How to Love Teaching Again: Work Smarter, Beat Burnout, and Watch Your Students Thrive

by Jamie Sears

A heartfelt, hands-on guide to setting boundaries, increasing productivity, and finding fulfillment for teachers who know that their classrooms won’t thrive unless they do.

Over time, teachers internalize myths about their success that cause them to fall out of love with teaching.
 
“I’ll never be one of the 'perfect' teachers’”
“My self-worth is defined by my students’ test scores”
“The only way to get it all done is to work on weekends”
 
How to Love Teaching Again kicks these myths to the curb and replaces them with practical tips to defeat burnout, overcome perfectionism, and restore the joy of teaching.
 
As the CEO of Not So Wimpy Teacher, one of the most popular teaching resource brands on the internet, Jamie Sears has spent years designing tools and inventing strategies that restore the joys of teaching. This book offers simple step-by-step strategies that have helped thousands of teachers around the country transform their relationship with work,

Our education environment is often stacked against teachers—from insufficient funding and mandatory meetings to red tape and standardized testing. Drawing on real-life struggles from the teachers who have used Sears' strategies to overcome burnout and make the most of their time, How To Love Teaching Again will give you specific steps to stop drowning in to-dos and do the work that inspires you.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Professional Development, Audiobook

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Ciera Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaching is HARD! When I read this book I felt seen, heard, and truly supported. I walked away with not only a lifted spirit and passion but also tactics to help sustain it all. I highly recommend for all teachers! Already bought copies for my kids’ teachers too!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! So many practical tips and strategies, plus Jamie is hilarious and her stories make this such a fun and powerful read. Definitely recommend!

[Mrs. Spangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a teacher who is in her 29th year of teaching. As a result, I've seen a lot of different trends, opinions, and outlooks in teaching come and go. In fact, I remember when there were no state-standardized tests, and then that pendulum swung completely to the other side. A balance was/is definitely needed. This book takes tried and true strategies that help create balance and makes them actionable for teachers. I believe it is the author's intention to provide teachers with ways to stay in the profession and overcome challenges that are within the teacher's control.

[Michelle Vara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 28 years of teaching, these are my biggest takeaways: prioritize, set boundaries, redefine my purpose, don’t compare myself to others, and IF or WHEN you can’t find the joy anymore, decide when it is time to leave. I still get excited every summer to buy new Flair pens & a new planner, but maybe I don’t need to do all the extra things anymore! Time to start saying, “no” a bit more. I still love the “Aha” moments & I need to not let one kid or one parent make me think less of myself or my teaching abilities.

[Becca Fanucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, the title of this book is completely misleading. It makes it sound like it’s for veteran teachers, and it’s not. The only thing this book addresses well is PRODUCTIVITY. If I was a 1st or 2nd year elementary teacher who was feeling overwhelmed because of the crazy hours, this book would be helpful, so I gave it 2 stars. If you are not elementary and not a new teacher, pass on this book.

This book does nothing to address the reasons teachers are CURRENTLY burned out. (And that’s not surprising given the fact the author hasn’t been in the classroom in a very long time).
- unsupportive (dare I say radical) parents
- classroom safety
- book bans
- cell phones
- student motivation at an all time low
- student mental health
- standardized testing
the list goes on…

Granted, I don’t expect to find a book that solves these issues- they are huge and complex. But my point is: this multimillion dollar ex-teacher is trying to make a buck by telling you working less will fight teacher burnout. That’s not gonna cut it.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I was hoping given the title it would be a good read after a really difficult teaching year. Unfortunately it failed to deliver. I ended up skimming it. The summaries and take always at the end of each chapter were nice but I found the author to be constantly promoting her business and her tips nothing new for veteran teachers. Additionally, Jamie Sears isn’t a teacher anymore so it’s hard to take her advice to heart when she’s been removed from the profession for several years. Overall, not worth the read.

[Lena Glaros · Rating 3 out of 5]

I unfortunately felt underwhelmed by this book. I love Jamie and the classroom resources she has made, as I use quite a few of them consistently in my own classroom. I feel like this book would be best geared towards a first or second year teacher who is looking for suggestions on how to have a better work/life balance.

I think the tips Jamie gives in here are good reminders of things we should be doing. Don’t grade everything, don’t work too much past contract hours, etc. But, in reality, those things only go so far to reduce teacher workload and stress. A lot of teacher stress comes from lack of support from the district and/or state and all the things they push onto us and our students.

Overall, I think this is a great book for someone just starting out with teaching. There were tidbits in here that I found useful for myself, but I wasn’t entirely “wowed” while reading it.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title doesn’t match the content of this book. This is really written for the beginning teacher and is an advertisement for her business. There are some good ideas, which is why I gave it a 3. It is important to note that the author is not, in fact, a classroom teacher, so suggestions should be taken with a grain of salt.

[David Simms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading "How to Love Teaching Again" by Jamie Sears and I have to say, it is an absolute game-changer! As a teacher myself, I often struggle with feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, but Jamie's heartfelt, hands-on guide has truly helped me reignite my passion for teaching.

The practical advice offered in this book is incredibly helpful, and above all, it's clear that Jamie truly understands the struggles that many teachers face in their day-to-day work. Her strategies for setting boundaries and increasing productivity have been incredibly effective for me, and I have already noticed a significant improvement in my overall job satisfaction.

But perhaps most importantly, "How to Love Teaching Again" reminds us that as teachers, we have an incredible impact on the lives of our students. By prioritizing self-care and finding fulfillment in our work, we are better able to support our students and create a positive learning environment for all.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been feeling burnt out or overwhelmed in their teaching role. Jamie's passion for teaching is contagious, and her book is a truly helpful resource for anyone looking to reignite their love for teaching.

[Camille Prendergast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book to read before going into my 1st year of teaching!

[Juliet Del Rio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very much for younger grades, as the author taught third grade. Not much was transferable to college level teaching. Although I was comforted that I wasn’t the only one who has graded while on a cruise.

[Alisha Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read and annotated in one sitting! 😍
I am a teacher at my wit's end most days and this read was a breath of fresh air! A MUST read for those looking to revamp how they "do" teaching. Thank you for the ideas, the plans, and the freebies!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm approaching year #17 of teaching and although I LOVE being with my 4th graders, all the "other stuff" is weighing me down. This helped remind me of some things I can do to make my teaching life easier (work/home balance), and what I could also let go. I think this is more geared to new(er) teachers though, and I guess I was hoping for more geared to veteran teachers.

Biggest takeaways:
I need to set "work hours" (I already knew this, but I'm bad at it).
Try "brain dump and classify" each week (what is important enough to do first, and what can be delayed/delegated/deleted).
Grade less.
Take school email off my phone and don't check it during weekends/non work hours.
Keep a little journal/online doc to celebrate the wins each week

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up, after buying it some time last year, this afternoon to just look at the table of contents. I started to read it and before I knew it, I was done. Such an easy read packed with some ideas.
I love teaching. But I’m always looking for ways to work smarter and not get burned out. There were some ideas that were amazing and I would like to implement them. Others did not pertain to me because it was meant more for a classroom teacher. I would recommend this book to veteran teachers who need that spark again and even new teachers who need some good advice so they don’t get burned out after 2-3 years.

[Sarah Harrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive my copy of this book, but i was ultimately very disappointed. This is definitely geared more towards first or second year teachers. I also didn’t expect to be reminded of all of the resources that we can buy for our classrooms on the author’s Teachers Pay Teachers account. She already advertises for that with the Not So Wimpy Teacher accounts for each grade level on Facebook. While boundaries are something that we all can continue to establish, this book does not address current issues that are driving teachers out of the classroom setting, and it is clearly evident that the author is not in the classroom and has not been in quite awhile.

[Melissa Harechmak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped motivate me and gave some great tips. Some I am already doing so it felt good to know I'm doing something positive. Some suggestions our district has done for us already some just might not work in my class setting. There are some strategies I would like to try!! I listened as an audiobook and it felt like a podcast driving to work. I will definitely be checking out the online resources and Facebook groups referenced in the book.

[Elísa Sif Rannveigardóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if it’s so much different to teach in Europe but most of this I just don’t relate to. I don’t have to pay for school stuff and go home late unless I want to (which I do but it’s just because I don’t feel like driving in rush hour traffic. 🤣) What I don’t love about teaching is the endless abuse from students and the fact that no one deals with it and unfortunately the book doesn’t help with that

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie writes from her heart a book full of practical ideas. It's refreshing to have positive ideas to try.

[Kerri Blessing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas to help a teacher love teaching again. Now I need one to help me in the library next year! 😊

[Sarah Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran, this book has practical advice to help multiple parts of your professional life. It’s also written in an intelligent and accessible way (short sections). Thanks Jamie!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical advice you can implement in 21 days to make teaching much easier.

[Hannah Moffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher who has been teaching for 13 years I feel as if a lot of this I already knew! Still good reminders

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book would be excellent for newer teachers. Even as a veteran teacher, I found helpful parts to it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, practical strategies for tired teachers.

[Juli Heusinkveld Kieper · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got most of the way through this book before I couldn’t stand to finish it. I picked up this book because I had heard good reviews, but I personally felt it’s toxic to have a book telling teachers how to essentially avoid burnout when the burnout comes from the system itself and expectations put on us. The author pushed her own TPT listings several times and it felt like such marketing. There were a few good ideas to help streamline things but the author herself isn’t even a classroom teacher anymore, doesn’t that speak VOLUMES?

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hesitated buying How to Love Teaching Again because how can someone who has been out of the classroom for so long have a respectable opinion on the subject of being a classroom teacher and feeling burnt out? The author does address the topic though and her reasons for leaving the classroom are valid (not that she has to justify herself to me or anyone else) and I have a better understanding now.

I very much enjoyed the first few chapters of the book which included topics of coming up with your own definition of being a successful teacher, scheduling your non-teaching time in order to be more productive, and a more efficient way to do lesson planning.

Then came the ads. Not so Wimpy Teacher resource bundle this and NSWT curriculum that. I think most people who buy this book are already aware of Jamie Sears and her TPT store (which I use and mostly love), so the ads aren’t needed or necessary. I already bought the book, stop trying to sell me more stuff.

With that being said, there are some great strategies and ideas in the book that I plan to implement when school starts up again in just a few short weeks.

[Marriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quick read. I enjoyed the format, but most importantly it contains a lot of great practical advice! This is a must read for all teachers.

[John Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fall in Love with Teaching Again" by Jamie Sears is an absolute must-read for any educator looking to reignite their passion for teaching. Jamie's approach to tackling common issues faced by teachers in today's world is compassionate, relatable, and practical. Her book offers truly helpful strategies for teachers who are struggling to balance their workload, keep their end goals in mind, and remain connected to their love for teaching.

What I appreciate most about "Fall in Love with Teaching Again" is Jamie's acknowledgement of the importance of finding fulfillment in your teaching journey. Her wise words remind us that when we as educators prioritize our own wellbeing and inspiration, we can create an environment in which our students can thrive. With Jamie's guidance, readers will find themselves feeling more fulfilled, motivated, and ready to tackle whatever the classroom throws their way.

Overall, I highly recommend "Fall in Love with Teaching Again" to any educator who has ever felt overwhelmed or burnt out. Not only does Jamie help you find your way back to your passion for teaching, but she also helps you rediscover the satisfaction and joy that drew you to this profession in the first place. A must-read for any teacher looking to make the most of their time in the classroom.

[Nora Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 17-year veteran teacher, I have seen first-hand the joys and challenges of working in a classroom day in and day out. "Fall in Love with Teaching Again" by Jamie Sears is a book that every teacher needs to read.

Jamie does an exceptional job in her book of reminding teachers of their passion for teaching and how to remain true to that passion, even when the going gets tough. She offers practical advice on how to work smarter, not harder, and how to maintain a positive outlook even when faced with challenging students or difficult curriculum.

What I appreciate most about Jamie's book is her emphasis on work-life balance. As educators, we often put our students first, which can lead to burnout and exhaustion. Jamie offers strategies for finding ways to prioritize our own mental and physical well-being, despite the demands of the job.

Overall, "Fall in Love with Teaching Again" is a refreshing and inspiring book that every teacher should have in their library. It is both down-to-earth and inspiring, offering practical solutions and pep talks that will help any teacher rediscover the joy of teaching. I highly recommend this book to veteran teachers and those new to the profession alike - Jamie's guidance will benefit anyone looking to create a more fulfilling and successful teaching experience.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book actually makes me angry. As an actual teacher "in the trenches," who deals with the daily challenges, the current climate and criticism teachers are facing, it is highly disgusting and insulting that someone who spent only a small blip of time in a classroom before leaving to make money off of real teachers is trying to take more money from us with ramblings of toxic positivity and the spewing of advice she had no way of actually testing because her (very short) time in the classroom ended many years ago.

There is A LOT going on in the world of education and the demands on us are unrealistic. If she really wanted to help us she would use her platforms to push for reform and respect. Instead she creates another money-making product that implies the reason we are not "loving teaching" is that we are not "working smart enough!"

This book feels like victim shaming. And, FWIW, I do still LOVE teaching. I just wish more people had our backs and wanted to help advocate for us not profit off of us.