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Kathleen - It is a pleasure to welcome back Bobbi Fisher, one of the best known early childhood/primary educators in the U.S., author of one of the best known books written for teachers of young children (Joyful Learning), much sought after presenter. Bobbi, tell us what inspired you to depart from the how-to teach format of your earlier books to take on how to survive the stresses connected with teaching?
Kathleen - Our sponsor tonight is the publisher of Bobbi's book, Heinemann http://www.heinemann.com
Kathleen - The book: The Teacher Book: Finding Personal and Professional Balance
Bobbi - When I "retire" from the classroom I realized that I couldn't speak with that same teacher voice.
Kathleen - Early childhood/primary people are very kind
Bobbi - I was interested in teacher stress because I was sometimes stressed and it affected my teaching
Bobbi - I think teachers' voices need to be heard and I hope this latest book does that.
Bobbi - Yes, primary people are very kind and sometimes that give us stress because we want to please everyone.
MJ - My husband doesn't understand why I bring my job (kids) home with me. How can I explain it to him? He teaches hs chemistry.
Bobbi - Several people wrote that it was difficult for the significant other in their life to understand the work they had to do as well as their love for teaching. It can be a stressor.
Joan/k/1 - will the book address the stress that the standardized test puts on teachers/kids
Bobbi - Joan, the book has a huge (the longest) chapter on standards and testing. Teachers had a lot to say about that.
Kathleen - Sponsoring tonight's session is Heinemann, your professional resource for teaching, K-12. View their selection of published materials at http://www.heinemann.com .
vinni - what do you suggest for the infamous teachers room and all the negativity
Bobbi - I suggest changing the subject to something positive.
Addie/MO - bobbi, this isn't a question, but i just wanted to say that i have really enjoyed your other books, especially "joyful learning" and i am so glad you joined us here tonight. it is really exciting to chat with a real live author!
Bobbi - I'm happy to be here. If you want to email me another time, my address is Befjoyful@aol.com. Thanks.
Feliz - Bobbi, Does the new book specifically address the stress we K teachers are getting by putting so much 1st grade expectations on our K students?
Bobbi - Feliz, the book address the issue of curriculum expectations that aren't developmentally appropriate for young children.
Jennivere - When I moved to this area - I found a very different (unrespectful) attitude toward teachers in the community, where as my former town was very generous/supportive to teachers. I was curious whether you heard ideas about how teachers were viewed community wise in other areas of the country? Also suggestions about how to affect positive change? (sorry so long)
Bobbi - I didn't hear about communities not appreciating teachers. That must be so hard. I guess the best thing to do is to give their kids a wonderful leaning experience.
Randee - Does the book talk about all the paper work we need to address every and the assessments we need to keep up with? I never seem to have the time to keep up with all of the paperwork.
Bobbi - Yes, many teachers wrote about that, and they gave suggestions to administrators on how to ease that. All the teachers want to do is teach.
Amy - How does one balance the pressures of teaching and still have energy/time left over for the remnants of a life? (hard one). Also, what advice do you have for teachers at the very beginning of their careers?
Bobbi - For beginning teachers: try to do a few things well. Find a friendly seasoned teacher to help you. Don't live at school. Take time for yourself every day. You'll be a better teachers.
MR - I teach in CT & believe that the pressure to succeed on the Mastery Tests beginning in grade 4 has filtered down to our Kinder curriculum & much of it is inappropriate
Kathleen - MR I couldn't agree more!
Bobbi - MR, teachers all over the country are experiencing the same beliefs. And it's true. Whenever you can, hold on to what you know is best for K's. Hard to do sometimes.
vinni - i work at the school my son attends. Its hard to balance the mom, teacher piece. My husband is also involved. what do you think about the fine line?
Bobbi - I taught in the same school with my kids and I made it a point to make appointments with the teachers if I wanted to talk about my kids.
Addie/MO - i taught in the same school with my son and when it was p/t conf. or open house, etc....when i had to be a teacher and wasn't available as a parent, i made it a point to speak to the teacher at another time and play the "mom role"...visiting the class or whatever.
Randee - Do you describe, in your book, ways to manage the paper work and/or assessments? Since I am looping I am loaded with papers in my room for two different grades. Also, standards in NY state are becoming more intense causing MORE paper work for teachers. Does your book address these issues?
Bobbi - I'm not certain that the book tells you how to manage the paper work. Maybe that's the next book.
Addie/MO - what are some real ways that teacher morale can be enhanced at school (some things like little notes, or candy or whatever are nice, but a little superficial)?
Bobbi - If we want to enhance morale, why not start by doing random acts of kindness and refusing to talk negatively.
Kathleen - I know a teacher whose morale was improved instantly when the principal stopped by this week and hugged her, complementing the activity she was leading at the moment the principal peeked in
vinni - we have a team shirt day every Friday. It seems corny but its a great time dressing down and acting silly.
Bobbi - We had Friday morning coffee during recess at my school and it was a great morale booster because we felt we were teaching in a community.
Kathleen - Bobbi, in The Teacher Book you say, "The more we understand ourselves, the more centered we become." Would you define "centered" for us?
Bobbi - Centered. We have to define it for ourselves, but to me being centered is being able to deal with whatever comes up and not lose my integrity. Being centered is part of a spiritual practice in a very general sense.
Addie/MO - so, by "centered" you mean knowing yourself and what you stand for so that your actions and decisions reflect your personal beliefs?
Bobbi - Addie, yes, knowing yourself so you can stand tall no matter what the situation.
Addie/MO - bobbi, i agree that being "centered" is important, so that you are not stressed out by the decisions you make. you know that you have made good decisions and can defend (support) them if necessary....it takes time to get to this point, but this would cause you feel more confident in yourself
Bobbi - Addie, Right on.
Kathleen - I wonder whether it is easier to be centered at age 50 than at age 25? Practice makes perfect?
Jennivere - Kat - I think so - reading Bobbi's definition makes me gulp
TP - Had to respond it is much easier to be centered at 50. I'm nearly there so I can say that
Addie/MO - in some ways, this year is hard for me because i had that "centeredness" as a classroom teacher, but i am less sure of myself as an administrator due to the unfamiliarity with parts of the job. i find myself second-guessing myself more in my new position
Bobbi - Addie, when we take on new roles, we get out of balance and thus are less centered. It will return as you gain experience and confidence.
Kathleen - I think even moving to a new classroom or new building can throw one off center
Addie/MO - thanks, bobbi.....i know in my head what you are saying about feeling more centered over time....but i sure wish it would hurry up! LOL!
Bobbi - We don't become centered and then stay that way. It's a process with ups and downs. All part of being human.
Kathleen - Bobbi, does any one story you received from the teachers stand out as especially touching or illuminating? (If you want to point me to the item by page and position I'll type it in while you respond to another question. Otherwise, go ahead and paraphrase it here.)
Bobbi - Let me think. There were so many. I think what stands out is that the teacher love teaching. It's the kids that keep them going. When a child finally gets the teaching point, or when kids say funny things. The humanity that comes through.
Kathleen - Bobbi, in The Teacher Book you write about the teachers who responded: "...most wrote that excessive testing, and non-teaching duties, such as meetings and paper work, diminish both the quality of their teaching and the depth of children's learning." As an educator, do you see these as stressors that have always been a part of teaching? Or are these new or growing problems for professional educators?
Bobbi - I'm amazed at the resilience that teacher have. They have to be the strongest, most centered people I know. I hope that parents, administrators and politicians will read the book and begin to know how complex and caring teachers are.
Evelyn - Bobbi, do you find that most teacher now expect to be paid to attend professional development meetings?
Bobbi - Evelyn, that seems to vary throughout the country. In Mass. teachers often pay their own way.
Addie/MO - evelyn, i think that this is true...when i started teaching 12 years ago, i paid out of my own meager pockets and freely gave of saturdays or whenever on the quest of knowledge....lots of teachers did, but now that payment is available, people seem to be more interested in what they are going to "get" for attending...i think it comes down to the theories about how rewards diminish interest in the things that the person is doing and increases the interest in rewards.
Kathleen - I think The Teacher Book by Bobbi Fisher is one of the books faculties could read and discuss as a form of professional development, in a book discussion group. Administrators, what do you think?
vinni - In NYC the administrators are getting younger and have less teaching experience. Do you think this hurts teaching? They haven't been practitioners long enough.
Kathleen - Bobbi, is there anything more teachers can be doing to help students develop the skills necessary for implementing a good balance of healthy introspection, commitment to responsibilities, and care of self (without becoming too self-centered)?
Bobbi - Kathleen, that's a question that I'm beginning to explore. Helping children deal with stress is mentioned in the book, but more work needs to be done in this area.
cathy - the experience and confidence is what we all need. your books help so much...thanks.
Evelyn - Resilience - is this coming back every year or continued training to be the best?
Kathleen - Well, helping children become reflective, perhaps through writing (writing that is not read by others) would be helpful
Kathleen - Bobbi Fisher is the author of Joyful Learning in Kindergarten; Perspectives on Shared Reading -Planning and Practice (with daughter Emily Fisher Medvic); Inside the Classroom -Teaching Kindergarten and First Grade; The Teacher Book -Finding Personal and Professional Balance; Thinking and Learning Together, all published by Heinemann http://www.heinemann.com
cathy - bobbi, can you talk about STAYING centered amidst all the back and forth trends, whims, etc.
Charlene - How do you achieve personal and professional balance? I tend to bring sooooo much to do ( paperwork etc. home with me)
Bobbi - Charlene, Try to decide what you need to do to feel comfortable. Some teachers only work during the week. Others said they only work for three hours on the weekend.
Bobbi - When i taught first grader I had the children write/draw about a stressful situation, such as one on the playground. By the time they had finished, they were relaxed and didn't need to talk about it.
Addie/MO - kat, i think another way that children can be helped to be more reflective is when we ask them how they feel about what they have accomplished or done...or how they did it, rather than saying "good job" and showing our approval or training kids to work for our approval
Kathleen - Bobbi, you mention that it's helpful to spend time with positive people, that makes sense. What do others think?
Kathleen - true addie, helping them become aware of their emotions
Charlene - I tend to gravitate toward positive people. It helps me be more positive.
Evelyn - I agree positive people make a difference in your everyday work. I have a negative teacher in my school that I avoid. Nothing works right for her but she still teaches. I teach and adjust to whatever needs to be done to teach the children
Addie/MO - i agree that spending time with positive people is important....they can make you see the "bright side" when you are down. i have a teacher friend who is like that...if something is wrong or i am concerned about something, i respect her judgement and she always has a positive view. and she will tell you what she thinks, not necessarily what you want to hear.
Kathleen - Does everyone find the Internet helpful for finding support that resolves some stress?
cathy - this year especially is challenging, and i'm having trouble finding balance. also, the atmosphere at school is not positive, so we are all stressed.
Bobbi - Wow, I love hearing about positive people. Of course, with the negative teachers, we can be upbeat with them. Maybe it will wear off on them.
Evelyn - Yes Kathleen, often I can help others on the internet that I do not have time to talk to at school personally. Joining teacher chat rooms helps.
Kathleen - e-mail is a terrific tool for keeping us in touch with others, for mentoring and support, counseling and friendship
MR - Negative people are "toxic" and this effect can drain my energy. I stay clear of these kinds of people
Addie/MO - i do....i have made some real friendships on line and sometimes it is easier to vent about something when you know that the person you are telling doesn't know "who" you are talking about or has any interest in telling others what you said
Evelyn - Bobbi how much time do you share on the internet?
Kathleen - Bobbi, do you agree that the Internet is relieving some of teachers' stress by removing the isolation that is so much a part of the job?
Bobbi - Maybe I've already said this, but a positive school atmosphere starts with us. We can choose to be positive and not buy into whining etc.
Addie/MO - bobbi, that is true, it is kind of like church...you go their to fellowship with like-minded believers, but that doesn't mean that you never reach out to others who may not share your beliefs
Kathleen - Bobbi, good advice.
Bobbi - By all means, the internet helps relieve stress. I've emailed with so many teacher and many have said that they feel better getting it out to a "stranger".
Kathleen - I'm sorry to say that the hour is over. Thank you Bobbi for sharing your time with us, and for a book that will be a comfort and aid to many.
Kathleen - Be sure to read Bobbi's article in the October Gazette at http://teachers.net/gazette
Addie/MO - thanks so much for being here, bobbi and thank-you kat, for hosting :-)
Evelyn - Thanks you too from another teacher learning to be centered.
MR - This has been great! I'm going to buy her new book tonight!
Bobbi - My pleasure, Kathleen. I'd be happy to hear from any of you. Befjoyful@aol.com Start the day tomorrow with a song for your kids. Bobbi
Kathleen - Good night all!
