-
Continue reading →: Sometimes You’re Just Tired
This was me last week. I am hoping sleeping all weekend will help! “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
-
Continue reading →: Pacing Yourself: The Secret Behind the Teacher’s Smile
There’s a hidden rhythm in every classroom…the buzz of ideas, the shuffle of papers, the Stanley water bottles dropping onto the floor (J/K…kind of!) But somewhere in that rhythm, behind the teacher’s calm smile, is a truth that we don’t always talk about: You can’t sprint through the school year!…
-
Continue reading →: The Night Before They Come Back
Under the calm smile I will wear tomorrow morning, there is a storm brewing tonight. The night before students return is always the same–equal parts excitement, dread, hope, and exhaustion. My classroom is as Pinterest-perfect as it will be. My plans are written (at least for tomorrow!); the pencils are…
-
Continue reading →: The Truth Behind the Smiles: Back to School and the Quiet Desperation No One Talks About
The beginning of the school year has a special kind of energy. The bulletin boards are bright. The name tags are ready. There’s coffee, donuts, and icebreakers. Everyone is smiling, greeting each other with “How was your summer?” as if we’ve all just returned from a relaxing vacation. The hallways…
-
Continue reading →: My Word for the Year: NEW
It’s almost the start of a brand new school year, and for me…New is my reality. New grade level…Check! New teammates….Check! New classroom…Check! New standards…Check! New curriculum…Check! I won’t lie to you–it is a lot. And maybe you are feeling it too. “New” Feels Like a Fresh Start…and a Heavy…
-
Continue reading →: When Summer Starts Slipping Away: Savoring the Season Before School Starts
It starts slowly…the back-to-school ads that creep into your feed. The emails that go from “hope you are relaxing” to “please review this training module.” And just like that…the summer starts slipping away. It’s a strange time, isn’t it? This late-July stretch, when your heart is still craving the slow…
-
Continue reading →: People Watching at the Beach: A Lesson on Teaching and Burnout
There is something magical about the beach. Maybe it’s the rhythm of the waves, constant and soothing, or the salty breeze that helps you feel like you can breathe again. But one of my favorite things to do at the beach–especially when I’m feeling emotionally stretched thin…is to just watch.…
-
Continue reading →: What are you tolerating? A hard question for tired teachersYesterday my preacher’s sermon posed a simple but powerful question: “What is something you’ve tolerated for too long?” Naturally, after we got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about teachers. Because if we are honest, teachers are professional tolerators. We tolerate overcrowded classrooms. We tolerate unrealistic expectations. We tolerate chronic exhaustion,…
-
Continue reading →: Ten signs you are nearing burnout…and what you can do before you break.Burnout doesn’t always show up with flashing lights and alarms. Sometimes, it creeps in slowly-behind the piles of papers to grade, under the forced smiles, and inside the long, silent sighs after school. If you are a teacher, you have likely felt it before. Maybe you are even feeling it…
-
Continue reading →: Behind the Teacher’s Smile: Why I started this blog
Hi, and welcome. If you have found your way here, chances are you’ve smiled through exhaustion, cried in your car after school, or stared blankly at a lesson plan, wondering how you’re supposed to make it through another week. I see you–because I AM you! My name is Kim, and…
Hello,
I’m Kim,
Welcome to Behind the Teacher’s Smile. I am 23 year veteran teacher who is tired of the constant feeling of burnout, and I am sure that others are too! I want this to be a place where teachers can come to find a safe, honest, and supportive space, especially those battling burnout behind the scenes.
Let’s connect
Join the fun!
Stay updated with our latest tutorials and ideas by joining our newsletter.
behindtheteacherssmile.blog 