Secret Lair (Development - Training, Health, Community...):

Super teachers, like superheroes, must "keep going" to be effective. They must stay healthy and strong; they must train to build stamina and power; they must be able to heal. Superheroes need to continue to learn, and to try things out.

Often, what keeps a superhero from complete burnout and destruction is a team. Superheroes need each other as teachers need each other. Many of the finest superhero teams (X-Men, Justice League, Avengers, Fantastic Four,...) are better as a team than they are as individuals.

Most superheroes have a weakness. Even great teachers have a weakness or two in their teaching. In understanding one's weaknesses, it might be possible to utilize a weakness for the benefit of the clientele.

The first part of this quest can be disturbing, as you are asked to look at a video from the American Psychology Association which looks at data about the number of teachers leaving the profession within the first five years (in the US).

The other important piece here is the BCTF document that also discusses teacher stress and the issue of one in five teachers considering leaving the profession.

The purposes of this section:

• Let's make sure you are going into this profession with your "eyes wide open" to some of the challenges you will face, and

• Let's ensure that you understand the power of a "Secret Lair" to help deal with the challenges you may face.

Secret Lair 2: Dealing With It

Many new teachers (and many veteran teachers) deal with a high degree of challenge in their profession.

Teachers are inundated with rising expectations, but diminishing resources to help them deal with the expanding requirements of the job. The stresses abound and the challenges build, and just when a teacher has begun to "get a handle" on "the job", the job changes: different school, different grades, different expectations, pandemics requiring teachers to teach online (without any real training).

Part II has you begin the process of developing systematic ways of dealing with the challenges of the job so that the challenges transmogrify into energy.

Secret Lair Self-Directed

Remember that Secret Lair is a metaphor for the processes and activities that help a person survive and thrive in the challenges of teaching. The Lair is the training ground, the place to be nurtured and healed, and to provide everything needed to become a superhero.

All Secret Lair points are tracked in your Tracker and claimed in Bytedeck.

• Done something to help you stay calm (Breathing exercise, Yoga, Tai Chi, a walk in the park...)

• Done something to help you become or stay healthy (A walk, a run, playing sports, Yoga...)

• Done something to rejuvenate, like having fun playing a game, having a great conversation, sitting quietly on your deck and absorbing the moment, spending quality time with family...)

• Done something extra in terms of professional development

  • Reading articles of interest

  • Watching videos that might help or are inspirational

  • Have professional conversations....

• Done something to develop your PLN (Professional Learning Community)

• Done some personal or professional reflection (above and beyond work for your courses)

• Done some organizing and personal planning (Quadrant II)

• .... these are just some examples. Whatever works for you. Whatever will help you get through the tough times and help you build a future of good times. Each person is different. Previously, one of our students claimed his Sunday night preparation of lunches for the week. One student claimed "a good cry". To each their own. Your instructor reserves the right to not accept certain behaviours (Just to cover his butt). These might include activities like: "A drunken night of mayhem followed up with some good bar brawls." "Using illegal substances." "Ranting about your instructor to fellow student (no matter how good it makes you feel)." Well... actually... that last one would work, I guess. But I think you get the point.