Blogs Educators across the country agree that teacher stress has increased exponentially. Health and wellness professionals around the globe agree that unmanaged stress increases probability of physical and mental illness. No need to quote sources or document data……can we agree that these are universal truths?
So what should we do to manage our stress and maintain health and well-being? As a Language Arts teacher for 25 years in a large suburban Minnesota school district, current Learners Edge Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Barb Istas, picked up and implemented a few tips and tricks on how to incorporate health and fitness into her daily routine while teaching- something she still employs even now as a Learners Edge employee.
Barb’s best strategy for managing stress and maintaining health and well-being comes from an ucommon teacher perspective- putting YOU first. And by that, she means, “Fitness first thing in the morning.” Below are her tips and tricks for putting “you” first and making and health and fitness a priority in your life both in and outside of the classroom.
Almost 12 years ago, I started walking with a friend during the glorious summer months in Minnesota. She is a school nurse, and I was a 6th grade teacher. Our children were in the height of summer sports – practice, training, game schedules – and we were both on terminal taxi duty. You know the drill. One day we decided to take a quick walk instead of waiting in the parking lot for pick-up. We started our walks and by the end of summer, with a new habit ingrained, we agreed that somehow we needed to continue this healthy daily fitness practice.
So when the school schedule starts up, what precious minutes can busy teachers claim for themselves? My answer? Early morning. It’s amazing how consistently nobody anywhere needs you before 7 a.m.! We decided to try it out to see if we could re-set this habit to before-school hours. After collecting some reflective gear for dark sidewalk and street-walking, as well as warmer layers for winter, and rain wear – we discovered a perfect and long-lasting fitness routine.
By the end of the first year, we added 3 days of strength-training and yoga class at the local YMCA. You should meet our 5 A.M. fitness friends – they are weird and wonderful, just like us! We are bonded because we share a secret to success – fitness first. Even though many might view us as a strange and unusual subculture, I don’t care because it works for me. Me first.
My fitness friend is still a practicing school nurse and I am a retired teacher now working in the field of teacher professional development. We are both healthy and happy because we still meet on the streets or at the YMCA every day, rain or shine…..sleet or snow. We are healthy and happy because this fitness routine really works. No matter what happens once the school day starts, we can kick into gear and get through it all because we’ve already completed the most important task – taking care of me first!
Fitness first is the daily objective. Physical energy and positive mindset are the outcomes. I’m pretty proud of this fitness formula.
Here’s a recipe for trying fitness first:
- Find a fitness friend – other educators are great, because they desperately need a daily fitness routine to combat teaching stress. Invite him/her to try this fitness experiment with you for 30 days.
- Tell your family the plan. Ask for support and encouragement with alarm clock settings and biorhythm adjustments.
- Pick an early morning time – give yourself 30-45 minutes to start – add it in before your usual wake-up, get ready for work and out-the-door time.
- Try it twice a week – add more days as the spirit moves you. (Consider Fridays because that’s the day we truly need to take care of our stressed-out selves!)
- Check in with yourself at lunch time – notice how positive your mindset is on fitness days, no matter what’s shaking in your classroom or school.
- At the end of the fitness morning/school day, stroll on out the door with the carefree and confident spirit of a healthy human being…with one less task on your after-school To-Do list!
Now that you know my fitness secret, don’t judge me – join me! This is a legitimate selfish mindset with powerful personal and professional outcomes.
Don’t think that the fitness has to stop when you get into the classroom. Incorporate health and fitness into your daily classroom routine with these great extension activities:
- Plan in walk and talks with your class or grade level. My teaching partner and I built this into our almost daily schedule as part of a responsive classroom morning meeting. It fits into all the criteria for successful instructional practice – movement, team and relationship-building, communications, fresh air, community connections, and collaboration. Often we would set a talk objective, assign random walking partners, or even require a silent walk. One teacher led with a student-partner. One teacher walked last in line with a student-partner. This is a teaching practice I swear by. Winning X 68 – all teachers and all students loved the routine and benefits.
- Eat all your fruits and vegetables during the school day. Slice an apple, carrots, celery, and bring a few other fruits and veggies to get this healthy step completed during my day. Most teachers designate working healthy snack time during the instructional day, and here’s where you can model great snack choices while supporting your dietary needs!
- At the beginning of the school year, invite parents to sign up for healthy snack donations on a grade level or classroom calendar. We did this for our 6th grade in a diverse suburban K-6 school, and it was a huge success! Parents signed up to contribute healthy snacks – we requested fruits and vegetables, but any healthy items were accepted and distributed to the class during healthy snack time. This was so important for many of our students who were always hungry, despite breakfast and lunch provided at school. Growing kids and busy brains need extra nourishment, and fresh fruits and veggies can be easily distributed and divided to share with everyone in the class.
Looking to gain a better understanding of the critical roles of movement and play in the healthy development of children? Register for Learners Edge continuing education course #5853: A Moving Body, A Thinking Brain and learn through research based real-life examples, action-filled ideas, and best practices designed to help all PreK-3rd grade students learn and grow to their full potential.
Learners Edge is passionately committed to providing you with continuing education coursework, materials, and tools that will help you succeed in your classroom and in your career.
Offering more than 100 print-based or online courses for teachers, you can earn the graduate credit you need for salary advancement and meet your professional development needs. Contact us today to get started!
