As a teacher induction mentor, I’m used to occasional panicked texts from first- or second-year teachers that I’m coaching. But one in particular really left an impression on me. I got a message right before returning from winter break from a superstar teacher I’d mentored years before: “Tell me why I shouldn’t quit.”
I listened to her story of burnout. I tried to remind her of specific anecdotes showing the impact she has had on students. Then I asked, “What are some of the wins that you remember?”
It’s vital to reflect on wins regularly. This won’t cure burnout by any means, but it is a small way to reset. I recommended to my teacher that every week, she should take a 3×5 index card and write down at least one “win” from the previous week. (It doesn’t matter how big or small these are.)
This practice can be a great way to end a Friday, reflecting back on the inevitable wins of the past week that you otherwise might miss. It’s also a good way to start a Monday to kick off a new week on a positive beat.
Regardless of when you do this, after a while, when you have a tough day, you can whip out your collection of weekly wins and remember the good you have accomplished and why you “shouldn’t quit.”
