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Recharge & Rise: Teacher Wellness

Christina.russo

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Recharge & Rise: Teacher Wellness

Teachers will identify common stressors leading to burnout and explore practical self-care strategies to enhance their well-being and professional longevity.

Preventing teacher burnout is essential for staff retention, positive school culture, and effective student learning, especially in demanding urban charter school settings.

Audience

9th-12th Grade Teachers/Staff

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, guided activity, and collaborative game.

Materials

Recharge & Rise Slide Deck, Self-Care Bingo Game, and Wellness Action Plan Handout

Prep

Preparation Steps

15 minutes

  • Review the Recharge & Rise Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and talking points.
  • Print copies of the Self-Care Bingo Game (one per teacher).
  • Print copies of the Wellness Action Plan Handout (one per teacher).
  • Ensure projector and computer are set up for the slide deck.
  • Arrange seating to facilitate group discussion and activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Begin with a brief welcome and an engaging question to activate prior knowledge about stress. (e.g., "What's one word that comes to mind when you hear 'teacher burnout'?")
  • Introduce the lesson objectives using the Recharge & Rise Slide Deck.

Step 2

Understanding Burnout (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Use the Recharge & Rise Slide Deck to present information on teacher burnout, its causes, and effects.
  • Facilitate a brief group discussion: "What are some common stressors in our school environment? How do they impact us?"

Step 3

Self-Care Strategies & Activity (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  • Introduce various self-care strategies using the Recharge & Rise Slide Deck.
  • Distribute the Self-Care Bingo Game and explain the rules.
  • Allow teachers to work individually or in small groups to mark off self-care activities they already do or commit to trying.
  • Briefly share some completed/partially completed bingo cards and discuss new ideas.

Step 4

Personal Wellness Action Plan & Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Wellness Action Plan Handout.
  • Guide teachers to start filling out their personal wellness action plan, focusing on 1-2 strategies they will commit to.
  • Conclude by emphasizing the importance of ongoing self-care and mutual support. Reiterate key takeaways from the Recharge & Rise Slide Deck.
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Slide Deck

Recharge & Rise: Teacher Wellness

Preventing Burnout & Fostering Self-Care

Objectives:

  • Identify common stressors leading to teacher burnout.
  • Explore practical self-care strategies.
  • Develop a personal wellness action plan.

Welcome teachers. Start by asking, "What's one word that comes to mind when you hear 'teacher burnout'?" Allow for a few quick responses before introducing the lesson title and objectives.

What is Teacher Burnout?

Definition: A state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.

Common Symptoms:

  • Exhaustion (physical & emotional)
  • Cynicism or detachment
  • Ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating

Define burnout and discuss its key characteristics. Ask teachers if they've seen or experienced any of these symptoms themselves or in colleagues.

Our Reality: Common Stressors

Discussion Prompt: What are some common stressors we face in our urban charter school environment that contribute to feelings of burnout?

  • High workload & long hours
  • Emotional demands & student needs
  • Lack of resources/support
  • Work-life imbalance
  • Systemic pressures

Facilitate a discussion based on this slide. Encourage teachers to share specific examples from their experience in a constructive manner.

The Ripple Effect: Impact of Burnout

On Teachers: Decreased job satisfaction, health issues, desire to leave the profession.

On Students: Less effective instruction, reduced emotional support, negative classroom climate.

On School Culture: Lower morale, increased turnover, strained relationships.

Briefly discuss the consequences of burnout, not just for the individual teacher, but for the wider school community and students.

Self-Care: It's Not Selfish, It's Essential!

What is Self-Care? Any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health.

Why is it Important?

  • Increases resilience
  • Improves mental and physical health
  • Enhances job satisfaction
  • Models healthy habits for students
  • Prevents burnout!

Transition to self-care. Explain that self-care isn't selfish, but essential for sustainability. Introduce the idea of proactive rather than reactive self-care.

Practical Self-Care Strategies

Physical Well-being:

  • Movement (walking, stretching)
  • Healthy eating
  • Adequate sleep

Mental Well-being:

  • Mindfulness/meditation
  • Reading a book
  • Limiting screen time

Emotional Well-being:

  • Journaling
  • Connecting with loved ones
  • Practicing gratitude

Professional Well-being:

  • Setting boundaries
  • Delegating tasks
  • Collaborating with colleagues

Introduce the idea of different types of self-care. Explain that what works for one person might not work for another. This leads into the Self-Care Bingo Game.

Activity: Self-Care Bingo!

Instructions:

  1. Take a Self-Care Bingo Game card.
  2. Mark off activities you already do or commit to trying.
  3. Share your insights with a partner or small group.

Explain the instructions for the Self-Care Bingo Game. Encourage teachers to think broadly about what constitutes self-care for them.

Your Personal Wellness Action Plan

Take a moment to begin filling out your Wellness Action Plan Handout.

Focus on 1-2 strategies you will commit to implementing this week.

  • What specific self-care practices will you adopt?
  • When and how will you integrate them?
  • What support do you need?

Introduce the Wellness Action Plan Handout. Encourage teachers to start filling it out, focusing on realistic and actionable steps.

Recharge & Rise: A Sustainable You!

Remember:

  • Self-care is vital for long-term effectiveness.
  • Small steps make a big difference.
  • We support each other!

"You can't pour from an empty cup."

Conclude with a powerful message about the collective benefit of individual self-care and open the floor for any final questions or reflections.

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Activity

Self-Care Bingo: Recharge & Rise!

Instructions: Check off the squares for self-care activities you already do regularly, or activities you commit to trying this week. Aim to get a Bingo (5 in a row, column, or diagonal)! Discuss your progress with a colleague.

BINGO
Take a 15-minute walkListen to musicStretch for 5 minutesDrink a glass of waterConnect with a friend
Read for pleasureSet a work boundaryFREE SPACEPlan a fun activityPractice deep breathing
Journal for 10 minutesDeclutter your deskGet enough sleepSay
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Worksheet

My Personal Wellness Action Plan

Name: ____________________________

Part 1: Identifying My Stressors

Think about your daily and weekly routines. What are the biggest sources of stress or feelings of overwhelm in your professional and personal life? List at least 3.










Part 2: Choosing My Self-Care Strategies

Based on what we discussed and the Self-Care Bingo, what 2-3 self-care strategies resonate most with you? These should be realistic and achievable for this week.

  1. Strategy:



    Why this one?


  2. Strategy:



    Why this one?


  3. Strategy:



    Why this one?


Part 3: Planning for Implementation

For each chosen strategy, how will you incorporate it into your week? Be specific about when and how.

Strategy 1:

  • When will I do it? (e.g.,
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