In this episode of The Connected Classroom, we explore the fascinating question: Is stress contagious?

We look at research examining the relationship between teacher burnout and students’ stress, as well as research measuring teachers’ stress during real classroom days. We unpack what these findings do, and importantly, do not tell us about the connection between teacher wellbeing and student wellbeing.

Then we bring it back to the classroom. How might our tone, body language, pace, patience, and emotional state affect the environment around us? How can we recognize when our own nervous system is becoming overwhelmed? And what can we realistically do in the middle of a busy school day when “take 20 minutes to meditate” simply isn’t an option?

Teacher stress is not simply an individual teacher problem. Breathing exercises cannot fix overwhelming workloads, inadequate supports, large classes, or unhealthy working conditions.

Our goal isn’t to be calm every second of every school day. We’re human. Instead, it’s about becoming more aware of what we bring into the classroom, learning how to reset when we can.

Looking for practical tools to go along with this episode? Check out our Instagram for free resources you can use to support regulation, reflection, and connection in your classroom.

Research from this episode:

Oberle, E., & Schonert-Reichl, K. A. (2016). Stress contagion in the classroom? The link between classroom teacher burnout and morning cortisol in elementary school students. Social Science & Medicine, 159, 30–37.

Jõgi, A.-L., Aulén, A.-M., Pakarinen, E., & Lerkkanen, M.-K. (2023). Teachers’ daily physiological stress and positive affect in relation to their general occupational well-being. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 93(1), 368–385.