Moms who are teachers- need some advice

Do you have any tips, advice, etc, for me? I went back last Monday, just to wrap up the year and get a jump on next year (since I will be teaching many of the same kids, and I will have to move into a new classroom).

I am so overwhelmed already, trying to get plans done, grade papers, etc. My replacement left me with two classrooms that are disaster areas and had no rules, so it's like September in some ways.

How do you get it all done?

Message edited 5/30/2007 8:04:30 PM.

Re: Moms who are teachers- need some advice (long)

They only thing that I can say is that it does get easier. You will get into the swing of things again. I felt the same way in the beginning. I also work through my prep and lunch to get as much done as I can.

I think I'm much easier on myself too. I'm not as much of a perfectionist at work. I have more of a "It'll get done when it get's done" attitude. I guess my prioriities changed.

Message edited 5/30/2007 8:08:11 PM.

Re: Moms who are teachers- need some advice

I will say this, I went back in September, and it really took me a while to get my groove back. It used to take me a week or two to really sink back in, it took me at least three or four months to get back into it, and I think that has to do with the fact that my priorities are totally different in life now. Work used to be the main focus of my life before I had Ava, now it's completely meaningless compared to what I go home to everyday. I have no trouble focusing while at work, but I just don't find it to be nearly as important as I used to. I still love it, and I still enjoy going to school everyday, but I have a much different outlook on things. So, in some ways, I guess I never really got back into it the same way.
On the upside, I find that I have a better understanding of the children now that I'm a mom. I know it seems silly, but I think I have even more patience with them now.
Hang in there, it's overwhelming to go back, ESPECIALLY if you are walking into someone else's mess that they've made. It will be much better in September when EVERYONE starts new.

Re: Moms who are teachers- need some advice

I went back to school after maternity leave in December and most of my students were new to me--so it was a bit of a tough adjustment based solely on those two factors. I felt like I was OUT OF CONTROL for at least two months.

I never do work at home (well, *did*--I'm home now)--I got to work by 6:40am and did all my grading in the mornings. Also, if they didn't get their papers back in a timely fashion--oh well It sort of helped that I had been teaching for like 10 years as well. Well, that was good and bad--I often took the easy way out: old plans, etc, but, hey, it worked.

To be honest, I never was the teacher I was before I was a parent--sometimes that really disappointed me, but we do what we can, you know?

You are going to feel stressed, but trust me, it DOES get sooo much easier and I'll bet you'll be refreshed and back in the full swing of things in September--I'm jealous!!

Re: Moms who are teachers- need some advice

I just went back at the end of April after 4 mos out. It took me up until last week to get back into the swing of things. I used to go in 30 minutes earlier everyday to prep for the day, now I get there only 10 minutes earlier and do the most important things. I used to hang out adn talk during preps and all of my lunch, now I work through my prep and leave 5 minutes to chat and work for the first 10 minutes of my lunch adn then have lunch. I need to take a break and regroup for my own sanity. I am extremley organized so I make my plans for the following week on Friday, make any copies and get all the materials out and ready so come MOnday I have it all ready to go. As soon as the bell rings im out the door and I totally leave work at the door. Hang in there you can do it.