As we approach back to school it is so easy to get caught up in the classroom decor, TPT sales, labeling all the things, laminating, and on and on. But there is one thing happening in our schools that has nothing to do with beautiful decor or Pinterest worthy perfection. Teacher gossip.
Every school has them. Some have more than one. The one teacher who knows everything about everyone.....and shares everything about everyone. That teacher who during lunch breaks or planning is fluttering happily from classroom to classroom office to office talking.
It is so easy for us to get caught up in the talking. I'm asking us to try not to. Because often times what happens is misinformation, miscommunication, hurt feelings and DRAMA. Here are a few tips for avoiding the teacher gossip.
1. Don't tell information that isn't yours to tell.
Sounds simple enough. But it needs to be said. If your teammate tells you she's pregnant or got another job or anything personal in nature, that is not yours to tell. Keep her secret. If she told you it's probably because she considers you a friend. A trustworthy friend. You going and spreading something she told you about her personal life doesn't mean she wants it known all around campus. In fact it may lead her and others to stop trusting you completely.
2. Don't talk about your colleagues.
Another one...simple right? You'd be surprised what goes on in the break room.
"Did you hear Miss. Smith isn't using the new word study books?"
"I heard Mrs. Jones just makes them put their heads down all day"
"I walked by Mr. Apple's classroom and he was just sitting at his desk."
"Mr. N has absolutely no control of his class!"
STOP!
We are in this TOGETHER! We all went to college. We are all professionals. We all want the best for our class. We need to be building each other up! If you see a teacher struggling maybe offer to help. If you see a class that is out of control maybe offer some advice. Enough people are tearing us and our profession down outside of our walls, we don't need to help them by crumbling on the inside too!
3. Be Kind!
I feel like if you take nothing from this post but those words than I got my point across. We see so much on TV and in the media about teaching kids to be kind, but what better way to teach them to be kind than to SHOW them how to be kind. Drop a positive post-it on your neighbors door, leave some cookies in the break room, send some treats down for a neighbor teachers whole class, offer to make copies for your team mate, I could go on and on. The moral is just be kind! Don't give that teacher gossiper anything to say about you...except maybe that she's too nice. And if that's what starts getting around the school building about me (even though it is STILL gossip) I'm OK with that.
I'm not trying to say that these school gossipers are intentionally slandering anyone's name or trying to be mean. In many cases these gossipers are very kind people who are very friendly and likable.Which at times is why when things get said and people's feelings get hurt because of gossip the perpetrator is blissfully unaware.
So before you go and tell that story to your teammate about that 4th grade teacher and what you over heard her saying....think about it....and don't.
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