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.

How can I help my child's teacher?

My dearest friend asked that I write a post about practical things you can do for your child's teacher to help her/him.  After being in the classroom for 5 years and a school aged child's parent for a year, I guess I could be considered qualified.  I have a lot to say on the subject and am considering a more in depth series in October, but to get the school year started, here are 10 things you can do to help your child's overworked and grossly underpaid teacher.

1. Buy extra packs or boxes of tissue and Ziploc bags, bottles of hand sanitizer, and dry erase markers.  Send them in to the classroom.  Also, after the first few days of school, find out if she has a wish list (most do), buy a couple items off the list.
2. If you have time (about 1 hour a week), offer to file papers to be sent home.  These can be papers that you take home and do while you are watching TV or done in the classroom.
3. Cut out laminated items.  Again this can be done while watching TV during the evening.
4. Ask if there are any upcoming picture books that your child's teacher will be using that she doesn't have.  Buy it and send it in.
5.  If your child's school does not have a person to make copies, see if you can help make copies for the classroom.
6.  Send her a supportive and encouraging note from either you or your child.  Some of the most memorable ones I received included Bible verses and specific examples of how I impacted the life of the child.
7.  Chocolate.
8.  Send her flowers/gift cards for coffee places/book stores.  They don't have to be high dollar amounts, but most teachers spend about $500 out of pocket for classroom supplies.  A cup of free coffee is deeply regarded.
9.  Buy bags of individually wrapped fun size candy and send them in.  Most teachers have some kind of prize/treasure box.  I would stay away from candy that has peanuts or tree nuts due to numerous allergies in the classroom.
10.  Most teachers could use additional playground equipment/board games for indoor recess/sidewalk chalk.

BONUS:
11.  If you notice a teacher in the check out lane in front of you buying 25 packs of crayons, 25 glues sticks, 25 folders, 25 pairs of scissors, buy them for her if you can afford it.  It might not be your child's teacher, but she is some parent's child's teacher.  She will never forget it!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that you need to pray for your child's teacher!  It takes a lot of time, energy, and patience to teach.  It is comforting to know that people are praying for you!

I hope this helps for all you moms that are going to send your babies off to school for the first time soon! 

If you have any other ideas, post a comment.  I am sure we would all like more ideas to help our kids' teachers!