This week has been a bit of a roller coaster for me. It was my first week at 80% teaching load, and I started off the week with a hopeful and excited attitude; my classes on Monday went well and I was excited for it to set the tone for the week. However, after coaching the badminton practice Monday, I started to feel muscle aches and that evening, I was suffering from a fever, aches, and pains… I had caught the flu. Unfortunately I had to take two days off, which I was largely unprepared for. Looking back, I probably should have communicated more with and prepared more notes for my sponsor teachers who were teaching my classes. This has definitely been a lesson for myself to plan a more detailed lesson plan in case of my absence.
As we approach Spring Break what differences are you noticing in your school, with yourself, the students, the other teachers, etc? Teachers are often criticized about how much time off we have. Do you feel that a two week spring break will be too long for you or do you feel it is justified and why?
This Wednesday was also the day that report card marks were due. The idea that classes and projects are wrapping up seems to make everyone feel a little hurried and stressed. The usual conversation among teachers was how students were very last minute in handing in assignments and doing make-up tests, and therefore teachers had little time to enter in marks. Students, on the other hand, are already talking about what they are doing during their two weeks off; I’ve also seen a lot more students absent without excuse for my classes. I personally feel like I am ready for a break, but I also have a very exciting week planned for the students so as to keep them attending and engaged. The last day will be clean up, but I hope to perhaps have an incentive (snacks?) for students to come and try their best to clean.
I think a two-week break is just what teachers need after they have been teaching from beginning of January to mid-March. Even though I have only started in February at a 20% load to begin with, I have already gotten ill twice, and need some time to re-set. I can’t imagine how much more regular teachers would appreciate this time! I also think it is a great time to look back and re-assess what has gone well, and think of ways to improve my teaching practice.
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