Teachers with 3 (or more!) dc...

[jennifersofia]

How do you do it? I am doing 3 days a week in Y4 and just feel like I am drowning and making a bad job of it. Any advice?

Heated - I dont have a job but I am bringing up my 4 grandchildren, thats more than a f/t job.

I know thats not helpful, but I suppose the nearest occupation to the one I have is fostering.

I cant do flylady either.

I found that different schools also had different attitudes to sickness. I always thought, if Im ill I dont work (and would phone in if illness arose - most of the time). But a lot of the staff were martyrs and I think I was expected to be one too.

I looked at fly lady last night, I can take bits but could not use it regularly. I do have morning and evening routines, and I try and make sure my desk is clear, my tutor group commented this morning actually at how much tidier my room was. I also bribed asked some of my tutees to help me clear out a cupboard.

I know when I had some help with my time management my organisation was a key issue, when I get tired I stop being organised which then means things take longer to do so I end more tired.

Just found this thread and have also found it very interesting. I have 3 DC all at Secondary now but work 2 days a week in primary Y3/4. It's very reassuring to think that some of the fulltimers think parttime is harder in some ways. I work in a small school so I have all of the PE plus management stuff to do too. If I could just go in and TEACH I'd love it!! The main problem for me is feeling I have to catch up each week with what's been happening even though I have regular emails.

My main piece of advice is don't try to be perfect. You will never be able to say'I'm done'!
Also - do food shop online.

I worked fulltime for 11 years and have returned for the last seven part time but am seriously thinking this will be my last in a school setting. The levels of recording and assessment etc have become all consuming in my opinion and I crave just being able to teach.....

I had a look at the Fly Lady thing but thought it was cringe-worthy. Sorry.

I also succumbed to chocolate pudding and chocolate custard today! We have extended our teaching hours this year and I'm shattered!

I have heard it all.

............and you get how many weeks holiday to recover?? Come over to the NHS if you think you're hard enough!

Serin, I don't think anyone is claiming we have the hardest job in the world, and we are certainly better paid than may people who work for the NHS.

I don't think the OP was trying to have a competition, just asking for advice from people in a similar situation.

As I am sure you know we have 190 teaching days a year,5 INSET days and the rest of the time it is up to us what we do.

Serin - and yyour point is, what?

Nobody on here is saying that teachers do the hardest job in the world: we're just suggesting ways of managing our time better, in order to be both good teachers and good mothers. I really don't understand why you've taken offence.

By serinBrightside Thu 22-Oct-09 00:09:29 Add a message | Report post | Contact poster
I have heard it all.

............and you get how many weeks holiday to recover?? Come over to the NHS if you think you're hard enough!

We were all far to bright to do that, we became teachers.

Serin, as others have pointed out, I wasn't looking to have a moan about how my life is more difficult than others lives - but was simply looking for a bit of support and advice as to how to manage time / job. I have very great respect for many many people who work for the NHS who do very difficult and long hours in arduous conditions. I am grateful to them as it is not a job that I could do.
Fair enough if you feel that your job is extremely taxing. Please do not have a go at others who are simply trying to make things work.

Thank you to all who have taken the time and energy to respond to my OP. Still struggling, but it is a work in progress!