A constant thing I see in fellow teachers and something I had to overcome is a lack of confidence when it comes to having authority in the classroom. 

We get stuck thinking things like, “Am I cut out for this?”, “Will they ever listen to me?”or just negative thoughts about yourself and your students.

When you’re unsure how to navigate these thoughts, it’s hard to move forward. 

The good news is, you can easily bring order to the chaos by meeting your students where they’re at, and shifting your mindset to positive. You are cut out for this. You just have to believe it. 

In this post, I’ll define how to practically pinpoint what the issue is and give solutions for these issues by providing 3 points for you to walk through. I hope that this will give you a roadmap so you can get started with taking back control of your classroom and give you and  your students an environment to thrive.

What is the perfect mindset to have as a thriving teacher?

Sometimes teachers have a little bit of a fixed mindset when it comes to groups of students or their class. Of course everyone would prefer to always get a class where connections are easy and students get along great right off the bat - but the reality is that that’s not always the case. It’s important to keep in mind though, just because you may have a high needs class or a class who needs a little more support when it comes to certain skills, doesn't mean you can't have a thriving classroom community and school year. 

In other words:

We really need teachers to lean into the notion of meeting their classroom of students where they are at, and celebrating all that they are capable of. Once we can shift our mindset surrounding our group of students, we can really contribute to our collective growth as a class. 

The added benefit is that your students will feel this shift and start to feel more comfortable with you and their classmates. The key is knowing you have the authority to shift the atmosphere. You have the ability to determine the outcome of your classroom, it’s just keeping your mindset at the right place and creating habits that allow you and your students to thrive. The reality is, we can do this!

4 Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back From Loving Your Class

The first step to the solution is defining what issues there are. Is it all a mindset thing? Is it a lack of confidence? Or is it habits you have created in the classroom that aren’t aiding you anymore?

This is a crucial component because in order to get to the other side, we have to understand what we’re overcoming. 

A practical way you can begin understanding the problem is to start writing down repeating thoughts you have. 

Here are 4 actual statements that many teachers have thought or are thinking:

“They will never listen to me”

“They will never respect me or eachother”

“They don’t care about school or learning”

“They are just bad”

Do any of these resonate with you? What are other thoughts you think about your class? Or maybe you struggle with degrading thoughts about yourself more. Either way, writing all of these thought patterns down will help you identify the issues you are having and strike ideas for improvement. 

If you have ever felt that, let’s talk about how we can overcome those beliefs to support you in becoming the teacher you have always wanted to be. 

Becoming more self-aware

Self-awareness is key. Going along with component one, asking yourself questions and truly reflecting is a huge part of getting your classroom to the place you want it to be at. 

A big part of the heart-centered classroom programs is reflection. When teachers are able to sit down and reflect or check-in with themselves, they can bring awareness to all that they are feeling and best ways to move forward in a positive way.

Asking ourselves things like, “How are things in my classroom currently making me feel?” “Why might these things be sparking those feelings for me?” “How can I support myself through those moments?” “How can I meet my students where they are at with the skills they have right now?” “How can I guide my students to support each other along the way?” “Where can I give myself grace?” “What is something that's going well and how can we continue that?” “What is something we need to improve upon as a class and how can we work together on this?” 

If you’ve spent hours implementing new habits and routines but something still feels off – like you’re not getting results you’re aiming for, awareness of how you are actually feeling and your needs is likely the missing piece. 

Without this, you can do all the right things on paper and still not feel fulfilled in your classroom because you’re trying to fix all the wrong things.

So set aside time. Maybe it’s a Saturday you mark on your calendar as a day of reflection. Or maybe each year you take a weekend getaway to just really understand your needs. You spend every day of your life serving your students and meeting their needs. It’s so important to be aware of your own needs and desires.

Creating New Habits to Thrive

Now that you understand the problem, your needs, and how you truly feel; now you can implement. It’s time to recenter yourself, and take care of yourself as you lead your class throughout the school year.

In order to take good care of our students the way we want, we have to learn to set aside time to take care of ourselves. Understanding that when we feel our best, we are giving the best version of ourselves to our students - this is what they really need. The worn down, beaten version of ourselves is only harming not only ourselves, but our students also.  

What does this practically look like? What are things you can carve out time for each day that are dedicated to you? What can we do to support ourselves that will help us support our students and be in the best mindset for them so we aren't as easily triggered? And even when we are triggered, how can we best support ourselves through those tough moments, etc.

Here’s where you’ll really start to see things in your classroom shift. It is so important for your class as a whole to see you doing good and enjoying your job. But that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes effort to put yourself first and do things that are fueling you. It takes creating habits and sticking to them, even in the chaos throughout the school year. 

Here are some practical tips to feel better throughout your day in the classroom:

• Always stay hydrated. Bring your favorite bottle of water with you and be diligent about refilling it throughout the day. It’s a little thing that creates big success. 
• Bring your own lunch and snack that fuels you and you actually enjoy eating. 
• Take breaks. Ensure short breaks throughout your day to reflect and recharge. Even if it’s just 5 minutes, it goes a long way. 

Once you have habits that are fueling you, you will see a huge difference in the way you feel and think. I’m excited for you to go on this journey of figuring out how to take care of you. 

Putting it All Together for Success in the Classroom

There you have it! The 3 components to taking back control of the thoughts holding you and your classroom back. 

It may sound like a lot, but like most things practice makes perfect. Taking it day by day, task by task will help you not feel overwhelmed. My hope is that these steps will help you have a positive mindset toward your classroom and create an environment where everyone thrives. 

What’s next? Download The Active Educator Shopping Guide.

You are transforming your mindset, so transforming your classroom is a breeze. As you uplevel your world as a teacher, it is easy to think you need all the things teacher influencers talk about all the time. In reality, your classroom is yours for a reason. Only get what you need!

If you need help getting started defining what that is, my Active Educator Shopping Guide will help you find the best resources to help your students so you can confidently equip your classroom (and yourself) to thrive.

>> Click here to download The Active Educator Shopping Guide now 

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