I can't stand the thought of going back to school in a week

[Anonymous]

I've been teaching about 15 years. For a few years I was unhappy. Very unhappy. Here's what I did to change that:
a) I no longer bring work home. Student hours are 8-3, my hours are 7-3:30. I no longer work through lunch, I don't bring any papers home to grade, I do all my lesson plans at work. I don't do any special projects or anything that takes too much time.
b) I use meeting time wisely. I used to sit and fume through meetings, 99% of which were a waste of time. Now, I will answer emails, write to-do lists, do lesson plans or anything else I can do without being noticed. Sitting in the back of the room helps so much.
c) I don't do any extra clubs or programs. I do attend the one required evening event per year.
d) While worksheets have gotten a bad rap, I am not given time to plan really cool lessons.....so I give worksheets. It is fine.
e) I stay out of the teacher's lunchroom. I don't spend time talking to colleagues much.
f) I don't try and solve kids' problems that are either unsolvable or outside the purview of academics. I'm their teacher, not their social worker or nurse.

I've gotten my life back, I don't try and fix my district anymore. I just nod my head, close my door, do my job and then go home.

[Anonymous]

OP here.....I meant to say "I can finally stand the thought of going back to school in a week"!

[Anonymous]

Do you think anything would make you like teaching again, or are you just marking time now until you can retire?

[Anonymous]

Actually, now that I'm doing all the things I listed, I like my job a lot more.

[Anonymous]

Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, not going to retire. If my district wants me to give more to my students they can give me more time to work on interesting lessons instead of taking up all my time with useless things. I am putting in 43 hours a week. That's plenty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

I agree. Part of what I like about my job is my interactions with kids. Although I went into administration, I know I don't want to go up any higher as I will have very limited interactions with kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

I agree. Part of what I like about my job is my interactions with kids. Although I went into administration, I know I don't want to go up any higher as I will have very limited interactions with kids.

Administrators interact with kids who are in trouble - unless you're some sort of magnet coordinator.

Answer this for me: How long were you a teacher before you made the leap? curious as to how long you managed to stay in the trenches - taking home work, grading for hours, etc. - before landing a higher-paying gig in admin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

- 20+ year vet

[Anonymous]

How are your students doing? If ok, then I don’t see a problem with this approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.....I meant to say "I can finally stand the thought of going back to school in a week"!

Was that a Freudian slip?

[Anonymous]

I work at a Title One school and I don't do too much beyond my teaching job. I come into work appr. 30 mins early and stay an hour or so afterwards but that's it. I don't bring work home more than 2-3 times per year. I have my own child to parent so therefore I cannot be a parent to my students. I don't feel one bit guilty for this. Some of my single colleagues work a lot more than I do but that is their choice. Now, if they could just get rid of the stupid meetings, all would be right with the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

- 20+ year vet

Love this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.....I meant to say "I can finally stand the thought of going back to school in a week"!

Was that a Freudian slip?

I'm sure it was on purpose to get more people to read

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your approach to your own happiness sounds like you are shorting your students. I bring work home and think of ideas to motivate people who want to learn. Please retire or give more effort.

- 20+ year vet

+100

I am not a teacher but our school district (MCPS) expects way more of teachers than is reasonable IMO. Especially since we are at a Focus school.