October. Survival mode!
Well, the honeymoon is over. If you’ve taught for even a few years, you know what I’m talking about. At the beginning of the year, the students are excited, everything is new, maybe they don’t know too many friends. They are trying to make a good impression with good behavior and doing their best work.
And then…
They have met and reconnected with friends, so they are more talkative. They are pushing boundaries to see how far you’ll bend. And if you teach littles, they get excited about Halloween, a bit early, in our opinion!
Line this up with the phase you are in - survival mode! School and district systems may not be set up properly quite yet and you may still be learning names. Maybe you have way more students enrolled in each class than ever, or maybe too few, yikes! Schedule changes? Still possible, right? Extra duties, open house, football games, marching season. You may feel like taking a sick day, even if you’re not sick.
My advice - First, know that you are not alone. Many music teachers feel like this in October. Keep reinforcing those routines and expectations with practice, over and over if needed. However, if something is really not working, don’t stick with it. You can always try something new, re-evaluate and brainstorm another solution.
Second, take care of yourself. Go to bed an hour earlier as much as you can. Write a list at night of what to tackle the next day; this can get all those racing thoughts out of your head and allow for better sleep. Schedule a massage. Make sure you get the nutrients you need; real food, not a cup of coffee and something from the vending machine for lunch.
Third, find someone to talk to. I know that finding another music teacher as a mentor is difficult. Sometimes you are the only one in your building. Most teachers have packed schedules themselves. Maybe you can get some great ideas from the music teacher in the neighboring school or district. It’s worth asking.
If you have trouble finding a mentor, my first session is free. I’d love to help you do some problem-solving!
Your work in music teaching is important! Have a great October!