A Week in the Life of a Teacher (Day 1).....Inspired by my colleague, I have decided to write about my life as a teacher for one week, for everyone, for someone, for no one in particular. In doing so, I hope others will gain some perspective about the often frustrating, stressful, exhilarating, and rewarding life that belongs to one in the teaching profession. Whether we choose to believe so or not, a teacher's life is intertwined with our "other" lives, as we choose to wear the many hats that exemplify who we are as teachers, but also as human beings.
7:35-7:50- Rushing to get dressed and get my hair done, I answer a phone call on my cell from a concerned parent. She apologized emphatically for calling so early but wanted to set up a meeting with me, regarding her son. I had an issue with him yesterday because he attempted to video record a student during instruction and I confiscated the phone from him. As I have a great rapport with the parent, I agreed to meet with her tomorrow after school (even though I tutor on Tuesdays). Before I know it, it's 8 a.m. and I'm hurrying my daughter up so she won't be late for the bus, while I head out the door.
8:00- 8:15 a.m.- En route to work, I'm in a somber mood because I realize I need three things.....more sleep, decaf coffee (no time to stop by Starbucks), and it's Monday and things are always hectic on Mondays.
8:20- 8:45 a.m.- As soon as I get to school, I go straight to the workroom and begin making copies. Warmups- check, Classwork assignment- check, Homework- check, parts of "Diary of Anne Frank" (since I don't have a class set)- double check. Just trying to beat my colleagues before the "copy rush." I notice a teacher crying with another teacher, over the death of a student they taught over the weekend. I don't have any words and just watch them comforting each other. I never taught the student but taught his brother and feel immense sympathy for the family, for my colleagues. We received a email from our admin over the weekend preparing us to comfort our students, if necessary. I'm a mother and I can't even imagine what his mother is going through right now, to have to bury her teenage son. Our children are supposed to bury us, not the other way around. I think to myself, life is too short and too precious. I quickly clean the desks and board with my infamous Mr, Clean, write their agenda, homework, EQ's, etc on the board and mentally prepare for my 1st period class.
8:50- 8:10:30 a.m.- I review the warm-up activity with my students. Half of my class isn't present. Absences and tardies are a frequent issue. As they begin working, I put on a little instrumental jazz and take attendance. Something pulls me away from it and I observe the room, noticing that one of my students isn't working but is just looking straight ahead, looking like she is ready to burst into tears. This student is usually talkative and cheerful, and normally works for me, very diligently I might add. Not today and I realize she is hurting about the sudden death and loss of her friend. I call on her and ask her to meet me outside of the classroom, while my co-teacher works with the students who are struggling a little with the warm-up. All I do is hold her and that was it.......she hugs me back, tightly and cries uncontrollably. I don't have any words but just hold her and allow her to grieve, realizing my own tears are falling just the same. Before I knew it, Mrs. K was by my side, comforting her too. She has that magic touch and my student realizes she doesn't have to bear the burden alone. K offered to take her to the office, while I gathered her things and tried to keep a calm composure. The students inside the classroom, sense my sorrow and ask if everything is alright. I reassure them and ask them to continue working. I talk to the students about what happened. I give a speech about how we never know what other people are going through so we have to be kind to one another and that if they ever feel lost or depressed, that they should know there is help out there and people around them who love and care for them. The class is silent and allow me to teach the rest of the lesson. We are learning about characterization and Ms. VZ and I take turns reading the story of Anne Frank, we discuss it, and the students complete part of the graphic organizer assigned to them. Before I know it, it's the end of class, and I realize we didn't have a chance to play the Kahoot game. I review the homework and the students are on their way, Perhaps due to the recent events, the students felt compelled to work and they did.
10:30- 12:00 p.m.- Five minutes before the bell rings, I'm outside my door both to greet the students and to fulfill my hallway duty during class change. I thank my colleague for being there for the students, and for being a beacon of hope to others. She is touched by my compliment and we hug in the hallway. I see one of the admins coming down the hall so I quickly return to my "spot" in the hallway. I decided to begin the class by talking about the student who died over the weekend. The class is awkwardly silent and I attempt to keep the consistency of the class moving forward. Again I review the warm-ups, play some jazz, and take attendance. I notice the student I had an issue with yesterday is unusually quiet and in a sense ignores me. A few of the students are off task. They are either staring at their papers, have their heads down, or begin a light conversation with their peers. I remind them of the expectations and answer a phone call. It's guidance letting me know that two of my students are skipping my class and they will try their best to get them to come to 2nd period. 10 minutes later, the "girls" show up and I quickly review what they are supposed to be doing. I teach the students about characterization, again I do a read- aloud with the students using "The Diary of Anne Frank" and again they complete their graphic organizer. The students participate for the most part with the discussion, the readings, and the assignment. It's a struggle getting through the lesson because not everyone is motivated. Typically, this class is usually a great class but some of the them don't like to read. Many of them don't read at grade level.
12:00- 2:00- 3rd period planning- I talk to a colleague about computer carts as my students need to test online for their English II benchmarks and I have to share a cart with another teacher. I send an email out to colleagues requesting use of their carts and attempt to eat my lunch and snacks. I'm feeling a little under the weather....thinking it's allergies. I'm congested, sneezy, and just feeling blah. I complain about it to a colleague and how it's taken every ounce of energy I have to muddle through. 12:55 and I realize I'm late for outside cafeteria duty. I ask another colleague if he can open the door to my classroom as he shares it with me for his 3rd period class. I quickly grab my coat and shades and head out the door. I'm thinking how chilly it is outside and begin my tirade walking around the bench area, greeting students, and making sure they are behaving decently. One random student compliments my boots. Another student who I previously taught and who always skipped my class, shyly waves at me from a distance, looking guilty, even though she doesn't have me anymore. 1:15 pm- I head back to the workroom only to answer a phone call that was for me, reminding me to fill out the roster sheets with all the LEP, IEP, and 504 students to prepare for benchmarks. I quickly complete the sheets, make more copies, and run to the library to turn the sheets in to my curriculum coordinator, with only a few minutes to spare to use the bathroom. I'm feeling stressed out and rushed, again preparing myself for 4th period class, which can be challenging.
2:00- 3:40 pm- Again, no bells due to ACT make-ups. Somehow, I'm cognizant of the time and doing hallway duty once again, outside of my classroom. I usher one of the students to hand out the warm-ups. The process begins again with a student motioning to me, not to mention the student who passed away. I explain that this is something we need to talk about and I do. The students sit in silence, pondering what I tell them about grief, loss, and life. This class is actually my favorite because I've had these students for three semesters and they feel comfortable enough to talk with me and they are always more engaged in the lessons. As I'm teaching, I noticed two students off task, begin laughing for no reason at all. Another student is attempts to sneak a whole bunch of candy in his mouth. I remind the students discreetly of the expectations, and keep the lesson moving. For the most part, they are engaged by participating in the discussion and completing their assignments. Being self -reflective, I think about what I could have done differently with the lesson.
3:40- 4:00 p.m.- I realize we have a staff meeting today. I quickly gather my things, send a quick text to my daughter, telling her I will be home late again due to the meeting. I head to the library, still feeling blah but this time way more exhausted then earlier in the day. Our principal talks to the staff about teacher absences and the fact that too many teachers are calling out on Fridays, with unfulfilled jobs, which is taxing on the teachers who are present to cover the classrooms. A colleague asks the question of what would happen if they are "indeed sick" and no one picks up our jobs. Will we be expected to work or to find coverage for our classes? The response is that if we are sick, we are sick and our secretary will help find coverage but that logically, every teacher can't be always sick on Fridays. I ponder that thinking, while she has a point, why is that teachers are mostly calling out on Fridays? Apparently, this isn't just a RJR problem, it's a district wide problem. What does it say about this profession and why teachers are desperate for a "three day weekend?" Still more at the meeting....."message of the month" about changing student mindsets, our communications meeting rep talks about changing up Daily Demon to keep teachers better informed, ROTC video (which was pretty inspiring), and still more messages from another admin. I'm brain fried and thinking all sorts of things. After the meeting and in silence, I make the trek to the parking lot, to my car, with thoughts of home.....the only moment today where I feel at peace.
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