By Shannon at Southern Schoolhouse
January can feel heavier than expected. You return from winter break hoping for a fresh start, but instead, teaching still feels hard, sometimes even harder than before. If that’s where you are, you’re not alone.
Educational research on the phases of teaching, often referenced in work by the California New Teacher Project and Tina H. Boogren describes December and January as a period of disillusionment. Energy is low, expectations are high, and progress can feel slower than it should.
I’ve been teaching for over 28 years, and I still feel this season every January. Experience doesn’t erase it, it just helps me recognize it sooner and remind myself that it will pass. January isn’t meant for big changes or perfect resets. It’s a transition month for teachers and students alike.
What helps teachers right now:
- Keep routines simple and predictable
- Focus on small wins
- Lower expectations just enough to breathe
- Be gentle with yourself
If teaching feels heavy right now, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you care and that matters. This season doesn’t last forever. Clarity and confidence return, often quietly, as the year goes on.
