Whew! Now that the holidays and the back into gear of January has kicked in, perhaps it is time to be thankful you made it. February is just as busy as any other month of teaching, but it is packed with positive and thankful reasons to be glad you made it.
#1- You are still employed. Remember, it is past the 100th day of school for most teachers. This is also the time to be thankful you have a teaching position. Around this time is when a lot of certification issues arise and adjustments happen. Principals and other education leaders are looking to put their best people in the positions they need before the “dreaded” testing season. Teachers are shuffled, teachers are let go, positions that are still opened- those poor students have gone half the year without a teacher. Say a prayer for the teachers that were let go for many reasons and reflect on your position. You are a professional teacher and still working so be thankful for that this February.
#2- Place into your heart, February is a glorious month to be a teacher. Whether it is your 1st year or 10th year, February is an awesome month to shine as a teacher. Embrace February and create those excellent lesson plans for all the holidays: President’s Day, Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras is coming up, Chinese New Year, and everyone loves Valentine’s Day. Don’t look at these as distractions but as a tool to help engage your students. You know there is nothing better than to activate and incorporate these February themes and grabbing your students attention. An excellent month to deliver all these topics. Cover them with passion and take away the boring redundancy of teaching– find a way to incorporate them into your lesson plans like the creative teacher you are. If you think about it, February is a stress free month for many reasons. It is not the beginning of the year, It is not the holiday season, you are past the changes of the New Year. It is not testing season. It is not the hustle time at the end of the school year. This is a month jammed with holidays and other unique aspects such as 2024 is Leap Year. Shine and wow your students this month, decorate your room and pack this month with excellent February Themed lessons.
#3- The beginning and the end. Some of these things you might be thankful for are beginning or ending for example the football season with the Super Bowl. The brunt of winter and a look at the spring season in view. The end of January is all every teacher has to be thankful for. February is a time to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Spring Break. And if you think about it, It is past the halfway mark for those coveting the school year to end. Most of you will get a 3-day weekend this month with Presidents’ Day. For those religious, Ash Wednesday and the lent season begins with the anticipation of Easter coming soon. Know that this month you are at the crossroads of many beginnings and endings- you are in it.
It is one thing to be thankful it is February and another to work on your mental and physical health. Read a book for pleasure and not professional development. Take a walk with someone and vent or perhaps walk and vent to your dog. Visit or call your siblings. Join a social media group. Go out on a date and dress to impress taking advantage of wearing that cool winter outfit. Remember, a happy mentally and physically healthy teacher is a better teacher and your students deserve the best teacher you can give them.
-J. Harrod @ 247 Teacher
