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, collaborative game, scenario-based problem solving, and creative expression.
Materials
Recharge & Rise Slide Deck, Self-Care Bingo Game, Self-Care Scenario Challenge, Self-Care Vision Board, 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 Self-Care Scenario Challenge (one per small group).
- Print copies of the Self-Care Vision Board (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. Provide basic art supplies like paper, markers, and colored pencils for the vision board activity. Divide teachers into small groups (3-4 per group) before the session begins.
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 (8 minutes)
8 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 & Bingo Activity (5 minutes)
5 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
Group Activity: Self-Care Scenario Challenge (2 minutes)
2 minutes
- Distribute one Self-Care Scenario Challenge handout per small group.
- Explain that each group will choose one scenario and quickly brainstorm 1-2 practical self-care strategies for that situation.
- Allow 1 minute for discussion, then ask each group to quickly share one key strategy they identified for their chosen scenario.
Step 5
Creative Activity: Self-Care Vision Board (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Distribute the Self-Care Vision Board handout and provide art supplies.
- Explain the activity: teachers will create a visual representation of their self-care goals.
- Allow 3-4 minutes for creation, then ask volunteers to share one element from their vision board with their small group or the larger group.
Step 6
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.
(Image Suggestion: A gentle, uplifting image like a sunrise or a calm person.)
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. (Visual Suggestion: Image of a sunrise or a person looking refreshed.)
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
(Image Suggestion: A visual metaphor for burnout, like a candle burning out or a person looking visibly drained.)
Define burnout and discuss its key characteristics. Ask teachers if they've seen or experienced any of these symptoms themselves or in colleagues. (Visual Suggestion: Image representing exhaustion or an overloaded person.)
Stress & Your Brain: A Visual Look
Chronic stress impacts various brain regions, affecting:
- Prefrontal Cortex: Difficulty with focus, decision-making, and memory (shrinks)
- Amygdala: Increased anxiety, fear, and emotional reactivity (enlarges)
- Hippocampus: Impaired learning and memory (shrinks)
Visual Analogy: Imagine your brain's 'control tower' (prefrontal cortex) becoming foggy and less efficient, while its 'alarm system' (amygdala) becomes hyperactive. Your 'memory storage' (hippocampus) also becomes less reliable.
(Image Suggestion: A split image or infographic showing a 'stressed' brain with red/stormy elements versus a 'calm' brain with blue/clear elements.)
Introduce how chronic stress visually impacts the brain. Explain that while we can't show literal images, we can describe the changes. Emphasize that these changes impact cognitive function and emotional regulation. (Visual Suggestion: Abstract image of a stressed brain vs. a calm brain.)
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
(Image Suggestion: An image depicting a teacher juggling multiple tasks or a visual representation of a demanding school environment.)
Facilitate a discussion based on this slide. Encourage teachers to share specific examples from their experience in a constructive manner. (Visual Suggestion: Image of diverse teachers discussing, or a representation of various stressors like juggling many tasks.)
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.
(Image Suggestion: A visual showing a ripple effect spreading outwards, symbolizing the impact of burnout on individuals, students, and the school.)
Briefly discuss the consequences of burnout, not just for the individual teacher, but for the wider school community and students. (Visual Suggestion: Image of a ripple effect in water, or a sad teacher/student scenario.)
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!
(Image Suggestion: A vibrant, positive image of someone practicing self-care, perhaps meditating, reading, or enjoying a hobby.)
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. (Visual Suggestion: Image of someone engaging in self-care, like meditating or enjoying nature.)
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
(Image Suggestion: A collage or set of icons representing various self-care activities, visually categorizing them by well-being type.)
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. (Visual Suggestion: Icons representing different types of self-care: a heart for emotional, a brain for mental, a person exercising for physical, etc.)
Activity: Self-Care Bingo!
Instructions:
- Take a Self-Care Bingo Game card.
- Mark off activities you already do or commit to trying.
- Share your insights with a partner or small group.
(Image Suggestion: A stylized bingo card with self-care icons or a group of happy people playing a game.)
Explain the instructions for the Self-Care Bingo Game. Encourage teachers to think broadly about what constitutes self-care for them. Remind them this activity is now 5 minutes. (Visual Suggestion: A playful image of a bingo card or people engaging in lighthearted activities.)
Challenge: Self-Care Scenarios!
Instructions:
- In your small group, choose one Self-Care Scenario Challenge.
- Brainstorm 1-2 practical self-care strategies for that situation.
- Be ready to quickly share one strategy with the class!
(Image Suggestion: An image of people collaboratively brainstorming or a visual of different paths representing choices.)
Introduce the Self-Care Scenario Challenge. Explain that groups will choose a scenario and brainstorm solutions. Provide 1 minute for discussion. Remind them this activity is now 2 minutes. (Visual Suggestion: An image representing a challenge or a group problem-solving.)
Creative Corner: Self-Care Vision Board!
Instructions:
- Take a Self-Care Vision Board handout and art supplies.
- Visually represent your personal self-care goals and aspirations.
- Share one element with your vision board with your small group or the larger group.
(Image Suggestion: A vibrant and inspiring vision board with various images and words, or art supplies like markers and paper.)
Introduce the Self-Care Vision Board activity. Explain the instructions and allow 3-4 minutes for creation. Encourage sharing within small groups or with the larger group. This activity is 5 minutes. (Visual Suggestion: A colorful vision board or art supplies.)
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?
(Image Suggestion: A visual of a checklist, a planner, or someone thoughtfully writing down goals.)
Introduce the Wellness Action Plan Handout. Encourage teachers to start filling it out, focusing on realistic and actionable steps. This activity is 5 minutes. (Visual Suggestion: An image of a calendar or a person writing in a planner.)
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."
(Image Suggestion: A visually appealing image of a full, overflowing cup, or a group of teachers supporting each other.)
Conclude with a powerful message about the collective benefit of individual self-care and open the floor for any final questions or reflections. (Visual Suggestion: An image of a full cup, or a supportive community.)
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.
| B | I | N | G | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take a 15-minute walk | Listen to music | Stretch for 5 minutes | Drink a glass of water | Connect with a friend |
| Read for pleasure | Set a work boundary | FREE SPACE | Plan a fun activity | Practice deep breathing |
| Journal for 10 minutes | Declutter your desk | Get enough sleep | Say |
Game
Self-Care Scenario Challenge
Instructions: In your small groups, read the scenario below. Discuss and brainstorm 2-3 specific, actionable self-care strategies you could implement in this situation. Be prepared to share one of your strategies with the larger group.
Scenario 1: The Endless To-Do List
It's Tuesday evening. You've just finished a long day of teaching, parent conferences, and a staff meeting. You get home to find a pile of grading, lesson planning for tomorrow, and an inbox full of emails. You feel overwhelmed and a sense of dread about the rest of your week.
Your Group's Strategies:
Scenario 2: The Challenging Classroom Moment
You've had a particularly challenging class period where student engagement was low, and classroom management felt like an uphill battle. You're feeling frustrated, defeated, and questioning your effectiveness as a teacher.
Your Group's Strategies:
Scenario 3: Work-Life Blur
Lately, your work has been creeping into every aspect of your life. You find yourself checking emails late at night, thinking about school on weekends, and feeling guilty when you try to relax. You're struggling to maintain a healthy boundary between your professional and personal life.
Your Group's Strategies:
Activity
My Self-Care Vision Board
Instructions:
- Take a piece of paper and some drawing/writing materials.
- Think about what self-care looks and feels like for you in your daily life. Consider areas like mental health, physical well-being, emotional balance, and professional satisfaction.
- Using words, drawings, symbols, or even small cutouts (if available), create a visual representation of your self-care goals and aspirations.
- This is your vision board – it doesn't need to be perfect, just meaningful to you.
- Share one element from your vision board with your small group, explaining why it's important for your well-being.
Space for your Vision Board:
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.
-
Strategy:
Why this one? -
Strategy:
Why this one? -
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.,