Students are not prepared for class. Many of them cannot do simple math problems that are required for subject understanding.
I teach at a tech. school and what gives me stress is students that don't want to be here.. They do everything in their power to disrupt the learnings that are happening. In my personal life the fact that I'm 48 yrs. old and single really stress's me out!!! for work I'm using the education mgr. to help me try to keep the students that don't want to be there in line and I've joined a gym to help relieve the stress.
In addition to teaching, I own and manage a family owned business. Currently I am engaged in selling a home in a poor economy and a world filled with much uncertainty. Our only son is about to graduate from college and the demands there seem to be unending. He is extremely succussful and he is juggling many responsibilities. We are a close family and we share one another's burdens. I find that many of the students I teach seem uninterested in anything, class, school or anything else. I often sense their despair and feelings of hopelessness. They are unable to follow the simplest of instructions and consistently miss deadlines. They appear not to care. I often feel that I am wasting my time, but I try to remember that more is being communicated and absorbed than is evident at the present time.
Hi Melissa,
Great question! I feel that I have a lot of stressors in my life. Some of them include:
Children
Education
Work
Making time for friends
Bills
These are just to name a few. I am sure that there are many other causes of stress in my life. I feel that everyone has to deal with stressors, whether they are millionaires, or living paycheck to paycheck. Everyone just needs to learn how to deal with their stress. I think that this is also different from person to person. Some of the ways that I deal with stress are:
Exercising
Going in my hot tub
Reading a book
Doing crossword puzzles
Watching television
I hope that you have all enjoyed my main post for our discussion!
Amber K.
Hi Megan,
I also agree with you. I think that if there was more time to get all of our daily duties done that we would be able to be less stressed out on a daily basis. I have started to write down (as a checklist) all of the things that I have to get done on a piece of paper, this helps because you can feel like you have accomplished something by checking areas off.
Thank you and I enjoyed reading your post. Hope this helps!
Amber K.
ibelieve not enough time away will cause a lot of stress
Hi Jeff,
You are in a tough situation and I wish you the best in working through it. You are trying to take care of yourself and that is important for the long haul.
Gary
Hi Roy,
I like your attitude because you are looking at the big picture. I have the same type of students and if I dwell on how short sighted they are I can become discouraged. By looking at the future when some of them will be able to make contributions to their field I get excited and ready to start another class.
Gary
I find if i am not organized it is stressful, if i am unable to deliver a report on time i am stressed. I have grown to not stress over the little things, bills and complaints as those are things i cant control and dont try to. The major stressor in my career is completing classes for my degree, i have given myself a time line to complete and i am behind.
Hi Alphia,
Good for you in terms of completing your degree. Don't let that get away from you no matter how stressful live may become. It will be with you forever and once you get it some of the stress will be relieved. Keep up the good spirits.
Gary
The primary sources of my stress seems to come from health and family issues. I just found out at Christmas that I am a diabetic. Trying to figure out how to properly control my blood sugar has been a challenge.
I am also trying to take additional college courses in mathematics in order to teach math courses at our local community college. I am good at teaching math, but I really hate taking math classes myself.
My newest stress is trying to figure out how to manipulate the college's online program. I am going to teach a blended course in a couple of days, and I am still not quite sure of what I am doing.
I am a local Girl Scout leader for the past 35 years. I have found that my time with the teenagers is a great stress reducer. I really enjoy watching these teenagers grow into strong, responsible young women.
Dealing with administration at the college I work with is definitely a big stressor. I tend to be a very efficient person who likes to plan things well in advance, but in this setting things are often thrown upon us at the last second. While this will not change, I need to become better able to deal with this by letting go of some of my need for control and the immediacy in which I feel I need to do things. This module was very helpful in making me realize the cause of my stress, how it was affecting me, and some coping strategies to help deal with the stress that I cannot eliminate.
Hi Theresa,
Sorry to hear of all your stress contributors but great to hear about your involvement with community leadership as a Girl Scout leader. You are using your instructor skills in a volunteer setting and you know you are helping young women in their journey to adulthood. Keep that focus as you deal with health, time and course issues. These other factors will level out and you will be able to achieve the goals you have set for yourself both professionally and personally.
Gary
Hi Tanya,
Keep looking for the positives and you will be able to overcome or at least get around some of the stressors that come up as a result of your campus setting.
Gary
I am both a mother and an instructor. Sometimes, it is stressful to juggle all of my work tasks (grading, prepping, etc.) with my personal responsibilities (laundry, cooking, cleaning, kid's homework, familial duties) I do, however, already implement several of the coping strategies highlighted in the module, as non of these responsibilities are negotiable.
Sounds like you have things under control Micka. And you're right. Sometimes stress is negotiable. Other times it's really not. In your situation, stressors can't be eliminated.
I exercise to reduce stress half hour four times a week this also helps to increase viality and alertnessv and reduces fatuge
Wow, it's great to hear that you can fit that much exercise into your schedule Randolph. Great work!
The stressors I experience on a daily bases are work and personal. When looking at the stressors related to work it tends to be dealing with student and faculty complaints, workplace noise, such as construction, opening and closing of doors, etc., and returning phone calls and e-mails. All of these stressors become elivated when I feel tired or drained. When looking at personal stressors it would tend to be getting home on time. Everyday I try to set a time range of when I will be home to have my personal time with my family. When I do not meet this time due to work, traffic, or something else it not only causes stress on my but also my family. Daily check lists and routines make it easier but when you are a Dean of large school sometimes things just happen! :)
I am a full time instructor and also have a business .
Juggling both of these is very stressful
the ever changing demands of administration, the demanding needs of the students and the expectations of the business in this economic climate sometimes seems overwhelming
I have instituted a wellness plan in my life to eat healthy, exercise etc..
On the homefront managing a household also seems to be overwhelming- always something that needs to be done when you are a homeowner
