Doing these classes!
Which is to say, finding the time in my already packed workday. But multi-tasking is good!
At least this class itself is not stressful! ^_^
That would have worked well in a convential school situation but I am in a post high school vocational school that hires teachers that were in the field rather than teachers that were professionally trained.So, I had a learning curvealong with learning the course load.
Stress at work can be caused by a large amount of work with limited time to complete it, conflicting personalities with students or co-workers, or possibly by having to teach a course that is unfamiliar.
Stressors from work ~ changing program from quarter hours to clock hours and now having to teach the course at an accelerated porcess
Stressors from home ~ Bills :)
I'm stressed with juggling going to school and working as an instructor.
teenagers can cause a great deal of stress I have 4 teenagers and 2 preteens. talk about stress
-managing workload...trying to meet student needs and expectations
-caring for a three year and infant...I am hoping that this is a termporary stress
-travel...logistical as during the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) we will have driven close to 4000 miles visiting friends and family
ALYSON, Oh wow. That sounds really tough. It's nice to know that the stress is temporary, in that your teens and preteens will eventually become adults. I know that must feel like a long way away though.
Dr. Melissa Read
I have sacrificed a life led in pursuit of greater financial gains to pursue a life that is balanced, I am divorced and have no children so it is with great confidence that I can say I really have no stressors in mky life other than the occaional workplace stressor ehich I handle during my alone time. Balance in life is of utmost importance to me and I feel I need to have time for family/friends, Work, and myself equally.
Most if not all of my stress comes from the logistical arena. tryng to get to many different jobs and putting on different but somewhat related "hats" makes me crazy! Many times I have to stop, take a couple of deep breaths, get my thoughts together and then push ahead.
Stresses at work:
Grading papers on time
Requirements that are not in the classroom
Stresses at home:
Housework
Family
Stress can be dangerous. Some people think it's productivity when in actuality it can damage you.
Linda, I can understand where you are coming from. Must have been a tough place to start in. However, over time, I imagine you got better. As you say, it was a learning curve.
Dr. Melissa Read
My all have to due with time and distractions.
I have a habit of thinking I can be anywhere on the planet in 15 minutes.
Not so much.
Distractions working at home, and working on campus with students catching you in the hall with questions when you have 5 minutes to get to the next class or meeting.
I'm going to start working with a timer and hope that our campus brings workshop time back so we have more time to help kids out of the class schedule.
One of the stressor is that in hospitals no perticular space is alloted for students to place their books and belonging. Other is commuting long distances and working 12 hour shifts which become almost 13 hours.
Many times getting students in higher terms who are not proficient in previous terms skills.
Debbie, Stopping for a moment, and taking a step back, sounds like a great technique for you. A lot of instructors find that they are far more effective when they use this method. Often, this allows us to "respond" instead of "react."
Dr. Melissa Read
My stressors are:
So many needs and people pressing for my time and attention.
Family situations and illnesses.
Financial pressure.
Conflicts in the workplace.
One area that definitely stresses me out are students who feel the need to do their own thing and not following along with the class. They miss exams, projects, homework assignments, etc… What I have done to reduce that stress, is I only allow make-ups on certain days and certain times. This way I am not running around chasing these students to make up their work. The other thing I do is reduce the number of points they can receive on a project or assignment, so the longer they are late they more it hurts their grade. This for the most part works. Like I said I do things to reduce stress, this stress will never go away.
When determining objectives for a course, there are times that material focuses too much on board questions.
In the personal category--spouse being ill with chronic disability. Also the demanding schedule is a factor when the instructor is approaching mid 60's or older--stress can result in both short-term and long-term illnesses.
Frustration from being controlled by another entity. Not having a say in policies and procedures and the educational material. This is organizational.
