Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher's Field Guide.

This week, we're tackling a challenge that many teachers face: staying true to yourself while managing teacher workload and meeting the demands of a high-pressure profession. 

If you've ever felt like you're wearing a mask in the classroom or losing touch with who you really are, this one's for you!

Let's jump in...

The Authenticity Challenge: When Teaching Takes Over

This newsletter is one I’ve been wanting to write for a long time…

For years, I thought being a "good teacher" meant becoming a different person in the classroom.

I'd put on my "teacher voice," suppress my natural reactions and perform a role. Sound familiar?

While this might seem like a professional approach, research shows it's actually a fast track to teacher burnout and emotional exhaustion.

The constant effort of maintaining this facade – what psychologists call "emotional labour" – gradually disconnected me from my authentic self. And I spent so much energy trying to be the "perfect teacher" that I forgot who I was beyond the classroom.

But here's the thing: your authenticity isn't a liability – it's your greatest asset as an educator.

As we explored in our article on moving from crisis to confidence, building genuine self-belief starts with embracing who you really are.

Here are three evidence-based strategies to help you reconnect with your authentic self while maintaining your professional edge...

3 Ways To Embrace Your Authentic Teacher Self

1. Values Mapping: Aligning Your Actions With Your Truth

Start by understanding what truly matters to you. When our daily actions align with our core values, we feel more authentic and energized.

Here's an example from my own values map:

Value: Creativity

• Morning routine: Start lessons with an unexpected question or activity

• Weekly practice: Try one new teaching approach every Thursday

• Planning focus: Build in student choice and creative expression

Value: Connection

• Daily habit: Have one genuine conversation with a colleague

• Lesson structure: Include pair discussions before whole-class sharing

• Personal practice: Share appropriate stories from my own learning journey

Value: Growth

• Regular reflection: Keep a quick "lessons learned" note on my phone

• Professional development: Choose CPD that excites me, not just what's expected

• Student feedback: Ask for honest input about what helps them learn best

The key is identifying small, manageable ways to express your values within existing routines. Research shows that this kind of value-based action significantly reduces stress and improves work-life balance.

Try this values-mapping exercise:

1. List your top 5 personal values

2. For each value, identify:

   • One small daily action

   • One weekly practice

   • One longer-term commitment

3. Review your teaching day and find natural moments to integrate these actions

4. Start with just one value and build gradually

2. The Authentic Voice Practice

Finding your authentic voice doesn't mean sharing everything or ignoring professional boundaries. It means expressing yourself genuinely within appropriate contexts to reduce teacher stress and prevent burnout.

It’s about staying true to being you…

Start small:

• Choose one "low-stakes" situation daily to express your genuine thoughts

• Use "I" statements to own your perspective

• Practice constructive authenticity in staff meetings

• Gradually extend this to more challenging situations

Remember, authenticity builds trust. When you're real with your students and colleagues, you create space for genuine connections.

3. Identity Integration: Bridging The Personal-Professional Gap

Stop thinking of your "teacher self" and "real self" as separate entities. You're one person with many facets.

Try this daily practice:

• Identify one strength that serves you both in and out of school

• Find small ways to bring your personal interests into your teaching

• Create clear boundaries that protect rather than divide your authentic self

• Celebrate moments when being "you" enhanced your teaching

Remember, authenticity isn't about being perfect – it's about being real. Your students don't need another perfect teacher; they need a real person who can model authenticity, resilience, and growth.

What Are You Waiting For?

We believe that teachers achieve extraordinary things under challenging circumstances and that we all deserve to be valued, supported and celebrated.

That's what this newsletter is all about.

If you haven't subscribed yet, why not join the Marigold community? You'll get weekly strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, avoiding burnout and flourishing as a person, not just a teacher.

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A Genuine Thank You For All You Do

Remember, your authenticity isn't just good for you – it's a gift to your students and colleagues. By being genuinely you, you're showing others it's okay to be themselves too.

The pressure to be perfect can be overwhelming, but when that happens, remember you're already making a difference just by being your authentic self in the classroom.

Here's a quick reminder of our strategies for authentic teaching:

Remember, you're more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

You're you. And that's all you need to be.