As teachers, how can we carve out time for ourselves? What systems do we have to ensure are in ?

Question

As a teacher, do you have time for yourself?

If not then, how can we, as teachers, carve out time for ourselves? What systems do we have to ensure are in place so that we don't become overwhelmed and subject to burn out?

Answer 1

one option is to have students grade themselves on their homework. set a few minutes aside every day for this activity. you can write down the answers/dictate them/make a list ... of the answers you expect, ask students to exchange their books, & as you read out the answers, they will mark the right/wrong ones. then you can randomly check any books to see if all is going well - no cheating, etc. You can improvise as you go along. This will decrease your workload. try to make the whole exercise as random & incentive-oriented as possible so that even the kids are motivated to mark correctly.

similarly, you can have a small quick spot test [5-10 Qs] every week covering the subject matter covered the previous week where the students again do the marking {or you can do it} - this will give you a very good idea of the progress being made & where, if any, alterations/revisions are to be made before moving forward to more complex concepts.

delegate to students and involve them instead of taking on all the load on yourself. if you are teaching a lower grade, the kids will love to help you out with little chores around the classroom. but you have to get them all excited & make them feel responsible with a sense of belongingness too. so think of a star system or some such incentive system which is displayed on the class board so that they come forward [as individuals or better still as a group] to help & be part of the whole teaching-learning process & learn by doing rather than just rote.

and always Preplan - whether its a lesson to be taught or an activity to be done or a test to be given & the answer sheet/marking system to be prepared or a trip to be taken. you don't have to literally stick to the plan; but if you have invested time in thinking ahead, it becomes easier to improvise as the situation demands, and you don't become overwhelmed or lose your temper...



hope some of this helped. sorry about the length of the answer.

i'm sure you'll generate your own ideas

all the best

Answer 2

Try and do as much planning and grading as you can in school,even iif you have to come in early or stay late. Try and find another teacher to plan with and share ideas,this might shorten you planning time. Make sure to set aside some time each night and especially on weekends to do something you enjoy.Teaching is a hard job,but you must not let it overwhelm you.

Answer 3

For me, I go to school a little bit early in the morning and stay for about 1/2 an hour after the students leave.  This gives me time to grade papers, plan lessons, and anything else I need to do.

I NEVER take work home.  When I get home, it is time to focus on my family.  Of course there is the twice monthly manni/peddi.  My husand is also in tune with my fed-upness and he will send me out for some time at the mall.  I usually don't buy anything, but I get away for a while and maybe take in a movie.

Long hot soaks in the bathtub can also help.

Answer 4

If you are one of those teachers that come in early and lave late, then you will probably burn out. I am organized enough that I usually come in a half hour early and only stay a half hour after. I have a child so I can't stay or come early. Every now and then I might go in a couple of hours on the weekend. At home I do a lot of work like grading papers, but I am usually doing something else at the same time.