A Positive Mindset In The Classroom | Maragon Private School

As educators we are often reminded, particularly in the form of social media memes and “cutsies”, that we have “super powers” and are able to change the life of a child just through our passion and commitment to a child’s development and mental growth.

This however, is not always as easy as it may seem.

Although hardworking, dedicated and fully committed to the role of developing young and often “not eager” minds, we too become disheartened and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that is required to uplift and encourage our students on a daily basis whilst simultaneously staying positive.

Educators today are faced with more than just the marking of assessments and overall care of the students in our classrooms. We are expected to be at least two steps ahead of every imaginable educational and technological curve, and still be able to ensure the prosperity of those young, bright students whom we find in our care. A feat which at times may seem undefeatable, but it can be done if we continuously remind ourselves, as educators, why it is we went into this field, in the first place.

What keeps us going should first and foremost always be our passion for the profession we advertently or inadvertently chose as our career path. Regardless of all the administration and sleepless nights of worry, we need only look at what we are able to accomplish with our students at the end of each year to realise that what we do does make a difference, especially in an era where students need a great deal more navigation into a digital quagmire of uncertainty.

So how do we stay positive in the classroom ?

Due to our heavy reading loads… I have decided to break it down into a useful set of listicles:

1.Remind yourself daily why you have become an educator; in doing so you will continue to reignite your passion for teaching.

2.If you are not happy, the students you teach won’t be happy either. Meditate, pray and stay healthy. If we cannot take care of our own well-being how are we meant to care for those whose well-being is entrusted to us?

3.You cannot love what you do if you remain stagnant in your teaching methodologies. Change it up, learn new ways to encourage, motivate and inspire your students. You are no longer the holder of all wisdom, but a facilitator of knowledge and understanding.

4.Stay abreast of what is going on in the world at large and help your students to navigate through world issues so that they may be better equipped to deal with the world which awaits them on the outside.

5.Once we stop learning we start dying. Yes, I added a hackneyed expression, but it is the truth. We are forever telling our students to learn and grow, so perhaps we should do the same.

6.Do not flagellate yourself for every mistake you make, we are human and therefore allowed to make mistakes, even as “super hero” teachers. The key here is to learn from our mistakes because it is the best form of learning.

7.Take risks, be brave and try something new in the classroom, it could be the next big game changer in education, or just a way to boost your confidence.

8.Every time the overload of administrative work gets you down think of the student who thanked you, there is always more than one, and know that you are doing something right.

9. Stay focused.

10.Be present.

11.Stay passionate.

12.Be proud of even the smallest accomplishments.

13.And finally: Love what you do, because without the love of teaching, no teaching can take place .