Any teachers struggling?

[Rae2017]

Evening. Just wondering if there were any other teachers out there finding it difficult. I'm a primary school teacher and 25 weeks +2. Had a lovely xmas break but back today. People keep saying take it easy but it's hard on feet all day. And then tonight i've just finished marking and planning. Just wondering if anyone in similar position and has any tips.

Plan activities that give you the opportunity to sit down. The next few weeks will fly. When are you planning to take you Mat Leave x All the best

I'm going back from mat leave in mid Feb pregnant. I'll be about 18 weeks when I go back. Really not looking forward to it as I know the work load will be very high.

Do you stay in the same class room? Have you got anyone who can lift things for you?

I'm secondary, I plan on setting lots of self and peer assessments

YES, me!! I’m 34 weeks tomorrow. I’m on the final countdown now: 3 weeks 2 days left.

Most nights I’m waking up every hour needing to switch sides due to hip pain

Me! But i’m only 8 weeks. This is my third and all I can think about is how will I make it to the summer holidays.

With my first I remember crying when I spoke to head of dept explaining that I would struggle to meet a marking deadline and was told the deadline is the deadline. I was so tired and sick, I couldn’t work late because that made me more sick and tired.

Basically I stopped giving a shit. Taught basic 3 part lessons. Sat on a chair at the front as much as possible and worked through my lunch break.

Sorry, you asked for tips! Sit down whenever you can (my ankles are starting to puff up now), try and do marking during the lesson or at lunchtime so you don’t have to take it home, keep hydrated and make sure you have a risk assessment in place if you have any tricky children who may pose a risk. I also said I’m not prepared to do playground duty if it’s icy.

Thanks for all the messages and advice! Yes in same classroom and my TA is fab with lifting and moving things. Im due 16th April so want to try and get up to Easter hols. For us that starts 6th April. Just depends how I'm feeling. Might not get that far. Im going to try and be a bit more disciplined in evenings and give myself a cut off point for work. If things haven't been done by then , so be it.

@judgetinder me too my sides are killing me. Use a pregnancy pillow but doesn't seem to do any good.

@hetty that's so bad that your HoD didn't support.

I'm a TA so dread to think what I'd be like if I was pregnant! haha. It's those smaller chairs which are a killer in Reception.

Out of interest have you had to go through occupational health through the council working in a school?

I've worked with pregnant colleagues before in school and they would struggle towards the end but the children used to be amazing and like to 'look after' the teacher, was quite cute. Have you got a TA to help you out when needed? Also it would be good if you could get a student teacher in

I’ve found a pillow between my legs helps a little and am going to try an old duvet underneath to create a bit of padding.

Which year do you teach? Perhaps some peer marking or paired activities occasionally might help with your workload

I'm finally on mat leave now but worked until I was 37+3 as a primary school teacher (year 4).

It was really hard going and I nearly didn't make it to xmas but these things helped me:

• peer/self assessment
• paired/group work - mark once and photocopy
• sitting down during PE - I had permission for the kids to just play dodgeball and I refereed from a chair at the side
• sitting down more and borrowing a much comfier chair with arms
• this is going to sound awful for a teacher but I have to admit I also cared less. Never about the children themselves but about all the other bullshit we do and I got very good at smiling and nodding to feedback (who gives someone environment feedback 2 weeks before they go on mat leave?!)

At 34ish weeks I spoke to the head (cried actually) because I couldn't see myself making Xmas which was what we all wanted (me for money, her so she didn't have to pay for supply) and I asked if I could:

• have my TA dismiss my class each day so I could be packed up and ready to go for the earliest time I could sign out.
• not attend after school training/meetings 2 evenings a week as, with rush hour traffic, this was making my days too long.

She was shocked I was struggling as it didn't seem like it but agreed to both of my requests.

Have you had your risk
assessment done yet? Mine was pretty pointless but it gave me the confidence to speak to the head. The NUT also have a great document on what you can expect from school when you are pregnant.

Good luck with everything

Me but I'm only 14 weeks... Looking for tips too as I don't have a TA 😳 but I have a small class 20. Primary school too... Also thinking that summer seems so far away argh

@Hulaballoo don’t plan to do too much at weekends so you can sleep in and recharge. Definitely take home as little as possible!

Same for school holidays. You are going to need those days to chill out and focus on you and the baby and start getting things ready for your new arrival!

Teaching can be all-consuming at times and we are having to deal with more and more unimportant stuff that takes up time after school and in the evenings. I’ve been teaching for 15 years and the admin and paperwork is worse than ever! Prioritise things that are actually going to have a positive impact on the children and their learning. Other things can wait!

Secondary teacher here. Worked up until 35 weeks as I had to tell the school well in advance and at the time I felt great. The last weeks were a nit of a struggle as I took public transport and hardly anyone would give up a seat for me. Work was fine, but I had to go to toilet often and stay hydrated, sometimes it was difficult on hectic days. Also had some difficult classes, so was under a bit of stress. Physically I felt fine though. Towards the end I sat a lot and gave a lot of worksheets! And lots of peer and self marking went down before Christmas. I did find taking care of myself and slowing down was crucial to do the job properly. Weekends I did no school work, marking or whatsoever, and made sure I relaxed and rested well.

I’m going back next Monday when I will be 25+4. (Due 19th April so we are very close)Teach the equivalent of reception (not in uk) 27 kids and I’m the only adult in room. Have to ring school secretary to supervise class when I need to pee. The fortnight before Christmas nearly killed me, my class do the nativity play and had to do it single handedly. My previous pregnancy I was teaching Learning Support which was grand but this is tough going, sitting down is not really an option and have to do one week in 3 on yard duty. Enough moaning!,,

@switswoo81 I know you’re not in the UK but do you have teaching unions where you are? Your employer needs to make allowances and ensure your safety during your pregnancy. Perhaps have a look into your rights, especially as you get bigger! You should have a risk assessment in place. In the UK the Local Authority often provides a generic one which you can then alter to suit your specific workplace setting.

Playground duty can be dangerous when pregnant, we had a teacher who had to go into hospital recently after a stray football hit them hard in the stomach

Hi all! I'm a secondary English teacher and currently 16+3. Found last term really hard as the first trimester knocked me for 6, I got so behind with my marking and I've got a stack to do this weekend before we go back. I too have decided to stop caring, I make sure my planning is done, mark through lunch and try not to do work in the evenings. Most of the time I'm just too tired to! Hoping to work to 36/37 weeks but will see how it goes. Have a 40 min commute so will see how driving is when I'm massive! Luckily I have a very supportive HoD, although when it comes to Y11 marking there isn't much leeway this close to the exams.

Secondary English tea her who worked to 38 weeks (Christmas). My advice is to tell people if you are struggling and ask for allowances to be made. The school wanted me to stay until Christmas and I wanted to also so they were willing to make allowances. They took me off break, after school and detention duties, made sure I wasn't asked to cover (school policy) and I set a clear amount I was willing to mark before Christmas as all deadlines were after this.

My school were great at ensuring I was looked after, they want to save money on supply remember!

So happy to see this! 16 weeks with my second, but first since I retrained as a secondary teacher. Summoning the energy to play with my almost 3 year old when I get home is such hard work: I don’t feel like I’ve had much of a break over Christmas / at weekends, despite my very supportive husband. Hoping to work to May half term which is 36 weeks but I only made it that far in the comfy desk job I had when expecting my first, so who knows.

I’m back on Monday and have definitely “popped” over the holidays so working out how to manage that with my very perceptive and forthright ks4 classes!

Thanks judge tinder unfortunately here ( Ireland) there is only teachers to do playground duty so no option to bail out, only a seven teacher school. I’d say a high vis jacket will be the extent of health and safety. Did it up to 36 weeks on last baby. Hoping my warm coat still fastens after Christmas!

Thanks @JudgeTinder yes I'm going to revisit plans and try and simplify things and try hard not to bring things home...I don't like marking at school at all... So that'll be a struggle but can see necessary 🙂 hadnt thought about playground duty... Telling HT tomorrow and dreading it!

@judgetinder I teach Year 2. To be fair, they are quite cute and help me out a lot. It's the early mornings that get me as well to set up for lessons.
@hodgeheg92 thanks for all the ideas and tips. No not had a risk assessment done. Need to ask for one though. Made my own changes to my classroom to avoid bending down so everything is at waist height. And to be fair, the children help me carry and move books around the classroom.
Must admit I am definitely prioritising and really thinking about what has the biggest impact. Paperwork can wait! I'm trying to leave school with all my marking done so not taking any books home, but then still have an hour of planning for the next day (because I'm trying to do as little as poss on Sat/Sun). Just so much to do. I can see why people stop 'caring' in certain terms because this job could be worked on for endless hours in the day. Baby is number one priority. No one will get a medal for working 14/15 hour days!
@LadyRenoir did you find that you were working late during the week when not doing anything at weekend? I am trying to cut down best I can.
Thanks for all the advice guys! Just good to know that there are others out there in same position and we're only human. Job pays the bills. Shouldn't take over our lives

Hi ladies few questions when did you tell your class you were expecting? I feel I’m already struggling at 14 weeks 😂 I try to sit down as much as possible and try to do as much work at school as possible. I’m just too exhausted to do anything when I get home!

I told mine around 15 weeks I think. My tummy was beginning to grow and didnt want parents asking before I had told them.
I'm missing my afternoon naps which I was taking every day in the holidays 🤣

@18mnthsandcounting It was just after my 12 week scan, I showed them the picture. I wouldn't have told them so early but they'd been my class for 2 years and it was almost the summer holidays.

I still haven't told my classes but I'll be 24 weeks when I go back so I suspect some of them have guessed already.
I'm planning on working up to 39 weeks which is probably quite optimistic but we'll see how it goes! I've actually found it ok so far but I find cover classes quite annoying. I'll need to keep an eye on things next term - I don't really do slowing down or resting and have been obsessed with making sure I'm still going to the gym regularly etc.