First year teachers are frequently warned about the impending school health issues during the first year in the classroom. Teacher’s health is directly impacted by the children’s health, causing many first year teachers to fall ill several times during the school year. While getting a flu shot may help, there are other things that can be done to improve a teacher’s health during that first year of teaching.
Understand the School Health Policy
It is important to have a conversation with the school administration to find out the school health policy. This should include a conversation about child health and when to send a child to the nurse, as well as how much notice is required or preferred for calling a substitute when the teacher’s health fails.
Many teachers try to work through illness and yet doing so may in fact be detrimental to their health, as well as the health of their students and co-workers. If a teacher's health is in question, it would be prudent for him or her to remain at home in order to prevent the spread of germs. Parents should be encouraged to do the same with their children who become sick so that the illness does not spread through the classroom.
Managing Stress to Protect Teacher’s Health
Stress has a huge impact on a teacher’s health, and first year teachers are surrounded by opportunities for stress. Through learning the curriculum, how to write lesson plans, classroom management and paperwork, many first year teachers are desperate for a little bit of stress relief.
Finding ways to manage that stress will not only allow the teacher to have an easier first year in the classroom but remain healthier at the same time. Here are some tips for managing stress in the classroom:
- Exercise frequently
- Practice deep breathing exercises to remain calm and stress free
- When not at school, take a break from school
- Manage time well in order to bring home as little work as possible
Teacher’s Health Impacted by Children’s Health
Teachers are exposed to every illness their students bring into the classroom. It is vital for the teachers’ health that they teach their students how to prevent the spread of illness. This includes:
- Covering your mouth when you cough
- Sneeze into your elbow
- Wash your hands frequently
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds to kill germs
- Stand several feet back from anyone who is sick
Preserving teacher’s health should be a top priority for every professional in the school building. New teachers can do their part to remain healthy by understanding the schools health policy, managing stress and teaching their students how to prevent the spread of germs.
Learn about the Swine Flu's effect on local schools. You may also be interested in a lesson idea for teaching children about germs.
Find more tips for first year teachers.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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