Teacher Wellness

Stress. Burnout. Long hours. Increasing demands. Insights into teachers’ mental and physical wellness and what schools can do

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The State of Teaching
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
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Teaching Profession Opinion How I’m Keeping Ahead of Burnout: 4 Tips for Teachers
An English teacher shares her best advice for battling the long-haul blahs until spring break.
Kelly Scott, February 20, 2024
4 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Opinion Believe, Sleep, Play: 3 Research-Based Ideas for Effective Teaching
Many studies affirm that students achieve success more easily when they feel their teachers believe in them.
Larry Ferlazzo, January 15, 2024
14 min read
Illustration of a diverse woman on a teeter board with a clock in one hand and a compass in the other.
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Teaching Profession ‘Days Off Just Aren’t an Option’: Why Teachers Don’t Use Their Sick Days
Many say it’s more work to be absent, so it’s easier to show up sick.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, December 20, 2023
4 min read
A second grader shares a story he wrote with a teacher.
A second grader shares a story he wrote with a teacher.
Allison Shelley/EDUimages
School & District Management 3 Tips for School Leaders to Nurture Teachers' Well-Being
Two experts in the mental health field share advice for how school leaders can mitigate teacher stress levels.
Madeline Will, December 20, 2023
3 min read
Student Well-Being & Movement K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
December 7, 2023
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Profession Opinion Teachers Offer Self-Care Tips in Just a Few Words
Teachers offer self-care advice for those tough school days when feeling positive can be a challenge.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 31, 2023
2 min read
Photo of stressed teacher working using laptop in the classroom.
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Teaching Profession Mental Health Days—A Boon or a Bust for Teachers?
Teachers on social media weighed in on the benefits and logistical concerns of mental health days.
Madeline Will, October 31, 2023
5 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Profession Opinion How Teachers Get Beyond Tough Days in the Classroom
In a single sentence, teachers philosophize—wisely, funnily—about hanging in there for the job, even after the worst of days.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 22, 2023
2 min read
A middle school science team collaborates on their upcoming lessons at Sutton Middle School in Atlanta on Feb. 13, 2020.
A middle school science team collaborates on upcoming lessons at Sutton Middle School in Atlanta on Feb. 13, 2020.
Allison Shelley for EDUimages
Teaching Profession From Our Research Center Teachers’ Stress Trickles Down to Students. Here's What Schools Are Doing About It
The past few years in the classroom have been grueling. But there are things districts can do to help teachers. Here are some examples.
Madeline Will, October 16, 2023
10 min read
Close crop of the back of a pre-school girl's head showing her playing with foam puzzle pieces of shapes and numbers.
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Early Childhood What the Research Says 6 Challenges for Early Educators as Preschool Growth Halts
School enrollment for the nation’s youngest learners has nosedived—and could cause long-term problems.
Sarah D. Sparks & Gina Tomko, August 25, 2023
4 min read
McNichols Plaza second grade teacher Nicole Ralicke barricades a door in a Scranton High School classroom as the school goes into lockdown during an active shooter training exercise for Scranton School District teachers and staff with the Scranton Police Department in Scranton, Pa., on Sept. 6, 2022.
Teacher Nicole Ralicke practices barricading a door in a classroom during an active shooter training exercise for teachers and staff who work in the Scranton school district in Scranton, Pa., on Sept. 6, 2022.
Christopher Dolan/The Times-Tribune via AP
School Climate & Safety How a New Training Eases Teachers' Anxiety About Emergency Drills
The training incorporates mental health support into emergency preparedness.
Madeline Will, August 25, 2023
7 min read
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Teaching Profession Here's What Teachers Say They Need Most to Manage Stress, Mental Health
Topping their list: Time, including dedicated planning periods and fewer administrative duties.
Madeline Will, July 18, 2023
7 min read
Illustration of a Black woman with her eyes closed and clouds and lightning bolts surrounding her big hair.
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Teaching Profession What's Happening to Teacher Stress Levels
Teachers' stress levels have come down since the start of the pandemic, but the job still carries significant challenges.
Madeline Will, June 21, 2023
5 min read