TEACHERS - how do you cope when you feel like crap?

[Ilythia]

I am doing a PGCE and am on my first placement in a lovely school, but I have a horrible cold. I lost my voice for a few days and am now hacking and sniffling through my classes.
How do you manage when you feel shitty? The kids are all backing away when I try and help them!

Go home and stay there. I am a teacher and I don't want your germs!
Seriously, you are doing yourself and your colleagues no favours by struggling in. I have no sympathy for the walking dead.

Yes, have a few days off, please!

I remember being told when doing my PGCE that you go in for your placements unless you are so ill you can't walk. Noone really cares if you can't go in because you're ill. I agree with Panzee - noone wants your germs.

It won't get better if you don't take the time to recover - you need to protect your voice. No voice, no teach!

Ilythia - me too. I have lost my voice tonight, tomorrow is going to be fun. I shall take a mini-whiteboard and write instructions.

If only it were as simple as "take a day off". If I take a day off, I have to set work for all my classes. This will take hours, as it's a lot easier just to teach them. I will then have to mark all the set work when I get back. I know that if I wasn't in, my colleagues would have to cover my lessons, and will feel very guilty. I won't be able to ask them to do experiments, either (science teacher). I will also miss the student I had promised to help catch up some missed work at lunchtime.

I reckon as a teacher you're just as likely to get germs from the students as fellow teachers - I certainly spend more time with them. School is like a plague pit in the autumn term. If anyone with a cold stayed at home there would be hardly anybody there!

Don't set work when you're ill. Please. No wonder teachers feel overworked, they're their own worst enemies sometimes.

I often go in when I feel ill as quite frankly it is easier to go in and set some independent work than to plan new lessons and send in cover work.

I draw the line at vomiting at work though.

I have also learned from experience that when your voice starts to go you should stop.

I am not going near the teachers and have been commended by the HT for going in so daren't not, have heard teachers slagging another student for going home sick 'when we have to struggle on'.
My voice is back (this happens a lot for me, I lose my voice rather than get a cold) but the head cold is still there.
Not going in is not an option, I am teaching my first few classes this week and the school is short staffed as it is because of this cold so there is no-one else to cover!

Yeah, the voice was intersting but luckily I was observing the last few days so got away with it

I would imagine that if you don't set work your classes will do nothing and cause trouble for everyone. Or you cause your HOD even more work and stress in the morning.

I do hate setting cover work, after spending one morning vomiting over my laptop trying to plan cover I decided that we would plan one of lessons that could be used in an emergency for classes. Even then I would rather set proper cover work if it is an exam class in particular.

as a parent and a human being I know what you mean about struggling in but I feel there should be a law about people stepping outside when they are ill. I would not appreciate you possibly spreading your germs to my little ones. Having said that I am not the kind you wanted to respond so I will shut up and wish you luck.

Panzee I am listening to you, I cannot not go in. We have been warned that more than 2 weeks off over the year for ANY reason will mean we will be borderline to pass, 15 days and we fail. I have 2 small children and need as many days as possible 'saved' in case they get in.
I promise not to come near you though!

Berroca. Rest all weekend if you can. Only do the bare minimum. I agree with those saying it's easier to go in.

It's all very well saying don't set cover, but if I don't someone else will have to, and they've enough work to do. If the work isn't appropriate it's the kids that will suffer.

One thing that worried me though, Ilythia:

"Not going in is not an option, I am teaching my first few classes this week and the school is short staffed as it is because of this cold so there is no-one else to cover!"

You should not be taking classes on your own, and certainly aren't counted in staffing levels during PGCE. If the teacher your class 'belongs' to is ill, you should be accompanied by a cover teacher.

Panzee - if I don't set work my HOD will have to do it. She has enough on.
It is expected at my school that you do set work, unless you are actually too ill to do so (vomiting over the keyboard probably comes into that category).

I agree with mitrochondria. Teaching is my 3rd career and this is the only job I've done where being off sick creates so much more extra work (and its work you have to do when you are ill, not extra work for when you get back and are fit and healthy again).

Ilythia - Angelberry speaks sense about teaching classes on your own. Don't do it.

During my teaching practice, my mentor left at Easter. The school got me and the other 2 PGCE students to cover all her classes for most of the last term. On our own. In science labs. I sometimes look back and wonder why I put up with it....(this was 10 years ago, maybe things have changed?)

It is very early in your PGCE to be on your own, this is a few weeks into your first placement.

I always get ill when I start at a new school, every bug seems to catch me. It takes about 2 years for me to build immunity. You are probably going through the same,

Well, I have to say you sound too ill to teach at the moment, but I'm a fine one to talk - I usually go in when I have a bad cold/ bug because it's such a hassle not to!

These are the things I usually do if i have to teach when not 100%
drink lots of fruit tea (steam helps clear the head!)
eat pineapple - the enzymes or something are supposed to be good for a sore throat
sleep as much as possible - go to bed as soon as possible on getting home
vitamin C
set very basic independent work, nothing involving drama, musical instruments, or tools! (I'm primary!)
record work only on whiteboards (saves marking for a few days)
get the TA to do some whole class work eg reading stories, singing etc

Usually a couple of days of this regime and I'm feeling ok, and can then catch up on anything I've not done!

But really, we shouldn't work when ill.

Aw I sympathise - I CRAWLED to work during my PGCE!! Tell your mentor how shit you are feeling in advance and get some lessons planned as back up to show him/her - they will be able to throw something together much quicker and easier than you in any case, so even if it is not brilliant, you won't be giving them massive amounts of work.

Remember the class is still the teacher's responsibility - they can easily take over if you are ill.

However, I would not have listened to this advice myself (although bloody well should have!! Was ridiculous)so if you do drag yourself in, plan activities which require them to do most of the talking (card sorts/group work/silent reading (if it works!). Telling the class (even via tsk cards at the door) that they are going to learn something and then 'teach' or present it to each other could save you voice a bit as well.

Develop a silence/attention technique that doesn't require using your voice and use this all the time anyway - drama 'hand in the air' or the arsey clear your throat, fold your arms at the top of the class and looked bored (though not hostile) until they catch on (then smile and and 'thank you' or whatever) all work well. Depends on age/behaviour of class, though.

Overall, as long as you show massive willing to the dept and your mentor then you are allowed to be sick!! It is only if you swan in and out, or phone in at 8.45 that people start to roll their eyes.

Sorry, loooooong response! And sleep sleep sleep berrocca berrocca berrocca until you are an NQT!

Good luck x

PS DO NOT TAKE CLASSES ON YOUR OWN!!

There is 'willing' and there is putting yourself in the line of fire. Teachers KNOW they should not be leaving you on your own (ok, can use discretion at end of second placement, but if you are being left feeling responsible this early on then complain loudly to your uni mentor.) I get really angry at teachers doing this. It's very unfair and unsafe.
x

Early to bed with a lemsip.

Agree don't take classes on your own.

I rely on 'be your own supply' - a bank of lessons that don't require my usual full-on performance but are of the 'watch video/read text, then complete worksheet' variety.

I don't speak unless necessary & max dose on paracetamol & caffeine.

Honestly, the 'go to bed & take your germs with you' argument would have the whole school at a standstill - better to soldier on if you aren't actually projectile vomitting.

Teachers generally save being ill to give us something to do in the holidays.

If you were my student and that ill, I would make you a cup of tea and take the lesson. It is not cover for a PGCE student to be ill, the class teacher is still being paid to teach the class!

BTW my friend got glandular fever near the end of our course and should really have failed as she had to take 4 weeks off. It was our project work time when we did projects rather than teaching but school based. She should have been with me so out tutor just said that as far as he knew she was there! He knew the real situation but didn't want to put a fantastic student as risk of failure due to her ex-boyfriend snogging someone he shouldn't have!

As a PGCE student, you should not be setting cover work, other than just letting the regular teacher know if there's anything specific you want him/her to do whilst you're off.

As somebody who has had a lot of voice problems in the past, DO NOT EVEN THINK OF ACTIVELY TEACHING WITH NO VOICE. Sorry for shouting but it can do so much damage and your voice is your most important tool as a teacher.

You should absolutely not be left alone with a class yet - the teacher/school are breaking their duty of care to the pupils if they require you to do this.

Lots and lots of liquids; have a few lessons that involve worksheets/labelling etc if at all possible, to save your voice. Soup / oranges / lots of fresh herbs.