nat's_plc

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: []

More reading, recources, links to teachers living a well liffe! []
 * EXPLORE **

How do you manage your own stress? Are there things you wished you did differetnly? What are some things you could/want to change to help with stress levels? How can colleagues/co-workers help? How could family help?
 * Hour 2 **
 * EXPLAIN **

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? Suggested topics:
 * <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? (Note: what works for your friend in the next classroom may not work for you!). <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;">Hour 3 **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EVALUATE **

<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;">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?