Overflowing Inboxes

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed? Over-scheduled? Over-worked?  I regularly hear these sentiments from educators around this time of the school year.  I can tell we are deep into a spring semester based solely on the number of emails I receive.

When it comes to answering emails, I have a system that serves me well.  Once I read and respond to an email, I move it into one of many electronic folders that keep my correspondences organized.  If an email requires I take an action of some type, I don’t relocate it until the task is completed. 

The only problem is when I get too many emails at once – behavior concerns, staff development inquiries, product orders, quote requests.  I’m not complaining; I feel fortunate to stay busy with work.  However, when my inbox gets full, emotions overflow and are often reflected through my behavior.

Kids have inboxes too.  They just look different – not getting breakfast, missing a parent, seeing troubling adult behaviors, feeling unsafe – and the younger the child, the smaller the inbox. 

When faced with challenging behavior from others, I find my perspective shift is just as helpful as any specific strategy.  And it usually starts with me extending grace and acknowledging an overflowing inbox of some type.

I was recently reminding an administrator that between now and the end of the year, teachers need some extra TLC and a support system of individuals who are both patient and understanding.  As you move through the spring semester, keep this in mind when working with your kiddos – and their significantly smaller inboxes.