A Day in the Life (Day 2)

Personally, the key to understanding the perspective of someone else lies in appreciating their life.  What are their days like?  What burdens do they carry?  Understanding your child's teacher is no different.

Have you ever been frustrated because your child's teacher didn't e-mail you back right away?  Or did the teacher forget to send a note home about behavior that day?  Did the Monday work folders come home on Tuesday?  All those things are frustrating from our perspective especially without the basis of knowledge of all the things that a teacher is asked to do in a day.   So here is a glimpse into a day in my life as a teacher.  Here is my disclaimer:  This was typical of my schedule at my school in North Carolina, but I am going to assume that many teachers have the same experience.

5:15 am  Wake up, shower, eat breakfast
6:00 am  Wake up kids, dress them, shove breakfast in them
6:30 am  Leave house to drop kids off at carpool and daycare
7:15 am  Arrive at school, check box in office, make final preparations for the day, check e-mail, return parent phone calls
7:35 am  First bell and students arrive - Greet every kid, check in field trip money and receipt it
7:55 am  School officially starts for the day
8:00 am  Whole group reading - Teach the entire class reading concepts.  Go over homework from the night before.  Spelling, vocabulary, writing, hands-on activities all happen during this time.
9:45 am  Guided reading-Students are grouped according to their reading levels.  The teacher works with a small group of 6 students one phonics and comprehension.  Monitor students who are "working" at centers.  Assess students reading abilities and take notes.
10:30 am Take students to Specials (Music, PE, Art).  Go to grade level meeting with administration.  Discuss data, review students' Personal Education Plans, problem solve.  Use the restroom and have a snack if time allows.
11:20 am Pick up students from Specials
11:25 am Start Math review
11:30 am Students go to lunch.  Walk students to cafeteria.  Grade papers, check e-mail, eat, go to the bathroom.
11:55 am Pick up students.
12:00 pm Math whole group instruction and small group instruction.  Teach and review math concepts.  Work with small groups and monitor student behavior in centers.
1:20 pm  Recess.  Ensure that students are play safely and fairly.
1:50 pm  Science and Social Studies.
2:20 pm  Pack up for dismissal
2:30 pm  Dismissal
3:00 pm  Staff meeting or Individual Education Plan Meeting or Planning meeting or grade papers
4:30 pm  Prepare for next day of instruction
5:00 pm  Leave for the day and pick up kids
5:45 pm  Dinner, homework, stories, practice, laundry...
9:30 pm  Fall into bed to repeat tomorrow

This example didn't include PTA meetings or a field trip that returned at 8:00 pm.  This is a typical day.  So, the next time your child's teacher forgets to sign the note or return the phone call, won't you extend some grace?  One gentle reminder will generally solve the problem and keep your relationship intact with your child's teacher! 

My second disclaimer: if not returning phone calls, e-mails, or notes is a chronic problem, it will need to be addressed with the teacher.  I will delve into advice on how to handle those situations later in this series.