Talking with Taylor

 This last week we read about Compassion Fatigue and Teacher Demoralization. Our first article “Dealing with Compassion Fatigue”, talked about Secondary Traumatic Stress. As teachers we will hear and see the effects of trauma on our students. It can be hard to deal with as teachers when having to hear about students' traumatic experiences. This article also explains that this is a reason why many teachers leave the profession because STS brings about burnout on our teachers.  

Our second article “The problem with stories about teacher “burnout "", explains the effects of demoralization on teachers. It argues that demoralization is what causes “burnout”. Although the author does not like the term “burnout” because it implies that the teachers do not have the passion behind teaching anymore. What is actually causing teachers to leave, is other factors that are making it difficult for teachers to teach their students effectively. Legislation, admin, and the systematic oppression of minorities and low socio-economic students is making it hard for teachers to teach. 

After reading these articles, which one do you think is causing teachers to leave the profession? Demoralization or compassion fatigue or other reasons? Do you have family members or know other teachers that you know that have considered leaving the profession or did leave?  What are these teachers doing to support themselves or what could have helped them to stay in the profession? 

I also would like you guys to think about this for yourselves. These problems that could potentially affect us so we must be aware and plan ways to support ourselves and others around us (both students and colleagues). What can we pull from Alex Shevrin Venet's podcasts on being proactive, asset-based, and equity-centered to fight demoralization? What strategies can we use from the podcasts, the preservice teacher burnout article, our class discussions and lists, and Fowler article on Compassion fatigue to help us plan and prepare for these challenges?

Here is a podcast for further support! 

Relieving Stress with Sarai

 This week, our class engaged in some critical discussions about identifying trauma in students and how we can use self-care to help us be resilient in our field experiences, student teaching, or teaching (in general). While reading, I found that studies suggest that approximately 50% of helping professionals, including teachers, are at high risk of secondary trauma (Kyle Miller and Karen Flin-Stipp). Secondary trauma, as we learned in class, is an emotional duress that happens among individuals who have had exposure to a first-hand trauma experience of someone else.

As I read about secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue and its toll on educators and students who are getting exposed to it,  I reflect upon on how it has affected me and how it may affect me in the future. 

Take a moment to reflect on a personal experience being overwhelmed by someone else's stress. What "in-the-moment strategies" from the "Common Trauma Symptoms and Helpful Strategies for Educators" could you have tried or would consider trying in the future?  How can we implement some of these "preventive strategies" in our future classroom?

Additionally, the consequences of exposure to secondary trauma (avoiding friends and colleagues, feeling hopeless, lack of self-care, etc.)  lead to a decline in personal health and affect our teaching and helping students. 

Can you identify ways you have or might be at risk for being over-stressed or burnt out? In other words, what are the signs that you are heading towards burnout? 

How can you ease or manage your stress? CHOSE ONE strategy/ coping technique from the article and in class that WAS NEW TO YOU and share how you would be interested in trying it in order to support yourself during student teaching? Here is one new strategy we learned from Kat in class this week that I would like to try.