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Education Opinion

Are slumps normal?

By Jessica Shyu — January 30, 2007 1 min read
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Are slumps normal?

I care about my students, I’m dedicated to my job and I think I’m somewhat competent at what I do. But as the days drag on, as the slush turns to ice, then back to slush again, I’m beginning to sense a loss of energy and enthusiasm.

Some folks swear it’s because of “The Long Night” out here— it’s dark when you go to work in the morning and dark when you finally leave to go home. Other suggest it’s just post-holiday, mid-year stress. I don’t know what it is. But it needs to go. On top of feeling low and anxious, I feel guilty for feeling low and anxious.

So much of teaching is personality driven. Children are so perceptive and feed off our energy. It’s so important to go to work with a clear mind. I know that I need to reengage my students and myself with our big goals. Field trips and new projects would help. And a Family Involvement event would probably get me back into the groove. But in the meantime, I know exactly how my sullen 14-year-olds are feeling when they say they don’t have the energy for school.

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