A Teacher Workout – That’s Like Every Day!

 

 

Teaching is tough today – really tough. It’s like we teachers workout during every class, every day! Recently, I found myself needing a stress release activity and looking to become a healthy teacher. So, I joined a gym for the very first time in my life. I never thought I would have, but I had two upcoming weddings, and well, you know. Although the whole feel and scene of the gym was completely new to me, it didn’t take long for me to learn the ropes of the machines, a workout schedule, time management, etc. When I did, I realized there were some unique correlations between the teacher workout we get in the classroom and the exercising in the gym.

 

Do you think I’m crazy? Well, just so you know, this is not some article on fitness for teachers or to tell you that you really need to work out – trust me. As I was running on the elliptical week after week, I just kept thinking about the many similarities of my time at the gym and my time spent at school. I discovered several parallels between my physical workout and my teacher workout each day. Both of them had the following characteristics.

 

1.  It takes practice, warming up, stretching, and motivation.

You will never just one day wake up and be able to run a marathon. It will just never happen. We build strength little by little with consistency and hard work.

The same is true in teaching. You become a better teacher by studying, practicing, and even experimenting with teaching methods and skills and then by reflecting on your success. This will all help you become a great educator.

College courses will never fully prepare you for the real-life problems in your classroom: like a child throwing up all over your class rug, while another student is crying for their “mommy,” and now your phone is ringing. Oh, it happens! Now that’s a teacher workout!

 

2.  Afterwards, you hurt.

After I have great workout, my bones ache and feel like they are going to snap in half, even though I’m so glad that I made myself exercise that day. Although one day of working out isn’t going to get my body in immediate shape, I feel a little healthier.

My jam-packed, action-filled, adventurous day with my students is my wonderful teacher workout at school. I normally come home feeling great and inspired, but so sore! Yet, it is a positive step to becoming a healthy educator. A healthy teacher equals a happy teacher, and this causes happy and healthy students in your classroom.

 

3.  Be realistic with your goals!

In exercising, we need to set manageable goals. No one will succeed if you head to the gym expecting to lose 50 pounds in the first week! Nope – sorry, it won’t happen!

Similarly, in the classroom, I need to make sure that my goals for myself and my students are manageable and reasonable. I absolutely want to stretch my students and inspire them to dream big, and I want to teach them how to make those goals come to life. Helping them understand the value and importance of making goals will encourage their success.

During my first year of teaching, I taught students in grades K-12th grades each day. Seeing Kindergarten at 9 AM, then 5th grade, then high school classes kept me on my toes. My expectations for each of the ages were obviously different, and I needed to make sure my mindset, teaching methods, and goals for each grade level were always appropriate and realistic.

 

4.  Always warm up before exercising and cool down after exercising.

Without warming up, our bones are not ready to run, and our arms are not ready for weights. Cooling down after exercising helps our blood circulation and breathing return to normal. It is definitely a crucial part of any workout.

This is so true for teachers too! When I arrive at school and head to my classroom, I begin my mental workout, getting my mind ready for the day ahead of me, however amazing or crazy it may be. I enter my room and begin warming up my mind, focusing my thoughts on today’s lessons, and looking over my schedule, lesson plans, objectives, manipulatives, presentations, etc. I have a much better day when I warm up before the kiddos arrive! Also, after each school day is over and my classroom is empty again, I reflect on the day’s lesson and activities, making notes for the next day or week. I need this mentally as well, so that I can transition my mind as I leave the school building to go home.

So often teachers workout on off hours, taking home their work, myself included. I find it easier if I stay at school, even just 10 minutes later, and I can finish my work and save my evenings for my home life activities (and I miss the school bus traffic too!).

 

5.  Listen to your body.

They say that when you are exercising, you really need to be aware of how your body feels, especially regarding strength, hydration, nutrition, muscles, and pain. Listen to your body. Once I started working out, I realized I was drinking so much more water because I recognized my body needed it. I also had to make the choice to not workout some days because my body was saying “no, I need a break!”

The same is true for teaching in two different ways. First, we need to listen to our own bodies. Teachers are not exempt from sickness. I know it’s a lot easier to come to school than to make substitute plans, but we need to listen to our bodies crying for a break, physical or mental.

Secondly, teachers need to listen to their audience – our students’ and their body. When teaching a difficult or new concept, observe your students to see if they are comprehending it or are falling asleep.  Are they super excited about the discussion, or do they need a movement/brain break? It’s so important to watch and listen to our students to check if they are getting bored, antsy, or just have totally checked out. Often adding a short, stimulating activity into a lesson can actually increase listening, focus, and comprehension, possibly even saving time too.

I like to use the thumb understanding guide when I ask my students if they’re getting it. They put a thumbs up in the air if they totally understand it, thumbs sideways if only partially understand it, and thumbs down, if they are completely confused. My students mostly react well to this and will answer honestly. They are more likely to put a thumbs down than to raise their hand and ask a question. Then I ask if the thumbs down group had any specific questions that I could answer, and they normally will ask.

 

6.  Never just grab the easy weights. No pain, no gain.

Growth and achievement will come with hard work – often agonizing, excruciating, and tiresome hard work. If you just grab the light weights and have no sweat in the task, what’s the point? You may burn a few calories, but was it really even worth your trip to the gym? Probably not. I’ve never seen anyone at the gym working out sipping iced tea and enjoying themselves because we know hard work will pay off! It may be hard to fit in that busy teacher workout with a hectic schedule, but you know to make it count when you do.

As a teacher, I don’t like to take the easy way out of a job because most likely it’s also the sloppy, lazy, and non-creative way. It may cause problems and additional work later, and it’s just not worth it. Besides, you’re better than that! Other teachers, principals, and administrators will begin to notice your high-quality work too. And even if they don’t, you will grow because of it. I love the saying, too many people are ready to carry the stool when the piano needs to be moved. Go for the large grand piano, and although it may be really hard, do it the best you can!

I like to teach my students the same principle – do everything well. Even young children will be able to take pride in a job well done. They will recognize their accomplishment as a result of their hard work. When it takes only a few minutes longer to do the task well, why not do it well? It will take a whole lot longer if you have to do it again!

 

7.  Celebrate – it’s all worth it at the end!

When you’ve shed the pounds, or can run that 5K, or just feel so much better from exercising, it is all worth it! Good things come to those who sweat. You accomplished your goal and improved your life and body through it, so celebrate it and enjoy that awesome feeling! Okay – maybe not with a giant piece of cake!

In your classroom, you and your students will have those same feelings of triumph throughout the school year. When you see a particular student struggling through a difficult concept, not giving up, but instead, conquering it – celebrate! When a student consistently scores a C- on tests suddenly receives a B, encourage him on his improvement.

Teachers often forget to do this for themselves. When you have made it 6 months with a difficult group of chatty students and are now seeing major improvement, be excited for your hard work and improvement with them. “Celebrating” does not always need to be an outward or physical gesture (i.e. an ice cream sundae, a shopping trip, a massage, etc.). You can mentally and inwardly feel that sense of accomplishment, and sometimes that is even better. That hard work, consistency, and courage along the way has made all the difference in the world!

 

Conclusion

Fitness for teachers inside and outside of the classroom is so important. Through it, we can learn some valuable life lessons. Hopefully, the next time you walk into the gym or a yoga class, you think of these seven similarities, and let them encourage and inspire you.

Another great workout for your tummy is laughing! I love to laugh, and I will do it by myself or with family, friends, colleagues, and even with my students. Laughing can help lighten the stress of a busy teacher day. For some funny teacher jokes, memes, and comics, click here: Teacher Humor – You Got to Love It!  Also, if you’re looking to add some fitness to your week, check out this helpful article on Tips for Making Teacher Workouts Actually Work.

I have made a set of positive mindset quote posters for your own office desk or even for your classroom. They apply directly to many of the principles discussed here. Click here if you are interested in receiving them for free!