Correct Me If I’m Wrong, But I Thought That Teachers Actually Spent Time With Children…
Maybe it’s my misunderstanding, but I thought that TEACHERS spent time working with CHILDREN. I know that sometimes we are also required to meet with parents, colleagues and administrators…but in general, we spend our days with the KIDS. TEACHING. CHILDREN.
Let me explain why I’m confused. Today I sat down to work on finalizing my plans for next week. I have a little system…I sketch out the week roughly on Tuesday and on Thursday, I finalize everything so that Friday (afterschool of course) can be spent getting everything together. Brilliant, I know. I can almost smell the glue sticks now…
(I know I am implying here that I love working with my little friends, but don’t get me wrong, I also love some alone time with my planner, a big stack of post-its, a clicky pencil and, on a crazy day, a Sharpie. You know what I’m talkin’ about.)
(I loves me some organizational tools).
(I am completely aware that this makes me slightly less than cool).
(I know this because of the look I receive when I admit this to non-educators, like my husband, whose eyes just kind of glaze over and I can almost hear him mentally reminding himself that he loves me despite this Staples-related obsession).
But on this sad Thursday I stared at my planner in disbelief. First, I have math professional development meetings all morning tomorrow, so no teaching. Then, there is no school on Monday (whoo-hoo!! I didn’t say I loved kids EVERYday), so no teaching. On Tuesday we have art related professional development all morning, so no teaching. On Wednesday, we have a half day and a concert in the morning, so no teaching. On Thursday, we’re going on a random field trip with no connection to any sort of theme we are studying in school- planned by Ms. Weavalicious-, so no teaching. Oh, but I do get to teach next Friday. And I’m sure the kids will be at their best after a totally unstructured week full of substitutes and bullshit work to pass the time until I come back from where-ever I am.
You can see where my confusion is. You see, out of a possible 35 periods of instruction next week, I will only be teaching for 17 of those blocks. That is less than 50%.
17 (really 15) more years
Egads Mimi- you mean you actually go to school to -gasp- work? You don’t want to join the legions of sycophants (a/k/a out of classroom teachers) who spend most of the day roaming the halls trying to look busy?
Enjoy the break from planning- plan for next week (easy) and the 3 day week after that (woooo hooooo!) and go out shopping for a nice new pair of shoes, and a case of copy paper……..
Anonymous
Let me start by saying that I thought I was the only one addicted to Staples. I love that store. I could spend every day after school just sniffing the pencils and pens.
I agree with you about the non-teaching days. I love teaching and being with the kids. I get really tired of workshops and meetings that interrupt my teaching and planning time. It is frustrating because we don’t get enough of it as it is.
In Jr. Hi and high school, they get a full period planning time every day. Subs are hired for teachers who are absent. In elementary school, when a special teacher is absent, the class gets cancelled and we dont’ get to plan at all.
I am with you on the joy of being in the classroom and the joy of long weekends too. I have tons of plans to work around the house. I usually get one thing done on the list and spend the rest of the time reading. Life is good.
Mystery Teacher
Betty
It does seem strange that meetings can take the place of teaching kids. Plus, all of the work that goes into planning for a sub is just awful. It only takes one day with a sub for kids to “forget” what they are supposed to be doing. Once after having a sub, I made an assignment, and several kids got up and went to the hall to work. I asked them what they were doing, and they told me the sub let them do it. One day changed all of the rules. I don’t think so.
Melissa
Hi I read your post over at jennsylvania about the cherry chip cupcakes, and the cake mix being difficult to find in your neck of the woods so here is a link to my favorite “can’t find it anywhere else” website. enjoy! http://www.hometownfavorites.com/products.asp?dept=1097&pagenumber=2
cbh
i can’t go shopping anywhere without coming home with something school related… pens, pencils, crayons, etc. only teachers can identify with the excitement of the “school supply aisle.” and sadly, yes, this does make us nerdy to the outsiders, but ultra hip to those in the know.
Smithie
When I first started to read this I glazed over at the “O word”. Upon coming back to it and skipping the first part all I can say is that your pain is felt. Back in September the subversives in my hallway counted up the total PLANNED disruptions to our school year and so far we are at 39.
Jerome
Keep them coming Mimi. You need to turn these into a book!!!
Anonymous
I just recently had one of those weeks. Magic Show with an anti-drug message. Seriously 1hr, lame show and a “magician” shouting say no to drugs at the end. A rainforest presentation, half a day and a staff development. We also had benchmark tests that week. All in all, no teaching.
雪花
希望大家都會非常非常幸福~
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