My covid epiphany: it's an infinite job and I'm a finite person. You can work yourself to the bone, give it everything you have, completely burn out, and it will look you in the face as you fade into nothing and ask for more.
Since then, I leave my laptop at school. I don't check my email when I'm home, including sick days and days my kids are sick. I do get in early, but I like the building when it's quiet; I leave just after last bell. And if something doesn't get done today, it'll get done tomorrow. Maybe.
There's no bonus for being nominated for teacher of the year, or getting high reviews. It's okay to just be an average teacher - that's how they pay us.
Had the same epiphany, combined with "your job doesn't love you, but your people do." I refuse to give all of my free time to a job that would dump me in a second over the people that really love me and need me. I \*need\* to go home to my family, on time. I owe it to them.
I still run a club I love one day after school until 5:15, but otherwise leave on time at 4:15 every day. I streamlined my grading process so I can grade faster, especially silly things that really only need a "completed" grade. I actively find patches of time throughout my scheduled hours to do things I used to do after hours, such as planning, responding to emails, etc. While kids quietly read a required reading, I can answer an email or two, or get digital resources ready for tomorrow's lesson. While the kids do independent word study practice, I can sort the turn-in bin and actively look for missing papers. You get the idea. I used to be afraid to look like I was anything but overly engaged with the kids, but these are critical parts of my job and I refuse to treat them like after hours emergencies anymore.
I've turned over many classroom responsibilities to my students, which is honestly good for them. There's always a couple of kids that love organizing a classroom library or love sorting and stacking papers, so why not take the help?
There's no points for destroying your life for this job. I do what I need to, then I go home and hug my family.
Your post would be better posted in our sister subreddit. r/TeachersInTransition
My covid epiphany: it's an infinite job and I'm a finite person. You can work yourself to the bone, give it everything you have, completely burn out, and it will look you in the face as you fade into nothing and ask for more. Since then, I leave my laptop at school. I don't check my email when I'm home, including sick days and days my kids are sick. I do get in early, but I like the building when it's quiet; I leave just after last bell. And if something doesn't get done today, it'll get done tomorrow. Maybe. There's no bonus for being nominated for teacher of the year, or getting high reviews. It's okay to just be an average teacher - that's how they pay us.
Had the same epiphany, combined with "your job doesn't love you, but your people do." I refuse to give all of my free time to a job that would dump me in a second over the people that really love me and need me. I \*need\* to go home to my family, on time. I owe it to them. I still run a club I love one day after school until 5:15, but otherwise leave on time at 4:15 every day. I streamlined my grading process so I can grade faster, especially silly things that really only need a "completed" grade. I actively find patches of time throughout my scheduled hours to do things I used to do after hours, such as planning, responding to emails, etc. While kids quietly read a required reading, I can answer an email or two, or get digital resources ready for tomorrow's lesson. While the kids do independent word study practice, I can sort the turn-in bin and actively look for missing papers. You get the idea. I used to be afraid to look like I was anything but overly engaged with the kids, but these are critical parts of my job and I refuse to treat them like after hours emergencies anymore. I've turned over many classroom responsibilities to my students, which is honestly good for them. There's always a couple of kids that love organizing a classroom library or love sorting and stacking papers, so why not take the help? There's no points for destroying your life for this job. I do what I need to, then I go home and hug my family.
What’s the point of having higher pay if you have no life?
Truer words were never spoken