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To take care of and for others, you must first take care of yourself. This message is one of my most memorable takeaways this semester. I have heard the phrase, "Show up for the kids" more times than I can count. It's stated in memos and emails to teachers and whispered in conversations. School districts and administrators try to contradict the message with self-care professional development. But looking out for our teachers means first taking care of and showing up for themselves. I'm sure you've heard and seen the dozens of stories reporting the high cases of teacher burnout and turnover. It's a crisis, like many others, that was brought to the surface by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers changed their teaching format multiple times per week, transformed their curriculum and resources, and adapted to meet the different needs of children and students quarantined at home. Instead of teaching reading and math, they focused on self-regulation, peer interaction, and play strategies. All this change takes a toll on teachers' mental, emotional, and physical states. One person can only do so much to support the constantly developing needs of young humans. The point is, you've heard these stories before. So, why do we still need to talk about it? Because the problem is not going away. Until there is a systemic change to support teachers' needs, voices, and health, we still need to speak up. In this post, I will share the rates of teacher burnout and turnover; messages from real teachers and teacher candidates; and practices for burnt-out or struggling teachers.
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TW: fast moving images Well folks, it's that time of year. . .a new school year is upon us! And you know what that means: new courses, experiences, and opportunities! And I am going to share all of those plans with you. Before we dive into everything, let me reintroduce myself to any new education enthusiasts joining us. 
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This image was from my practicum experience this past spring. You may not be able to see it, but behind the smile behind the mask was a college student wondering, "Why do I still show up?" In this post, I address the nerves, stress, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome around becoming a teacher and most importantly, why I still show up. 
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This summer, I began to research antiracist teaching practices and strategies for my junior capstone project. While working on my literature review and browsing through social media, I stumbled across articles and posts addressing "Critical Race Theory," or CRT. Since my research centers on current teaching practices that address race and racism, I was intrigued by this practice. Does it apply to early childhood education? Is it a newly founded strategy? And, most of all, why is it getting so much backlash? The pushback against CRT and other antiracist practices in schools starts an important conversation. Why are families, school districts, and politicians (who are unsurprisingly majority white) uncomfortable with teachers actively choosing curriculum that addresses the truths about racism? Let's talk about it. 
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Welcome back, education enthusiasts! In this post, I will be sharing five tips for leading effective, meaningful read alouds. These tips are for everyone! There are several ideas surrounding read alouds. So, to clear the air, I have provided a definition of "read aloud" (from my course readings). Read aloud: a shared, out loud reading of a book to one child or a group of students Read alouds are an essential activity to include in early childhood classrooms because they provide several benefits for children's literacy development, including. . .
A read aloud can be a magical learning experience for young children. However, you cannot simply read a book aloud to lead a meaningful read aloud. To ensure you create a rich, enjoyable reading experience, explore the tips below! 
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I am officially a published researcher!
To read my article, "The Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Long-Term Brain Development and Health," click the button below. The article is published through Aisthesis: the Interdisciplinary Honors Journal through the University of Minnesota. To those of you who are newly following my educational journey, I will give you a little context. Follow Journal of a Future Teacher on social media!
Happy Pride!
This month is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and advocating for progress on equality and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ folks worldwide. However, the work and growth must persist beyond Pride month. Change — legislative and societal — takes time. Change goes beyond the bare minimum of acceptance. For progress to be made on the basis of equality for the LGBTQIA+ community, it must be intersectional. I created this guide for teachers and anyone else who celebrate and be an ally for LGBTQIA+ folks, students, and families. It is a starting point. The real growth and change happen through your own actions and initiative. Many schools and classrooms still reflect cis heteronormativity. All students and families must be included, welcomed, celebrated, and reflected in the classroom and the environment. . . .If you like this post, have any questions, or have ideas on how I can improve my blog, leave me a comment below! Your input is always appreciated. As always, thank you for your support.
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Dear high schoolers,
You have probably heard rumors, stories, and news about teaching or work in education. You have questions, concerns, and perceptions. So, I hope to address all of your thoughts in this post to help you make the right choice about pursuing a career or major in education. I want to make clear that I am not trying to tell you what you should or should not do. My goal with this blog will never be to tell you to pursue a career in education. Although I cherish my work with children and the profession, I understand the issues and burdens that come with it. My goal is to provide resources and support to help you make the best decision for you. I hope this post answers your questions. However, please leave a comment or send me an email if you have any other questions or concerns.
Dear all readers,
If you are considering becoming a teacher or working in the education system, thank you. Thank you for considering this career or major. To current or retired teachers and education workers, thank you for all you do. As I have relayed in past posts, teachers and others working in education (including specialists, administrators, librarians, etc.) are essential to supporting children in their academic and personal development. However, I understand that working in education is not for everyone, and that is completely ok! From my experience working with teachers and studying education, I understand that work in this field comes with pros and cons. Especially throughout the past year, the teaching profession has received a lot of negative criticism. So, now it's time to wade through the facts and questions. Let's get started! Questions addressed in this post:
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I cannot believe that I am saying this. . .but I just completed my sophomore year of college. Looking back on the past year, I reflect on all of the opportunities, accomplishments, and experiences that I am so proud of. However, it is also important to recognize the low points, the weeks of little to no motivation and burnout along with the highlights. So, as much as I will miss my professors, practicum experience, internship, etc., I am very excited and ready for the summer! And, there is so much that I am looking forward to over the next few months! 
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Happy teacher appreciation week!
Thank you, teachers and educators, for everything you are doing for your students and your community. I appreciate you. I respect you. You are valued. Usually, teacher appreciation week involves schools handing out coffee gift cards, hanging up a sign that says, "Thank you, teachers!" and giving them a brief pat on the back. However, these gestures are not what teachers need during this week of recognition. So, how can you support, respect, and appreciate teachers?
I encourage you to go beyond giving small gifts or "thank you" cards this week. Appreciation and respect for teachers should be reflected in professional pay and by listening to their concerns and thoughts within administration. Also, let's appreciate, respect, and support teachers all year! So, how will you support teachers this week and in the future? Leave me a comment! Have you joined the email list yet? Click the button below to get more personalized updates!
Leave me a Comment!If you like this post, have any questions, or have ideas on how I can improve my blog, leave me a comment below! Your input is always appreciated. As always, thank you for your support.
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AuthorMeghan Hesterman (she/her) is a child advocate and education blogger. While a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), she created Journal of a Future Teacher to share her journey in becoming an early childhood teacher. Categories
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