A Day in the Life of a Teacher...Part 1

 

This image explains it a lot...but not all.

    There is no doubt that teachers are f**king awesome. They are superheroes, janitors, moms/dads, nurses, planners, interior decorators, data analysts, organizers, steel bladders, public speakers, and fast eaters...oh, I forgot...teachers. 

    BUT, there are a lot of misconceptions that parents, administrators, and students believe in. Most outsiders think teachers just get to sit in the comfy rocking chair in front of perfect children reading children's books and coloring all day. 

    There aren't actually any words that I can think of to describe what a teacher does in ONE DAY let alone an entire week. One thing I know is I didn't have any comfy chairs, just ones made for 1st graders.

    Now, it's been a couple of years since I've had the pleasure *sarcasm* of being a teacher but this was a typical day. I'll do my best to add everything, but I know there will be things I miss. Add those I miss in the comments.

    5:45am- The alarm goes off and you have to take a shower/get ready without waking anyone in the house. Picture it: it's dark and cold. Somehow you have to find an outfit that is comfortable enough to wear all day and business at the same time. HEAVEN FORBID YOU CHOOSE TO WEAR JEANS!!! And if you are a person who wears makeup, good effin' luck doing that in the dark.

    6:30am- You have successfully filled your travel mug with caffeine, packed your lunch, and grabbed your gigantic tote bag full of work you DIDN'T do. (Note to current teachers: I NEVER took work home. I was a master at time management in school. Comment if you want some tips). Now, you get to enjoy the peace and quiet of your car on your way to work. Unless to take the subway or bus to work...invest in headphones.

    7:30am - You've arrived at work (an hour early). You keep your coat on because the heat has barely been on and your room is frigid, but your neighbor's room is as hot as balls. You do all your prep for the day. Write the date, homework, and objectives on the board, update the calendar, sharpen pencils, check your email, respond accordingly, make copies for the day (especially if you're the type of teacher who forgets constantly), chit-chat with coworkers, and lose track of the time.

    8:30am- A group, a pod, a horde, a murder of 20-25 mini-humans rush through the door. For the first time in the day, you smile. It's a genuine smile (because that murder of kids is deceiving). They are excited beyond words to see you, the same person they've seen every day. You are the stability for them. You are a cheerleader and a comfort. They tell you crazy stories about how they stayed up until 1:00 playing video games but didn't have time to do their homework. Some of them are hungry because the only food they get on the regular is at school. Some are dressed the exact same as the day before. All of that is OK because you are greeting them with a smile.     Shit...you forgot to eat breakfast.

    9:00am - lunch- You teach your damn heart out. You spent HOURS building perfect lesson plans to have little Timmy throw up on the carpet during it. 😩 Now, you have to call the janitor, postpone your lesson until tomorrow, and readjust the homework that you planned to give. You reinforce the rules....constantly...even though the kids came up with them together on the first day of school. You can't yell the obscenities that are swirling in your head when Darla asks you to repeat the directions, again. (I'm sorry, but for any admin or parent that doesn't understand this, we are TRAINED in college and through student teaching, to say the directions five times in five different ways. So, sue us if we flip out on your child when they ask that question.)  

    Random thought: Did you drink any of your caffeinated drinks? No? Well, now they're cold. You don't have time to make another one. Good luck.

    Planning Period: Hopefully, you're a lucky one to have a planning in the morning. What will you do? Grade? Check folders? Make another cup of coffee? Pee? NO! You are in a meeting about Responsive Classroom for the twentieth time despite earning the certificate in the summer training. You're in a grade-level meeting. You're taking a little cat nap on your desk. You are doing a Parent Teacher Conference with that problem child...again. You are hiding in your "intruder-drill spot" crying to yourself. 

 Do you know what teachers aren't doing? PLANNING! 

    I realized as I was typing this, I had to change the name of the title. This post was getting way too long and I wasn't even to lunchtime yet!! So, I had to make this part 1.  

    A little louder for those in the back: TEACHING IS HARD AND STRESSFUL. 

    We are expected to be on point and happy every minute of every day. That's... hold on let me do some higher level math...I taught 1st graders... 2,400 minutes we have to be all the jobs I listed at the top of this post. Can you imagine that? If you said no, then lobby to get teachers more money and more societal appreciation. Pass any education levies that come up on the ballot whether you have children still in school or not.

    Part 2...the afternoon...the witching hour...coming soon. 😅