INTRODUCTION & FOUNDATIONS
What do we mean when we talk about teacher well-being?
„Teacher well-being is crucial not only for the health of educators themselves but also for maintaining the quality of education.“
– OECD, 2021
What does it mean for a teacher to truly thrive, not just survive the day? This module offers a foundation for understanding teacher well-being: what it is, why it matters, and how it can be supported.
You’ll explore key models and definitions of well-being, the factors that influence it, from personal habits to systemic structures, and why teacher well-being is central to both job satisfaction and student success.
This module lays the groundwork for all subsequent in-depth modules. Completing it first ensures a shared understanding of core concepts and a common language around teacher well-being.
In this module, you will…
In this module, you will…
- explore basic concepts related to teacher well-being.
- relate teacher well-being to influential factors.
- approach different models explaining teacher well-being.
- understand the implications of teacher well-being in teaching and job satisfaction.
How to work on this Learning Module?
How to work on this Learning Module?
Whether you are working on this module individually or in a group, you will encounter several reflection and transfer questions.
This icon marks activities and tasks for individual learners.
For individual learners, we recommend you
- find a designated space where you collect your key ideas and findings: a notebook, a digital tool (i.e. Padlet, Miro, OneNote, …), etc. (in addition to your Action Plan (read below)).
- check if a colleague of yours completed the same modules as you and find an opportunity to meet up and share your results (or Action Plans (read below)).
This icon marks activities and tasks for groups.
For groups, we recommend you
- set up an Idea Hub – e.g. a white board, a poster, a table, a digital pinboard (i.e. Padlet, Miro), where you collect key ideas and findings. Decide for yourselves whether, after completing the module, the Idea Hub is meant for your group’s eyes only or if you would like to share or even present your work and experience (e.g. in the teacher’s lounge, during a conference, etc.).
- set up a Group Action Plan in addition to each learner’s individual Action Plan,which can be added to the aforementioned Idea Hub.
This icon marks an Action Plan activity to connect ideas with your own context in your personal Teacher Well-being Action Plan. You can download the Action Plan for each module at the very beginning of the respective module. Find out more about the idea behind the Action Plans here!
Using your phone for this module? Turn it horizontally to see all the content!
This learning material has been developed by members of the Erasmus+ Teacher Academy „Teacher Education for a Future in Flux (teff)“, a dynamic consortium of ten leading European universities, partner universities and state and other educational institutions committed to improving teacher education. More information can be found here: teff-academy.eu
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Deutsch 
English