Teachers – Set Boundaries in Your Professional Life With Students, Colleagues, and Administrators

2nd September, 2009 - Posted by Meggin - No Comments

Many teachers have never created any ‘boundaries,’ i.e., clear delineations, which may be physical or ‘virtual,’ where they draw the line.  Do you and those around you know what your boundaries are? 

One of the reasons that it is essential to establish boundaries is because without them, others will just trample all over us, sometimes without meaning to and other times, quite deliberately.  When this happens, you feel violated, stressed, and overwhelmed and you cannot be as effective as you need and want to be with your students (or with anyone else). 

Here are 3 tips to assist you in defining and setting your boundaries:

  1. Set boundaries with students. You are a teacher for your students. That’s clear. And you cannot be available to them 24/7. Ask students to respect your boundaries…once you establish them.  If you think that in the past you have not had any boundaries (because it feels that way or other teachers and administrators have told you this), then talk with an experienced and wise colleague about appropriate ones to put in.
  2. Set boundaries with colleagues. Teaching colleagues (just like colleagues in every profession) sometimes think they can just burst into your classroom or office when they have a question or want to tell you something. Make it clear that when you are teaching or during your prep period, you can’t be interrupted.  You may have to repeat this several times with some people who either have bad habits, poor social skills, or who think they can just bulldoze their way into wherever they want to go.  (I know…you don’t have anyone like this at your school, but you have heard of such behavior, right?) [smile]
  3. Set boundaries with administrators. You know which boundaries you need to set with your principal, dean, or other administrator(s). Possibilities include interruptions; hastily-called meetings (that aren’t emergencies); volunteering you for something; expecting to be able to contact you anytime day or night with an “issue;” putting all of the most difficult students in your class; and so on. What are your limits?

Can you use some support in clarifying your limits, your boundaries, and your ‘protected pockets’? 

Then you’re invited to access the free weekly suggestions on putting pockets of time and energy into your life as an educator. Just go to http://www.PumpernickelPublishing.com and you’ll see a place to sign up right on the home page.

If you’d like to access additional resources for your classroom, you’re invited to go to http://www.OwningWordsforLiteracy.com where you will find free vocabulary PowerPoints and other tools for your use.

(c) 2009 Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D. | The Ph.D. of Productivity(tm)

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