Creativity

COVID put an extra stress on teachers and changed the way we teach from an in-person model to an in-person and online model. The effect of COVID caused children to be educationally and socially stunted. Colleges have stopped requesting ACT and SAT scores as qualifiers for entry. College courses are being created to teach students how to be students. Elementary schools are reporting more behavior and higher numbers of diagnosed ADHD and autism. This effect is adding to the stress of an already stressful job! Something similar happened to students during the great depression--it took 8 years for education to recover--but it did recover!

Teaching, while incredibly rewarding, is also one of the most demanding professions, often leaving educators feeling overwhelmed and depleted. This stress can make it challenging to tap into the creative energy needed to develop engaging lesson plans or solve classroom challenges! Creativity thrives in a relaxed and focused mind, yet stress can significantly hinder our ability to think creatively (Amabile, 1996). 

However, it’s important to remember that this is normal and entirely okay. Taking time for self-care—whether through mindfulness, exercise, hobbies, or simply resting—can help reduce stress and restore creativity. By prioritizing your well-being, you’re not only replenishing your creative capacity but also setting a powerful example for your students. When you take care of yourself, you can return to the classroom as a more inspired and effective teacher (Gouin et al., 2011).

Though it's easy to say "take care of yourself" I understand the constant push to improve my classroom. I've been up past midnight prepping Science Labs; I've spent my own money buying supplies. I don't have answers or a magic wand to make everything perfect. But I have found that taking a teacher recess is necessary sometimes!

So please, just remember: You are doing amazing work teachers! Keep going! I hope the lesson plans found here might be of some help to you.

References:

• Amabile, T. M. (1996). Creativity in Context. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
• Gouin, J. P., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Malarkey, W. B., & Glaser, R. (2011). The influence of anger expression on wound healing. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 25(2), 298–303.