Ever found yourself lying awake on a Sunday night, dreading the start of another week of teaching?

The anxiety kicks in with thoughts of managing disruptive behaviors, new deadlines piling on top of existing ones, and unexpected classroom challenges, leaving you wondering if you can handle it all.

Don’t worry! You’re not alone. There are practical strategies to help you be a confident high school teacher and leave those Sunday blues behind.

A study of 120 teachers (60 from government schools and 60 from private schools) revealed some key factors:

1. Your work environment: The type of school you work at can impact your confidence. Resource limitations, bureaucratic challenges, work culture, and performance expectations vary in different schools.

2. External pressures: Lack of support from your school or negative feedback from students and parents can lower your confidence. When you feel unappreciated, it’s hard to stay confident.

3. Your own thoughts: Being too hard on yourself, fearing failure, and overthinking criticism can hold you back.

4. Balancing teaching and life: Teachers juggle many roles — educator, mentor, administrator — and often struggle to keep a good work-life balance. Trying to do it all can leave you stressed.

When I first became a junior high school music teacher in my 20s, I gave up sleep, social life, and weekends to focus on lesson plans, courses, and books to feel more confident because:

• I worked at a busy semi-private school with many activities and events, so I focused on every detail to give my best.

• Students asked if I was a high school student, and parents preferred senior teachers.

• Some students confided in me, so I worked on being a better role model by learning about counseling and communication.

Then, I got hit hard by my illness.

After surgeries and radiotherapy in my 20s, I started rethinking my career and realized that it's time for a change.

1. Manage Your Responsibilities Effectively

• Educator role: Balance depth and breadth of knowledge of your subject knowledge, and make lessons work for different learning styles.

• Mentor role: Keep boundaries clear and refer students to the right help when needed.

• Administrative duties: Prioritize tasks, use productivity tools, and ask support staff for help when needed.

Example: If a student is distressed, listen, show care, and suggest speaking to a counselor or social worker while you focus on their learning.

2. Create a Positive Support System

• Build strong relationships with your colleagues.

• Ask for feedback to keep improving.

• Talk to your school leaders about what support you need.

Example: Ask your department head for advice on classroom management. Many teachers have gone through what you're dealing with and can offer helpful tips.

3. Make the Most of Your Work Environment

• Adapt to your school type by using available resources creatively.

• Take part in training to improve your skills.

Example: When the school can’t provide field trips, use virtual tours on Google Earth to explore landmarks with your class.

4. Build Strong Relationships With Students

Learn what your students like, need, and care about. Use that info to plan better lessons and handle behavior.

When students challenge you, you can:

• Set clear expectations for behavior and stick to them.

• Show you’re committed to helping them.

Example: If students aren’t listening to you, calmly remind them of the rules and stay firm, but also make sure they know you’re there to support their learning.

5. Mindfulness Reflections

• Journaling: Write down your thoughts to clear your mind and reflect.

• Gratitude practice: Reflect daily on what you're grateful for. It shifts focus to the positive.

• Focus on what you can control: Work on what you can change. Don’t blame yourself for everything.

Example: After a difficult class, write down your thoughts. Identify what worked and what to improve, and remember to focus on what you can control.

High school students are in an awkward stage — they’re not little kids anymore, but they’re not fully adults either.

Here’s how to talk to them and build a strong relationship:

• Treat them like young adults.

  Show them respect and talk to them as you would with a peer.

• Be clear about expectations.

  Be clear and consistent. High schoolers need boundaries to feel secure.

• Encourage independence: Give them responsibilities and let them make decisions. If they succeed, praise them. If they struggle, guide them through it.

You're teaching a class when some students start acting out — flying airplanes around the classroom and ignoring the lesson. What should you do to handle the situation and stay confident in your teaching?

A. Ignore the disruptive behavior and continue teaching the lesson.

B. Call out the students loudly to embarrass them.

C. Set clear expectations for behavior, calmly address the issue, and ask for feedback on classroom management.

D. Stop teaching and leave the classroom until the students calm down.

Confidence doesn’t just happen — you build it!