While it can be argued by some teachers that snow days are always good because they provide an overworked employee with a spontaneous day off, I have to ask, "At what cost?" It seems that a snow day or a personal day or a sick day can throw a wrench into your routine as well as throwing off your entire lesson plan for the week. After these days off I felt like I had some things more under control, but they were more limited to my extra duties for college. Things at my school were still giving me stress and lesson planning didn't stop and grading never got easier. You would think a spontaneous day off should be a little more of a day off.
There are a couple things that I learned from this. First, I do not think I would be willing to take a personal day if I had to make several sub plans to keep my classes going. It wouldn't be my first choice. Second, while snow days are fun and exciting for me as a student teacher or for some new teachers they can be great stressors since there is now more of a time crunch on your class. Third, sometimes teachers just need to know when to walk away from school stuff. I believe you can always make a lesson better and better and better, but there needs to be a point where I can say, "That's a really good lesson. I know there are things I could improve upon or practice more, but I can look over it during planning period too."
With all this in mind I am thankful that I got all the time off so I could focus on things that aren't school related at all like friends and hobbies and exercise. Now just looking ahead at next week it's a little daunting to think about how much we still have to cover, but I just have to believe that it will all work out.
Moral of the story: Don't spend an entire day off thinking about school..sometimes you just have to go build a snowman.
Great point, and remember that having 3 days off and a late start all in one week is not very common. The random one day off can be a much needed break for both teachers and students. We had so much sickness going around that I think the extra time off may have been a good thing last week.
ReplyDeleteI know that some districts are going to the "learn from home" snow days, so they aren't really days off. I'm curious how this works and if students are getting anything out of it.
I agree- what a weird week! We had two snow days and a pep rally day which led to barely 30 min classes, if that. It is so hard to start and stop and expect students to know what they should be doing! I did love the snow days but at the same time when I was erasing my plan book and trying to figure out how we would fit everything in, I became a little stressed out! But like you said, everything will work out!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree, snow days are fun but it almost takes more work to re-plan! I was going to have my students test on Friday but after 2 snow days, there was no way that was going to happen. It can be stressful trying to fit everything in but stressing doesn't change anything, so I try to remind myself that it will all work out as well. I definitely enjoyed the snow days though and used them to catch up on some sleep and school stuff!
ReplyDeleteI loved your title and moral at the end! With two kids, I try to take a couple hours every day to just focus on them instead of school, but I'm coming to realize that I need some me time too. Sometimes that means getting up an hour earlier in the morning before anyone is awake, and sometimes it means just sitting in my car a few minutes after school before going home, but personal time and balance in our lives is so important.
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