I am sure many of you have heard the statistic that 50% of teachers quite within their first 5 years.

The sad fact is that many teachers start out with great intentions, but all too quickly are faced with teacher burnout.

This is really not surprising…well it is not surprising if you are teacher or know what teachers actually go through.

While yes, teachers get a great deal of time off…weekends, holidays, summers…the fact is much of that time teachers spend working. Just because we are not at school with our students does not mean we are not working.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely no way a teacher can get done in a day all of what is expected of them. There is no way I can get all my lesson planning and grading done within the one 45-minute planning period I have each school day. Especially when you throw in faculty meetings, department meetings, team meetings, parent meeting etc.

This leads teachers to bring their work home with them on a regular basis.

Once a new school year has started it is very rare that I take an entire weekend off from doing any school work, but that is exactly what teachers need to do to avoid teacher burnout…take some time OFF from teaching.

I think it is important for teachers to take time off…time away from the job when you are not thinking about students, grading, lesson plans, teaching etc….this will help teachers avoid teacher burnout.

I suggest actually going away for a weekend and not bringing ANY schoolwork with you.

Yes, of course, taking time off from teaching can be done without going away for the weekend, but personally I find it difficult to NOT do any school work when I am home and near my computer. By going away for the weekend I am really able to separate myself from teaching…at least for a couple of days and when I come back I am refreshed and ready to teach again.

There is so much work teachers do outside of their contractual day…and many don’t realize what goes into each and every lesson…I put on six performances a day and the students in the sixth class deserve just as good a performance as the students in the first class.

I am not complaining here by any means…I love teaching…however, I have seen many, many teachers burn out. Like I said, 50% of teachers quit within their first 5 years.

There are ways to avoid teacher burnout and for me getting away for a weekend here and there works wonders for me…and my students.

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