Yellowknife (Dec 10/03) - In order to control the chaos that often fills a classroom, teachers need to give themselves some attention once in a while.

That was the message that Julie Tkachuk gave teachers enrolled in her "staying calm in the midst of chaos" workshop at the Yellowknife Educators conference recently.

"Positive thought is a powerful force," said Tkachuk.

When the classroom gets out of control, Tkachuk urged teachers to stand back and not get caught in the chaos.

She told them they need to choose to be happy and to laugh if they are going to be fulfilled in their jobs.

"As adults we get so darn serious about life. It's really important to take time for ourselves," she said.

The teachers learned a seven-step method to creating a stress-free workplace and home environment. Tkachuk also taught them exercises to promote wellness for themselves, as well as students.

Tkachuk says teachers are role models for students, so they need to come across as happy individuals.

"We need to teach by example. Kids are seeing how we deal with stress," she says.

Teachers enjoy workshop

Angele Beesley signed up for the workshop because her classroom at St. Patrick high school is often chaotic.

"You've got to learn how to control that chaos," said Beesley, a Grade 9 French immersion teacher.

She thinks her students will react well to Tkackuk's advice to set goals in life and reflect before speaking. She plans to take what she learned back to the classroom.

"It's a lot of things you wouldn't think of on your own time," she said.

Tkachuk, who lives in Edmonton, gave a series of workshops to the 350 educators that attended the bi-annual conference.