Teacher Exhaustion: Navigating Challenges in Today's Classroom

I don’t know about you, but the level of exhaustion I feel these days as a teacher is something I can barely put into words. It’s not just the long hours, the never-ending planning, grading, and meetings. It’s the sheer emotional drain of walking into a classroom every day where student behavior seems to be spiraling out of control, and even the parents are at a loss for how to support their children.

As an elective teacher, I didn’t expect to find myself reteaching fundamental reading and math skills. Yet here I am, day in and day out, trying to bridge gaps that seem to grow wider with each passing week. These gaps are not only academic but also behavioral. Many of my students are struggling—struggling with focusing, struggling with self-regulation, and honestly, just struggling to care.

It feels like every day, more and more students are disengaged, quick to argue, or simply apathetic. While it’s tempting to point the finger at parents or at some systemic failure, I know it’s more complex than that. I see the exhaustion on the faces of parents who genuinely don’t know what to do anymore. They’re overwhelmed by life, by work, by the challenges their kids face that they may not fully understand.

It’s heartbreaking to see bright, curious kids stuck in a cycle where reading feels like a chore and math is a mystery they’ve given up on solving. The skills I’m reteaching were supposed to be mastered long before they walked into my classroom, yet here we are—breaking down problems, reviewing concepts, and working through texts that should feel like second nature by now.

This isn’t what I signed up for when I imagined being a STEAM elective teacher. I envisioned exploring creativity, engaging in hands-on projects, and helping students discover a love for learning. Instead, much of my time is spent trying to get them back to the basics, hoping that with enough patience and repetition, we’ll make progress.

But here’s the thing: teaching isn’t just about delivering content. It’s about connection. And right now, it feels like both students and teachers are more disconnected than ever. Maybe it’s the post-pandemic world we’re living in, or maybe it’s a reflection of a larger societal shift, but whatever the reason, it’s exhausting.

I’m doing everything I can to show up for my students, even on days when it feels impossible. I’m leaning into the moments when I see a flicker of understanding, the rare times when a student cracks a smile because something finally clicks. Those small victories are what keep me going, even when I feel like I’m running on empty.

Teaching is hard. Teaching in 2024 is even harder. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that resilience is built in the struggle. For both my students and for me, this is a season of growth. It’s messy, imperfect, and sometimes overwhelming, but I’m holding onto the hope that with enough time and support, we’ll find our way through this, together.

Here’s to every teacher out there who feels this same weight. I see you, and I’m with you. We’re in this together.