Hey Zen Teachers,
The school year throws so much at us—endless to-do lists, challenging behaviors, mountains of grading, and that constant feeling of being pulled in a thousand directions. It’s easy to feel irritated, frazzled, and completely exhausted by it all.
But here’s something I want you to remember: You’re also allowed to enjoy yourself.
We spend countless hours talking about student engagement—how to capture their attention, spark their curiosity, and keep them invested in learning. That’s important work, absolutely. But when was the last time someone asked about YOUR engagement?
You spend more waking hours in your classroom than almost anywhere else. Those four walls become your second home, your creative space, your professional sanctuary. So why not find genuine reasons to enjoy being there?
This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything is sunshine and rainbows. It’s about recognizing that your happiness and fulfillment matter too. When you’re engaged and energized, it radiates through everything you do—your lessons become more dynamic, your relationships with students deepen, and yes, even those tough days become more manageable.
The truth is, the most powerful teaching happens when you show up as authentically YOU. Not the version of yourself you think you should be, not the teacher down the hall, not the Pinterest-perfect classroom fantasy—just you, with all your quirks, passions, and unique perspective.
This concept is from my new book Teaching is Being (see accompanying graphic that can be found on page 149). I believe you can improve your teaching practice by having more fun yourself.
As you head into this new year, I’d love for you to discover how you can not just survive in the classroom, but truly thrive by embracing who you are.
Because when you’re fully yourself, magic happens. For you AND your students. TZT
If you enjoy the ideas I share in this newsletter, consider picking up a copy of Teaching is Being: Embracing the Educator Within.
You can grab your copy here.