#TeachingHero

This week's #TeachingHero has chosen to be anonymous; not all heroes want to be unmasked! If you would like to feature, get in touch!

What motivates you to work hard?
Wanting to do the best job I can and remembering that the work I do impacts directly on the children in my class. I try to make sure that every bit of work I do is for their benefit.

Where do you go for personal and professional support or advice? What strategies do you use to manage workload and protect your well being?
For personal support I go to my friends and family. For professional support I go to colleagues or Twitter. The worst bit of the profession is the workload, especially when I can’t see how some of what I do impacts the children in a good way (repeated data inputting for example). I manage this by only doing it when I absolutely have to and ensuring I have a break before / after. I also make sure I have a specific home time (no later than 5pm) and I don’t take work home. I also set out of office replies on my emails in holidays and remove them from my phone. I mute all work contacts too (text, calls and emails) over the holidays and I am thinking about doing this at weekends too. I am currently trying to get school to pass a “No out of hours work communications“ policy but my SLT have done nothing to help workload as the HT doesn’t see it is an issue.

What advice would you give anyone who felt like giving up?
I battle negativity by finding at least 1 good thing a day. I make sure I thank colleagues. I say good morning to everyone. I ask how they are and listen. I try to help. I also use Fit2Teach. You should try it! Advice: try Fit2teach. Talk to colleagues as you’re not alone. Come up with a plan. Say no. Take on SLT as a group so they know you’re serious and are more likely to listen. Don’t give up.

Sum up our profession in 5 words.
The future of the world is in your classroom today. Do it for them.