Question for first year teachers??

Question

how do you maintain energy after you come home and need to do your lesson plans? any tips on how you actually go through with it?

Answer 1

16 year teacher here. Here is what I do:

I get to school at 6:45. this leaves me about an hour uninterrupted on most days to do things while I am mentally there. I usually stay an hour after work - but rarely get any planning done then - thats time for helping students and organizing my next day. I also commit to work from about 7-11am every weekend morning. This time is split between grading and planning. This split between the morning and the weekends allows me to relax at home when I need it after work. Sometimes my brain is just fried - I need to have time set aside when im fresh.

My lesson plans are not formal at all. My school does not require it, but I do have a fairly detailed plan on my computer.

Finally - and the most important... (really, this is the key for me...) time off from school is not really vacation. Since the kids got out in June, I have worked *every* day on plans. I have powerpoints ready for most of all my units, My units are set, I have a pacing plan that I created, I have experiments and demonstrations for each of my units as well as hands on math labs for the year. If I had to do this *during* the school year - it would be impossible. The planning during the year can then be spent on adjusting based on kids needs.

I can't tell you how many teacher I know who are mystified that some of us do this - and then I see them freaking out. I mentor new teachers and try to get them to see the importance of using *all* your time.

Good luck to you!

Answer 2

I've been teaching for 23 years, and this is tough even now. Set yourself a time limit when you get home...maybe one hour. Then put the stuff away. You will become more efficient in planning as time goes on. Get away from it at night...it will keep you fresh for the next day.

Answer 3

Drink LOTS of coffee and don't sit down until 8 p.m.    Once you relax, you're doomed!

Answer 4

Your first year is difficult but trust me it will get lots easier. I personally don't do formal lesson plans anymore and I've been teaching for -going on my 5th year.

I use a plan book and have a general idea but lesson planning is unrealistic - unless you have to turn them into your principal (which is also ridiculous).

Energy... I always eat breakfast like cereal which is essential to keep you going. When I get home from school, I take a quick nap probably 1 hour. Typically I plan for the entire week not the night before. I will save Sunday evening to plan out my whole week and if I'm feel particularly on top of things, I will plan for 2 weeks. Any longer and it will just change. I also plan the general idea of what I want to do for the year prior to the school year starting.

I also try to fill my energy but attempting to do things that I want to do like excercise, taking walks, going out to dinner with a friend. You NEED that in order to be a good teacher or else you will be too burned out and will be worthless to your students.

Lastly don't sign up for every any committes your first year - it's too much to handle .If you have to do at least 1, then sign up for social committe or something. Literacy and math team are too time consuming.

Answer 5

I plan on Sunday afternoons and my friends and family know not to bother me then.  Make sure you take time for yourself every day or you will burn yourself out.  

The first year is the roughest because you will constantly overplan.  It will get better and will not be so time consuming.

Answer 6

Like the other two said, it does get easier.  I am just starting my second year of teaching.  It is difficult during the first few weeks especially!  I just had my first day and I am wiped out...but I know I will build up my energy level as I get used to it all.  I usually lesson plan on Thursdays/Fridays for the following week.  I work probably 12 + hours on Thursday so I don't have to do so much on the weekends, or the following week.  Also, take time for yourself and do something you enjoy.  I like to workout, so I joined a health club and make myself go 3 times a week.  IT DOES GET EASIER! JUST HANG ON! =)    

Answer 7

Well I am a third year teacher, but my policy has become "Just do it".  I quite honestly felt like a robot half the time I did lesson plans my first year...especially in the begining.  But you just do it, push through and know this will probably be the roughest part.

But I have NEVER seen or heard of any school or teacher EVER doing those three page lesson plans for one lesson like they make you do in college.  That was the biggest waste of time in college if you ask me.

Setting up a schedule is great.  My husband plays cards with his friends on Wednesday's so I always make my plans that night when the house is nice and quite (obviously we do not have children yet).  I then do all the preparation Thursday and Friday so I can get all the other piddly stuff done during my plan time Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  No one ever tells you about the piddly stuff in college.

Answer 8

It depends on what you are teaching - I could only get a preschool position the first year so mostly I came home and cried every night while cutting out projects for the following day.  (At the time I didn't know that I had fibromyalgia, but that made it all way worse.)

It gets easier - just keep reminding yourself of this - we all say it and it is true.  I know that doesn't give you any energy, but that's all I got.

Oh, and use every minute of planning time you have at school and always be ready for plan B.  If it's not going the way you thought it would, change gears and don't dwell on it - learn from it and do it differently next time.  Do general planning for a week or even a unit at a time and then just review the night before.