Teaching running you into the ground? Me too! I am constantly exhausted and explaining to people why having extra holidays doesn’t mean I never get tired or run down. I come up with my top 5 reasons why teachers get run into the ground:
1. The Fast and the Furious. It is like a drag race all year. You start each term with a bang. No taking it easy after holidays. No putting things on hold. No changing things around. It’s BANG! Racing off the starting line without slowing down.
2. Really, what holidays? Teachers often work on the holidays anyway. Unless you go on an actual holiday, many teachers catch up on things that they could not do during the term. As soon as we stop and sit, we often get sick. Yes, those dreaded flu bugs, viruses and germs that we held off until holidays, find us and knock us out. Professional development is often a focus on the holidays as you have five minutes to yourself to actually read. Don’t forget planning for the next term or semester.
3. Breaks, what breaks? Eating lunch under five minutes, while standing on yard duty, as you are photocopying, judging paperwork or supervising kids. Teachers are masters at scoffing food in under 60 seconds.
4. Mountains of extras. Yes unpaid! How many of us attend fairs, parent meetings, masses, whole school celebrations, parent information evenings, graduation celebrations, Christmas functions, Easter Functions, PD nights? Should I go on? What most people don’t realise is that teachers do so many hidden, unpaid and unrecognised extras.
5. Did I mention that we are around children the whole time? Yes. We love teaching and adore the kids we teach. But lets be honest. They are in your face 24/7. Asking questions, wanting drinks, excited to share, dobbing, complaining that they are hot or cold, clarifying things- its exhausting. I am guilty of hiding in my closet for 2 minutes to have a silent scream or peace for a bit.
So, to the non-teaching public, next time you say “Oh, but you get holidays and finish at 3:30” please, think of this article. To all of the teachers out there, I feel your pain and I acknowledge your exhaustion. Even though every single second is worth it!
#twocreativeteachers #education #teaching #tired
1. The Fast and the Furious. It is like a drag race all year. You start each term with a bang. No taking it easy after holidays. No putting things on hold. No changing things around. It’s BANG! Racing off the starting line without slowing down.
2. Really, what holidays? Teachers often work on the holidays anyway. Unless you go on an actual holiday, many teachers catch up on things that they could not do during the term. As soon as we stop and sit, we often get sick. Yes, those dreaded flu bugs, viruses and germs that we held off until holidays, find us and knock us out. Professional development is often a focus on the holidays as you have five minutes to yourself to actually read. Don’t forget planning for the next term or semester.
3. Breaks, what breaks? Eating lunch under five minutes, while standing on yard duty, as you are photocopying, judging paperwork or supervising kids. Teachers are masters at scoffing food in under 60 seconds.
4. Mountains of extras. Yes unpaid! How many of us attend fairs, parent meetings, masses, whole school celebrations, parent information evenings, graduation celebrations, Christmas functions, Easter Functions, PD nights? Should I go on? What most people don’t realise is that teachers do so many hidden, unpaid and unrecognised extras.
5. Did I mention that we are around children the whole time? Yes. We love teaching and adore the kids we teach. But lets be honest. They are in your face 24/7. Asking questions, wanting drinks, excited to share, dobbing, complaining that they are hot or cold, clarifying things- its exhausting. I am guilty of hiding in my closet for 2 minutes to have a silent scream or peace for a bit.
So, to the non-teaching public, next time you say “Oh, but you get holidays and finish at 3:30” please, think of this article. To all of the teachers out there, I feel your pain and I acknowledge your exhaustion. Even though every single second is worth it!
#twocreativeteachers #education #teaching #tired
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