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.

We’re switching things up this week on The Connected Classroom!

Instead of diving into research, resources, or classroom strategies, we’re giving you a chance to get to know us a little better. Join us as we put each other on the spot with 20 questions, from teaching preferences and classroom chaos to personal favourites, funny opinions, and a few questions that might be harder to answer than we expected.

It’s a lighter episode full of teacher banter, laughs, and a little behind-the-scenes look at the two teachers behind The Connected Classroom.

Grab a coffee, come hang out with us, and play along as you listen!

And of course, we want to hear your answers too, find us on social media and let us know what you would choose!

AI is already changing the way we work, learn, and teach, so what should educators actually do with it?

In this episode of The Connected Classroom, we explore what AI literacy really means for teachers and students. We talk about the opportunities AI can offer, the concerns we need to keep in mind, and why being “good at AI” is about much more than knowing how to write a prompt.

We look at research examining whether tools like ChatGPT can actually reduce teacher workload.

Most importantly, we ask the question: When does AI support teaching and learning, and when does it replace the thinking we actually want people to do?

Whether you’re already using AI regularly or you’re still wondering where to begin, this episode is about helping teachers become thoughtful, informed decision-makers in an AI-powered world.

Resources from this episode:

The UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Teachers:
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391104

The UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Students:
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391105

Research from this episode:
Roy, P., Poet, H., Staunton, R., Aston, K., & Thomas, D. (2024). ChatGPT in lesson preparation: A Teacher Choices trial. National Foundation for Educational Research.
https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/chatgpt-in-lesson-preparation-a-teacher-choices-trial/