiring into your own practice. Today we are going to talk about teacher well-being. As an anticipatory set for today’s lesson, please begin read the following article. (As with all readings, it is intended to prompt discussion, not intended to be the only authority on the topic.) Teacher Wellness: []

[] Discussion Questions: Why is a teachers well-being so important? How much time should teacher devote to their own well-being rather then just the well-being of their students. How much will a teacher's well-being affect a students learning?
 * EXPLORE **
 * Hour 2 **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EXPLAIN **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Your own well-being—how well you manage the work-life balancing act—impacts the climate in your classroom and even your students’ performance. What else could it impact? Could decades of promised education reform be inadvertently thwarted by teachers’ wellness? Or, is this just a bunch of overinflated nonsense? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Suggested topics: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Teachers can be aware of their nutritional needs. They will be a better example to the studnets if they are eating healthy rahter than junk food. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Humor is a great way to relieve stress. TEacher can no only help themselves with sress but also their students. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Knowing about the school not just showing up at an interview but be aware of what has been going on. Be aware of some fundraisers or activites that involve the community if they involve the community. Having some kind of knowledge of the school and district can help during the interview process.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ELABORATE **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How can teachers get and keep a healthy perspective?
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How can humor be used?
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How can you interview your potential jobs to understand they kind of work environment and culture that is at that school, and how that would fit with your own personal needs for success?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. As a group, reflect on what you have learned today about becoming a healthy educator and maintaining work-life balance. What will it take to keep YOU a healthy, happy professional educator?
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hour 3 **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EVALUATE **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Engaging in personal hobbies? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Remaining involved in your church? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Planning time to see friends? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Getting up at 5:30 to run every morning? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Continued professional development on areas that spark your curiosity? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Making a commitment to getting work done at work and not bringing it home? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What choices will you make? Where will you draw boundaries? How can you beat the odds of 1/3 of teachers leaving the field by the 5-years point?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We thik that having a balance between work and home is very important. Any trouble you have at home should not be brought to the school. Espeically because children are very observant and will follow your every move. the same goes for when you have a bad day at work you should not take the problem home with you. Teachers should have a balnaced life. THey should be able to enjoy fun activites without feeling stressed about anything and everything.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. As a group, draft a brief statement (approx 1-2 paragraphs) of what you learned or new understandings you came to during this discussion. What did you agree with/about, and what did you not agree with/about? How do you KNOW you learned and grew?! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We believe that educators should set the example to all students and stay healthy! We agree with the reading a healthy life begins at home and projects itself through out the day (in your very own classroom). Giving off positve attitudes and maintaining energetic is highly important when teaching students in order for teaching and learning to be successful. It is important for teachers to maintain healthy as well as the students. If both the student and the teacher are maintaining a healthy life chances are that the success for students will be at its highest and the path to success will be at open doors. We also agree with the fact that through making healthy food choices, fitting fitness in, managing stress and becoming aware of the environment can increase the chances of a healthier life. However we disagree that this model could be the only way. We believe that this can serve as a good start, however one can "customize" the way of living into how you feel is best and healthy to your living life style.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Individually, it is time to register to present at the QUEST Teacher Research Symposium. Registration is simple, and REQUIRED! Just go to this link and enter your name, email, and general presentation topic (your wondering!): []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Individually, please send your “PLC Check” as an email to Dr. Pierson and Caroline: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">--What/Who worked well in today’s PLC meeting? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">--What/Who didn’t work so well in today’s PLC meeting?