Dear we are teachers,
My first grade partner’s teacher told her in a group text that she would not be coming back after recess. I can’t help but think about what I need to do to prepare for her long-term sub job. Not to mention how pissed off I am that my co-worker quit in the middle of the holidays. What do I need to do now? What can I put off later? I feel like this will ruin my break.
–I couldn’t wait?!
Dear TCHW
As teachers, we understand that we are programmed to overpay, overprepare, and sacrifice personal time for work that is poorly supported. But don’t do that in this case.
Don’t start writing long-term sub-lessons. Don’t look for a replacement. Don’t start living in a future where you don’t have to feel stressed yet. In fact, more than anything, you need time to rest in preparation for the upcoming semester. Instead, leave the emphasis now to the principal. That’s why they get paid such high (OK, maybe even higher) salaries.
During the rest of your break, if you think of something else to do, write it down in your diary or in a note on your phone. This way you can forget about your tasks by knowing they’re all in one place and accessible when you’re ready.
It may feel like everything is falling apart right now, but ask yourself, “What if everything went well?” Even if it takes time, it will always work out.
Dear we are teachers,
When I come back from my two-day winter break, I can’t get over the fact that the weekend is coming. It feels like a complete waste. How do you make sure that a two-day junior high school history class doesn’t end up being boring and bombarding you with important content that you’ll quickly forget?
—Who made this calendar?
Dear WMTC
Some ideas from the first two days (just venting here):
Stare at a blank Word document and slowly let yourself slip into a fugue state. Let’s take everyone outside and take a nap. Assign the student you trust the most. Please show me the VHS Titanic. First cassette on day 1, second cassette on day 2. (They’ll be fine. They’ll have time to recover over the weekend.)
Okay, don’t do that. First, let’s change the topic here. Believe it or not, I actually love the idea of two days a week for everyone. Two days may seem pointless, but do you really want to come back for five? (Shudder.) These two days are used to acclimate, reset expectations and procedures, and prepare for a full week of work. I think it’s the perfect time to kind of “warm up” before heading back.
Instead, here are two better ideas.
Prepare students with just the vocabulary or the background knowledge they will need for the next unit. It’s not a very difficult task, but it will put you in the right frame of mind for the upcoming week. Try a team-building activity or start a new routine together. Building a strong community is not easy. This will provide a solid foundation for the rest of the semester.
It’s not as dramatic as Titanic on VHS, but the good thing is you won’t get fired.
Dear we are teachers,
Some students have “priority seating” in their IEPs. He knows a lot about his IEP and claims that this means he gets to choose his seat each day, which is very annoying to my seating chart (and other students). I don’t want it to seem like I’m resisting what he needs, but doesn’t “prioritize” mean using my discretion to choose what is least bothersome to him?
—Profesora preferential treatment
Dear PP,
It turns out that “priority” has many different meanings. In my experience, that often meant “what is in the child’s best interest” rather than “where the child would like to sit.” However, IEPs typically include additional clarifying language.
First, check with your IEP/SpEd coordinator for clarification. Wanting to understand doesn’t mean pushing back! If “preference” means your child’s preference, they’ll likely know that and provide feedback on how it’s working. The IEP team may consider reconvening to review how its accommodations are working.
Have a burning question? Email us at askweareTeachers@weareTeachers.com.
Dear we are teachers,
To illustrate how unpleasant our holiday parties are every year, let me describe some real-life situations. 1) A cooking teacher is dressed as Santa and is actively trying to convince his teachers (especially young female teachers) to sit on his lap. 2) Our vice principal got drunk and fell into a Christmas tree and had to be rushed to the hospital due to a glass ornament embedded in his skin. 3) One year, the same vice principal cornered me drunk and we cried for two hours about our divorce (we barely knew each other). I always feel very uncomfortable at this party. How do I tone it down without sounding like a complete party scumbag?
—Probably the poor guy at the party
