Welcome to the very first issue of The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide.

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What’s it all about?

As it’s our first issue, we wanted to introduce ourselves and give you a fuller sense of what The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide is all about.

We’re both teachers, and we’ve also been department heads, heads of year, and held senior management positions in schools in the UK.

We’re also former colleagues and great friends.

We’ve both struggled to overcome burnout, manage emotional exhaustion, and implement sustainable wellbeing strategies whilst working in education.

So, this newsletter is a way for us to give back a little of what we’ve learned about teacher wellbeing, support and inspire others, and build a global community of positivity in teaching.

Let’s jump in…

We’re Your Marigolds

Rebecca and David founded Marigold Teachers in October 2023. We write The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide, create content for all our social media channels and build resources to help teachers everywhere go from burned out to fired up.

Here’s a deep dive…

Rebecca

I’ve been a teacher since 2016, and have worked with EYFS, children and young people since 2007. That’s thousands of learners from 0 to 18! Working across multiple departments, I’ve been a classroom teacher in both the state and independent sectors, led countless trips, lived in boarding houses and been a Head of Department since 2017. I’m an ECT mentor and regular buddy to new members of staff, so I must be doing something right.

I’m absolutely convinced that the time I spent working in hospital wards and in palliative care prior to working in schools has profoundly impacted my approach to teaching. Understanding the value of respect, dignity and empathy in both contexts can be life-changing.

After having my first child, I realised that I didn’t know how to be a parent and a full-time teacher. I didn’t understand how to give myself to my job AND be a mum. It’s taken a good chunk of time to realise I don’t HAVE to give ALL of myself to be a good teacher, and nor should I. By changing my habits, listening to what I need as a human being and discovering new ways to flourish, I’ve learned how to become a great teacher AND a great mum, and I want to share the secrets to that new-found sense of balance with other teachers around the world.

David

After graduating, I worked as an actor and musician before getting involved in youth theatre and theatre-in-education. From there, I gained my PGCE and began teaching in the Sixth Form sector, going from NQT to Department Head in less than a term (long story). Remaining in similar management roles for the next decade or so, I taught learners ranging from those in reception to adult education, so I developed a pretty wide spread of skills and experiences.

I’ve also worked as a Head of Y11, Head of Sixth Form, EDI lead and member of SMT, in addition to maintaining a teaching role. More recently, I’ve established a Higher Education consultancy practice, built a freelance writing career, become an accredited life coach.

I always thought of myself as a dedicated teacher, but looking back, I realise I wasn’t a very dedicated human. I definitely lived to work. I defined myself almost entirely in relation to my professional roles. And that’s OK, until real life catches up with you, and you realise that th ose achievements actually count for very little. I’m now passionate about helping teachers gain a life/work balance which is satisfying, sustainable and successful.

Now that you’ve found out a bit more about us, let’s show you how we can help…

The Marigold Teachers Mission

First things first.

We believe that teachers are extraordinary people who achieve wonderful things, often under extremely challenging circumstances.

Each and every one of us deserves to be supported and celebrated.

You deserve to feel positive about your role, to be proud of the transformative impact you have on the young people in your care, and to enjoy your job.

But…

How often do teachers actually feel that way?

When we stopped and thought about it, we rarely shared that viewpoint.

Why?

We were caught in the whirlwind. Overwhelmed by pressure, negativity and workload.

Not once did we get taught how to look after ourselves.

How to set boundaries.

How to thrive.

If you’re feeling that way, we see you. And we’re here for you.

Here’s our mission…

The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide

A ‘marigold teacher’ is someone who nurtures, encourages and inspires others. Just like the flower nourishes the plants around it.

So, think of The Fourishing Teacher’s Field Guide as your own personal marigold. It’ll give you the support you need to thrive in today’s challenging education sector.

Specifically, each issue will:

• Be a positive and genuinely celebratory 5 minutes in your busy week.

• Offer you value in the form of information and actionable advice.

• Support you and engage you in a positive teaching community.

We’re here to help.

So, if you’ve got any questions, thoughts, suggestions or experiences to share, please get in touch with us. Use this contact form to drop us a line, or email us directly at [email protected].

How Affirmations Changed My Life

When I was at my lowest ebb as a teacher, I started using daily affirmations. They helped me transform my mindset, my self-belief and, most critically, the way I framed the world around me.

Critically, they’re quick, easy and dynamic.

And they work!

What’s an Affirmation?

A spoken affirmation is a positive statement that you say to yourself, either out loud or in your head (although out loud works far better for me). They can be used to boost your self-confidence, motivation and overall wellbeing, but I found that I used them to help me control my reactions to the things that were happening around me at work.

I was having trouble disconnecting myself from the demands of my teaching job, and I was increasingly anxious about what I perceived as a failure to achieve the goals I set for myself.

By finding the right affirmations, and repeating them, I was able to gradually combat and resolve those anxieties.

To use a spoken affirmation, simply choose a positive statement to focus on. Then, repeat it to yourself regularly, throughout the day. You can do this while you're brushing your teeth, driving your car, or even setting up your classroom.

Here are some examples of some simple spoken affirmations:

How do affirmations work?

Affirmations are effective because they help to reprogram your subconscious mind. When you repeat a positive statement to yourself over and over again, your mind starts to believe it. This can lead to changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

There is a growing body of research that supports the use of affirmations. For example, a study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found that people who repeated affirmations to themselves performed better on cognitive tasks than those who did not.

Another study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that affirmations can help to reduce stress and anxiety.

As holistic psychologist Dr Nicole LePera suggests…

You’ll need to write your own affirmations.

We’re all unique, and we’re all facing different challenges. However, here are my three favourite personal examples.

Hand on heart, I can say that these affirmations are the ones that really made a profound difference to my wellbeing and my worldview…

• I am a powerful creator of my own life experience and I can choose how I respond to the world around me.

• My past does not define me. My future is today.

• I forgive myself.

These might not seem related to teaching. But that’s the point. You’re a person first and a teacher second.

Top Tips for Affirmation Success

• Choose affirmations that resonate with you and reflect the way you want to think, rather than how you feel right now.

• Be specific and positive in your affirmations.

• Repeat your affirmations regularly, throughout the day.

• Say your affirmations with conviction and emotion.

• Be patient and persistent. It may take some time to see results.

Let us know how you get on - we’d love your feedback on how using this technique had an impact. Click the social links below or contact us here.

Virtual Marigolds

We launched our online presence at the start of October, and we’ve had a ball smashing through the socials and spreading the Marigold vibe.

One of our posts went a bit viral earlier in the month (well, viral for us, anyway), so thank you to @MrARawlings for setting the tone…

And our most popular stand-alone post by some margin was this gem. A great message, and a fantastic approach to take in and out of the classroom.

If you’re not following us on the socials, then you’re missing out on a daily hit of positivity. If you are, then we can’t thank you enough!

Either way, why not check out these awesome creators too?

@sphoenix78

@CoachED2023

@MrsVeriTea

@EdSupportUK

Final Field Guide Thoughts

We hope you’ve enjoyed this first issue, and that you’ve gotten to know us both a bit better.

Next week we’ll focus on the top five practical strategies you can use to change your life/work balance for the better, whatever your teaching load.

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

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