Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide.

If you’re a new subscriber, it’s wonderful to see you. For the next few minutes, you’re allowed to stop giving to others and start giving to yourself instead!

This week, we’re thinking about the approaches you can take to not only boost your resilience but to build a life-long resilience strategy to underpin your life and work.

Let’s jump in…

I’m Too Busy ‘Getting Through’ To Build Resilience

For a long time, I assumed that because I was doing my job successfully, I was naturally resilient.

Both of those assumptions were wrong.

I was a busy teacher, head of year and member of SLT. Days, nights and weekends were long and rich with challenges. I was overworked and undervalued and too busy to look after myself or actually do anything well.

But to myself and my colleagues, I was a success.

I was still smiling at the end of the week and still standing at the end of term.

I was getting good results. I was meeting deadlines. I could always be relied upon.

I always said yes.

I’d been indoctrinated to think that this should be the norm in teaching. And I totally missed the point that my commitment to work was taking a devastating toll on my personal life, health and holistic wellbeing.

I’d never stopped to think that resilience was something that needed to be learned, applied and reflected upon. I never knew that I was allowed to build a career and a life at the same time and that one didn’t have to preclude the other.

That might sound naive to you, but it was the truth I lived every day for many years.

And it’s how hundreds of thousands of teachers around the world still feel.

Ultimately, change came slowly, through a growing combination of self-awareness and study. I changed the way I work, but I also changed the way I live, because becoming a resilient teacher means becoming a resilient person first.

So, here’s a way of thinking about developing resilience that I hope speaks to you and gives you the tools to make that same change…

7 Strategies For Staying Resilient In The Classroom And Beyond

Resilience-building is an essential part of being a flourishing teacher’s toolkit.

It takes an ongoing personal commitment, but once you’ve understood that resilience is about learning how to avoid stress rather than learning how to bounce back from it, you realise it’s at the heart of your capacity to navigate the complex demands of life and work as an educator.

The pathways to ongoing resilience will look different for every teacher, so sharing specific strategies doesn’t always work. But Dr Kenneth Ginsburg’s work on child and human development is central to identifying seven critical factors that can help us build our reserves.

They’ve helped us and many of our 1:1 coaching clients structure approaches to a personal resilience strategy that makes a tangible difference in the real world.

I’ve summarised them here, with a particular focus on the way that teachers can apply them…

The Seven C’s of Teacher Resilience

1. Competence: Teachers who feel competent and take pride and responsibility for their ongoing learning as educators are more likely to feel effective and successful in the classroom. This involves having a strong understanding of their subject matter, pedagogical skills, and classroom management techniques. When teachers feel competent, they are better equipped to handle challenges and adapt to changing circumstances. This reduces stress and anxiety at home and at work and makes you better equipped to manage teaching’s inherent challenges. When did you last actively and independently research your subject or teaching approach because you wanted to learn FOR YOU?

2. Confidence: Teachers with high confidence are more likely to persevere through difficulties and setbacks. In fact, they’re less likely to see challenges as difficulties and more likely to see them as challenges. Overcoming a challenge can be a much greater source of pride than ‘getting through a difficult time’. This confidence stems from a belief in one's ability to teach effectively and make a positive impact on students. Teachers can build confidence by reflecting on our successes, seeking feedback from mentors, and setting achievable goals. Which aspects of your teaching are you most confident about, and what can you do to build confidence in your personal and professional life?

3. Connection: Strong relationships with colleagues, administrators, and students can provide essential support and a sense of belonging. It’s at the heart of everything we advocate at Marigold Teachers. When you feel connected to a place and the people within it, you feel empowered to do your best work. So reaching out to share your concerns and celebrate your achievements will help you to build your resilience quicker than just about any other strategy. When you feel supported and valued, you’re likely to work more effectively and positively and suffer from less insecurity and anxiety as a result. When was the last time you felt so supported that making a mistake didn’t cause you stress?

4. Character: Acting with integrity and fairness builds trust and respect from students, colleagues, and parents. Teachers who demonstrate good character are more likely to create a positive and productive learning environment. This is all about identifying and living your values as a teacher and a person. When you know what you stand for, and you live that truth from a place of authenticity, you quickly build your resilience. This is because you’re committing to the value of your impact in school, rather than seeing it as a burden. What’s important to you about teaching, and what’s equally important about the way you want to live a healthy and balanced life? How do these combine?

5. Contribution: Feeling that our work makes a difference is a powerful motivator for teachers. We can find a sense of contribution by connecting our work to students' long-term success and by participating in school-wide initiatives. This doesn’t mean giving everything every hour of the day - that’s the absolute opposite of building resilience - but it does mean connecting with the purpose and impact of your work. When you allow yourself to recognise and celebrate the transformations for which you are responsible, and to take pride in the value of your contribution as a teacher, you’ll also develop the capacity to thrive rather than survive.

6. Coping: Effective coping skills help us all manage stress and adversity at school and at home. And they work best when they’re applied as part of a cohesive, purposeful strategy that puts the person first and the teacher second. These skills might include relaxation techniques, time management strategies, a focus on nutrition and exercise, and seeking support from others. There’s no argument that by developing strong coping skills, teachers can maintain their wellbeing and avoid burnout. How do you take personal responsibility for your emotional and physical wellbeing, even when the professional pressure is on? Is wellbeing something you think about or practise? If not, why not?

7. Control: Teachers who focus on what they can control rather than what they cannot feel more empowered. Consequently, they’re less likely to become emotionally exhausted and more able to manage the line between life and work. This takes a great deal of work and is, for many educators, the most challenging aspect of self-knowledge and authenticity. But it’s entirely achievable. By letting go of what is outside their control, teachers can reduce stress and focus their energy on making a positive impact. You can only control your own thoughts, actions and responses. You can’t control the behaviour, emotions or intentions of people or institutions, family or society. How often do you spend time and energy worrying about things and people you have no control over, and what can you do to reduce this attitude?

By nurturing the seven C’s of teacher resilience, you’ll be better placed to navigate the challenges of the teaching profession and create a more positive and fulfilling life/work balance.

And that leads to being able to sustain three things: a rewarding and impactful career, a flourishing personal life and a valuable sense of personal and professional perspective.

It’s exactly what I wish someone had told me when I started my teaching career…

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.

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Thank You For Everything

We’re both teachers. We know how challenging it can be.

And we also know the extraordinary personal qualities and professional dedication it takes to do the job.

So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all you do.

The millions of little things that no one sees but that make a difference.

The hundred of huge things that transform lives.

You’re an extraordinary person, and we don’t want you to ever forget it.

Here’s the takeaway from today…

In next week’s issue, we’ll be thinking about self-care, offering practical, actionable strategies that will fit your teaching lifestyle and thinking about the power of rewards!

Until then, remember, you’re more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

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