Legal matters

I’ve come to understand that knowing the legal matters related to my position as a teacher is quite simply a very important form of self care. My advice? Don't teach in fear, but also don't teach in ignorance. Don't expect a legal situation, but do inform yourself. Go to your state and local websites to find information related to legal matters that affect your job as a teacher. Know especially the FERPA laws and special education laws. Have access (or know how you would gain access) to legal representation, just for peace of mind to know that though highly, highly unlikely, if something ever were to come up, you are prepared. Make sure you understand how to document, document, document. And I highly suggest that you read the content about documentation and the need to document at www.mspowell.com and then browse the forms at www.teachertools.org/index.html for your documentation needs. Most likely you won't ever use the documentation. But . . . with all of these considerations taken care of as a matter of course, you can enjoy peace of mind and return to focusing on the joys of teaching.

Also, be very careful about the content of your emails. Know that school emails are the property of the school. If you've struggled with communicating with discretion and tact (some of us like to just bluntly tell it like it is, regardless), then before you push the send button on an email, try imagining that a judge will be subpoenaing the email to use in a school-related court case.

Balance and Time Management

Staying balanced and managing one's time is a very important form of self-care, especially as a teacher.  Otherwise, burnout is more likely.  I love LouAnne Johnson for her discussion of the value of super, excellent, and good teachers in her book Teaching Outside the Box, and here is a small excerpt from that discussion:

"Teachers come in three basic flavors--super, excellent, and good. Which flavor of teacher you decide to become depends on your personal strengths, intimate relationships, professional goals, and individual priorities. . . . Regardless of whether you choose to be a super, excellent, or good teacher, you will still be contributing to society, performing honorable and necessary work, and helping to shape the future of our country" (pp. 3-5).

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