7 Common challenges of teaching and how to overcome them

In this guide

1. Teacher burnout
2. Classroom management
3. Never having enough time
4. Feeling isolated in a crowd
5. Keeping up with new technology
6. Communicating with parents
7. Making learning relevant

Teaching can be one of the most rewarding careers with the opportunity to positively affect the lives of young learners on a daily basis. For many educators, it is more than just a job and it is a way to help make a real difference in society. 

Unfortunately, the drive and dedication required to be an amazing teacher comes with some pretty significant challenges. The good news is that you are not alone and there are some strategies available to overcome those obstacles so you can focus on what matters the most: the students.

1) Teacher burnout

Ok! Let’s go ahead and start with the big one right at the start. The Independent writes, “In 2017, 67 percent of school teachers were reporting feelings of stress”. It also reports that the stress of the job causes some teachers to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take antidepressants or even self-harm. 

The global pandemic has certainly increased burnout rates, but this issue has been a problem long before Covid-19 arrived. There is currently a lot of attention surrounding this topic and a lot of amazing proposals are floating around but unfortunately, many of them require systemic change in how schools operate. 

Many of these ‘fixes’ are outside of the control of individual teachers so it can perpetuate the feeling of being a victim of the situation. Instead, we can choose to focus on some things that we are in control of ourselves. They are not easy but they are a great place to start.

Reset expectations

To be clear, this does not mean to lower your standards. I had an amazing mentor teacher when I started in education and this was his recurring advice to me as he worried about my current youthful idealism as I joined the profession fading over time.

A great teacher wants every student in their class to succeed and we take it personally when that does not happen. Accountability measures that expect “100% proficiency” levels or “100% pass rates” are incredibly well-intentioned. The reality is that many other factors well beyond the teacher’s control affect those results; individual teachers cannot take all of that burden on themselves.

Think about this for a moment… 

A professional baseball player who successfully gets on base 25% of the time (a .250 batting average) can earn millions of dollars per year. A basketball player who misses nearly 60% of his shots can also have a long career and be celebrated as an icon in the sport.

Does anyone realistically expect the police to prevent 100% of crimes? Do we blame doctors when their patients are overweight, suffer from substance abuse, or do not exercise enough?

Believing that every student can succeed is critical if you work in education. Teachers need to provide opportunities and resources to support students on their journey. We should also be acutely aware of the individual progress of each student.

Doing those things should allow us to rest well at night and know we are creating an environment designed for individuals to succeed. That needs to be the focus. Do not fall into the trap of allowing external expectations to determine your self-worth or value. That is a recipe for burnout. This is a mindset we can control without any major changes to the system.

Turn off the news

Positive stories about education are not typically the ones leading nightly news segments. Anyone that works in a school knows these types of stories occur on a daily basis but they are not the ones that drive ratings.

After a hard day at work, grinding through obstacles, to ensure that all of your students have access to a safe and effective learning environment, it is very demoralising to turn on the TV or scroll through social media only to see people taking shots at teachers or school, in general.

That type of negativity can be very damaging and there really is no reason to engage in those conversations on a regular basis. 

One of my favourite things to do when I sense a lot of negativity around me is to intentionally focus on the positive. It could be something as simple as a quick email to a student or parent talking about how great they are doing. 99% of the time I get a response that reassures me that the work I and my colleagues are doing is being appreciated, even if it is not being publicised.

2) Classroom management

As a new teacher, it feels like your command over classroom management is the area you are being judged on the most. As a veteran teacher, struggling with difficult students or classes can be grounding, and humbling, just as you begin to feel like you are mastering your craft.

Engaging and guiding a group of diverse learners is a complex task. What works with one group or individual might completely fail in another situation. Unfortunately, in some rare circumstances, behavioural issues may be completely out of your control and you have to find a way to accept that so it does not impact your confidence or effectiveness as an educator.

Prevention is better than intervention

Ohio State University’s Teaching and Learning Resource Center outlines how an inclusive and supportive learning environment helps students feel more engaged and persist through challenges. When students feel a sense of belonging they are much less likely to display disruptive behaviour during lessons.

Setting a positive tone and building relationships with each student from the start models the behaviour you expect from students. Also, ensuring representation in the curriculum and providing a safe space for dialogue allows students to embrace their individuality as a way to collaborate more effectively with their classmates. 

Be sure to check out Class Manager for some ready to use ideas and strategies that will quickly enhance your powers of prevention.

Do not go into battle alone: You are not the first teacher to struggle with classroom management and you will not be the last, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Use your resources and try to take a more holistic approach.
If your school is not using Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS), you might want to start there. Consider taking the lead or organising a group of your colleagues to develop a school-wide plan to address the issues that are undoubtedly occurring throughout the school.

3) Never having enough time

Feeling rushed or behind is not unique to the teaching profession but since schools are structured around specific time intervals it seems to make the issue seem more daunting. The school day is a specific amount of minutes. The school year is a specific amount of days. All those lessons and assessment tasks have to fit into that time. Being so specifically measured by time makes this commodity even more precious.

We all have 24 hours in a day. Time is a limited resource and something that we cannot create or get back after it is gone. Being intentional and productive with our time is important to our profession but also critical to living a well-balanced life.

Identify time wasters

If you are like me, email and other digital messages keep increasing even though there is no additional time to respond to them. This technology did not exist years ago but it is now a requirement of the job even though our schedules have not been restructured to provide the time necessary to deal with this added requirement.

There are numerous things that take up our time that we do not necessarily enjoy doing or ultimately see value in. Unfortunately, for most of us, we do not have the option to skip those obligations. So instead, we can find ways to reduce the impact they have on our time.

Years ago I started using a strategy known as time boxing for both tasks I dreaded doing and ones that were really important to me. As a teacher, you can always give a bit more feedback, improve a lesson, research new ideas, etc. There are no clear endpoints for many of the tasks we are responsible for, so it is important that we set limits for ourselves.

The key is to stick to those time constraints. Not everything will be perfect or even finished but this approach will keep you moving. You will begin to have more appreciation for your own time and realise that extended time can have diminishing returns.

Create a routine

I recognise I am the most productive and creative in the morning. I realise that I am not good at multitasking. I enjoy checking things off my list in the afternoon. With this information, I follow a very scripted schedule on a daily basis.

I plan almost all new lessons and activities in the morning before I teach any of my classes. This is when I am the most alert and open to new ideas. During my teaching day I reduce all distractions (phone, email, etc.) to ensure I am 100% present for my students. After I am done teaching, I grade, respond to emails, and complete other tasks that do not require a lot of mental effort.

Following this structure ensures that I am efficient and effective with my time. Test out some different schedules for yourself and adjust until you find one that maximises your strengths and priorities.

Time Flies: Time Management Tips is a great video to use with students to help them improve their own time management skills. The best part is that it includes student resource activities you can complete with the students so that you can benefit from the experience as well.

4) Feeling isolated in a crowd

Schools are structured in an interesting way; teachers are surrounded by people all day but rarely have the opportunity for prolonged and meaningful interactions with their colleagues. It is way too easy to spend a career teaching without seeing other teachers in action or having others watch you in front of students.

School buildings are typically constructed so that each class is physically separated with walls from all of the other rooms. In addition, a traditional schedule means that most, if not all, teachers are in front of students at the same time.

This design can create an unfortunate feeling that we are more like independent contractors than a team of educators on a common mission. This sense of isolation not only takes a toll on teachers emotionally, but it also limits the type of collaboration needed for growth and improved instructional strategies. 

Teachers need to make a concerted effort to make relationships with other educators and to avoid the trap of a solo journey in the classroom. Having a strong support system will amplify our individual efforts and create a sense of community that is critical when facing the inevitable challenges of teaching.

Reflective learning walks

There are a variety of names and variations for this concept but at the end of the day it is about creating a team of educators to watch and discuss instructional strategies and student behaviours. It is a low-cost activity and only takes a day to do but can be repeated as often as needed.

Observe. Reflect. Discuss. Create a small team and focus on those three steps as you visit classrooms on your campus or ones at a different school site. You will come away with new ideas and perspectives but more importantly, you will be a part of a meaningful team that will increase your engagement and passion for teaching.

Build your network

The internet provides an incredible opportunity for teachers to build an online network with educators throughout the world. The constraints of location and time are reduced because these interactions can occur virtually and asynchronously.

Twitter (X), Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn are all platforms that have strong teacher communities that allow for the sharing of resources and support systems. It helps to know that not only are other teachers going through similar issues as you but you can also find ideas and tips on how to deal with these things that you may have never considered before. 

In fact, the opportunity to work for ClickView and grow as an educator can be traced back to using Twitter as part of a U.S. History and Social Media program I taught a few years back. By using and sharing online videos from the Hidden Figures series, I made new relationships with other people around the world working in education who were also committed to reimagining curriculum and designing new learning experiences.

Build a Professional Learning Network also discusses the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive colleagues and provides some great ways on how to get started.

5) Keeping up with new technology

The first classroom I taught in was filled with years worth of worksheets. They had been left there by the teacher who retired the previous year. He had been using those same worksheets for decades and had made enough copies to last the next few years. 

His major technology challenge was making sure he remembered his copier code when he went to print every couple of years. When I did my student teaching for him the year before, I had to figure out how to show a Panama Canal video using an 8mm movie projector (it did not go well…).

Less is more

There are so many different tech tools available that it can feel overwhelming. Just because a new app or program is available does not mean you need to use it. Start by identifying what needs can be addressed by using technology rather than trying to figure out how to get educational value out of a specific tool.

The Tech Coordinator in my district is great at identifying a group of tools that will be best supported in our school and he encourages teachers to focus their efforts there rather than chasing every new trend. The tech pioneers might experiment with the latest and greatest but not everyone has the available time to be in that camp. 

Let students take the lead

I have a classroom full of Apple computers, a podcast studio, and a professional level photography setup and if I am being honest, I don’t really know how to use most of it. I understand how access to these tools creates opportunities for students so I figure I should not limit that access being of my own insecurities on how to support them.

Students know they can ask questions but that in many cases they will need to do the research and learning necessary to master these new tools. This approach provides students with practice adapting to and developing proficiency with new tools since that will be a major part of their professional life after graduating from school.

6) Communicating with parents

If you have ever experienced a problem with a parent you would probably agree it is a lose-lose situation. Even if the situation gets resolved, you probably had to spend an inordinate amount of time on something that had little or no impact on the learning experience of your students.

During my two decades in education, this issue has become a greater challenge for many teachers. For a few years, I really struggled with how to manage this growing demand on my time but thankfully I have implemented some strategies that have nearly eliminated all negative parental interactions.

Increase transparency

This is where I really utilise the power of technology. I post all assessments and grades online for parents to see, if they are interested. There are no surprises or secrets so additional clarification is usually the only request I get. In those cases, I always require the student to speak to me first to help establish that line of communication first (note: I teach secondary school so that is easier for me to do than at the younger levels.).

Partners in learning

This idea is similar to what I mentioned in the classroom management section- focus on prevention so you avoid dealing with unwanted situations. I know a lot of teachers who have started taking and sharing pictures from school activities with parents through email or class websites. My daughter’s teacher sends home a weekly newsletter of what students have been working on. (Pro tip: make it as short as possible because people are busy.)

Parents are our partners in their child’s education so if we approach it that way we are more likely to see positive outcomes. Engage Community does a wonderful job explaining strategies teachers can use to make this process more collaborative. 

I also usually have one homework task per quarter that requires students to involve a parent to complete it. Sometimes that is a quick interview, other times it is watching a clip of a documentary together. Either way, I want parents to experience the type of activities their children are doing so they have a better understanding of the requirements in the lesson.

7) Making learning relevant

I used to be really flattered when parents, students, or observers would comment on how ‘practical’ or ‘relevant’ the work we were doing in class was for life after school. Now, I see it as more of an indictment of much of what occurs in a normal school day. Relevant should not be surprising. It should be expected.

The difficulty is that much of the curriculum teachers are told to cover is something beyond their control and is determined by external decision-makers. Even though this may not be fair, no one benefits if learning is not connected to real-world problems and situations.

Meet students where they are

Try to find a learner who is not consuming short-form video content on a regular basis. I dare you! There is no need to eliminate reading or lectures as part of your instruction but if you can incorporate more short videos into your lessons then you are using a medium that students are choosing to engage with on their own time.

You may have some unmotivated or unengaged students in class but I bet it is hard to find someone that is not motivated to be successful when they get older. I try to integrate as many career and personal skills into my curriculum as possible no matter which subject I am teaching.

What You Need to Succeed and the Work Inspiration videos offer a variety of options to help students see what they are learning about in school being used in the working world.

Broaden the scope

This is where the creativity and the professionalism of teachers can really shine. Automation and technology may be eliminating certain tasks but finding a way to connect required curriculum to student interests and world events is one of those human touches we should be leaning into.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals is an easy way to align a variety of subjects to a larger cause that can add meaning for students. The great part of using this approach is that you can use these goals as a theme throughout the year so you do not have to constantly search for new connections for each content area.

Teaching is a challenging profession and that will never go away. I like to think that if it feels easy you probably are not doing it right. That being said, there is no reason to suffer through things or just accept that difficulties are something you just have to accept.

You are not alone and you definitely should not act like you are alone. Be proactive and just start chipping away at one challenge at a time. Before you know it, you will not only have addressed some of these issues but you will also have developed the mindset that challenges are meant to be overcome.

References

1. Buckingham, M., & Goodall, A. (2019, May 14). The Power of Hidden Teams. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://hbr.org/2019/05/the-power-of-hidden-teams
2. Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., Gardner, M., & Espinoza, D. (2017, June). Effective Teacher Professional Development. Learning Policy Institute. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/product-files/Effective_Teacher_Professional_Development_REPORT.pdf
3. Marken, S., & Agrawal, S. (2022, June 13). K-12 Workers Have Highest Burnout Rate in U.S. Gallup News. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://news.gallup.com/poll/393500/workers-highest-burnout-rate.aspx
4. Shaping a Positive Learning Environment | Teaching and Learning Resource Center. (n.d.). Teaching and Learning Resource Center. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://teaching.resources.osu.edu/teaching-topics/shaping-positive-learning
5. Zao, M. (2018, December 10). How Timeboxing Works and Why It Will Make You More Productive. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-timeboxing-works-and-why-it-will-make-you-more-productive