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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Original poster

Starting to panic

33 replies

Verycold · 21/08/2013 08:13

I am going back to teaching next week after aeons at home. It's all starting to creep up on me and I'm panicking slightly how I will cope with the workload, that my children will get completely ignored... Keep thinking "what have I done?", while at the same time pleased and proud to have been given this opportunity... Please could somebody calm me down?

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 21/08/2013 08:18

I am going from PT to FT and am not sleeping with the worry of it [helpful] BrewBrewBrewBrew

Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 08:22

Are you primary or secondary?

Talked to do about worrying and in his usual way he just agreed that it will be very hard for the children...Shock

OP posts:
missmapp · 21/08/2013 08:22

I work fulltime and have two dcs- you will be fine.

I leave work at 5pm, collect the dcs from their cm and do tea, reading, homework, drive to clubs etc.

I then do a quick spot of housework ( dh comes home about half 7 to finish off bath,stories) and start my school work at about 8pm- this means I keep on top of marking/planning etc .

At the weekend, my dh takes the dcs out one afternoon so I can get all my work done and the rest of the weekend is family time.

I do online shopping, which really helps.

it is hard, but the holidays really help!! ( Oh and in August it is FANTASTIC to be a teacher!! )

Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 08:25

That sounds ok. Was hoping to leave school a bit earlier on some days... My timetable is .77. How long do you work in the evenings?

OP posts:
missmapp · 21/08/2013 08:29

I tend to work til about 10pm. I have a SLT and a staffmeeting every week, but on other days I can leave earlier if the dcs have a parents thing , but doing this regularly means the next morning is a rush.

See how it goes in your first week and then find what works best for you.

Can you get into school this week. I drag take the dcs in for a day and find if I get ahead now, then Sept isn't such a shock to the system!

Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 08:32

I can't because we are on holiday, booked before I got the job! Hoping to get my head round things in week one, day one will be staff only, day two just two year groups in so not proper teaching yet, day three my one day per fortnight off.

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 21/08/2013 08:44

Secondary and changing schools too!

Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 08:46

How old are your children?

I haven't actually taught for yeeeeeears. Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 10:00

[rocks back and forth]

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 21/08/2013 16:15

8 & 6

[sits down next to VeryCold and rocks to same rhythm Confused]

missmapp · 21/08/2013 16:28

Mine are 8 and 5. I went from 3 days to 4 days and then last year to full time.

PT to FT was hard ( sorry) but after I found a routine that worked, things got easier. However...............

It is still August ladies- relax.......................

Inclusionist · 21/08/2013 19:24

I'm going from .6 to FT too. DS is only 3 and I'm really sad about it for him (need the money though).

From my point of view I am quite relieved because I have been trying to do a full time job (Inclusion Manager) on three days and it's been manic. Maybe in September I will be able to have my lunch some days .

DancesWithWoolEnPointe · 21/08/2013 20:05

Can I play - I'm going back full time after being at home with DD3 for 3 years

Original poster
Verycold · 21/08/2013 21:26

Glad to see I'm not alone.

Still rocking though! Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
Verycold · 22/08/2013 07:43

How is everyone this morning?

I have been awake since six, feeling sick...Hmm

OP posts:
petalpower · 22/08/2013 08:04

I'm starting to panic slightly. Have been back PT then FT for the past 4 years now. I had really good intentions of being uber-prepared for this term, but instead have had a lovely chilled out holiday with my DC. Have just opened my work email to find emails from the HT with pre-term reading, info about twilight PD and (worst of all) the date of an observation visit from an advisor 8 days after the start of term. Argh!!

missmapp · 22/08/2013 08:11

Petalpower- that's horrible, I keep checking my work email expecting my head to do the same, but nothing yet luckily.

I am enjoying the calm state of my mind so much, and am in denial about sept! This is why I like teaching, I start each Sept feeling positive and happy- now how long will that feeling last this year ????

petalpower · 22/08/2013 08:15

I think I've been in denial about September for too long and now need to get my act together. It's all going to come round so quickly now. I keep hanging onto the thought that although we start term two weeks today (with PD days on the preceding two days days) two weeks is actually quite a long time and I just want to make the most of it. The summer has been so lovely!

colander · 22/08/2013 11:44

Verycold - my timetable is 0.76 so only a few minutes different to yours. My two are 10 and 7, and I think they cope pretty well. There is the odd grumble when I can't attend something at school, but I do my best to make sure dh or grandparents can go. Actually, with some of the crap events it is good to have an excuse.

My youngest always sounds very proud when she says "my mum's a science teacher" and my oldest "gets" that my money pays for her school and our family holidays. I don't really think they are affected too much. I leave school as early as I can, depending on my hours that day, and do all my work in the evenings. It does mean I am often up working until midnight, but my new school year resolution is to not work quite so hard. Ha ha.

Between us we are in three different schools which causes a few problems - something like 8 or 9 days next year that I will need child care, including INSET days. My friends are fab and offer to have mine and I'm lucky enough (although it doesn't always feel like that Blush ) to live quite close to my parents.

Anyway, good luck to all the returners - I had 9 years out of teaching and have been back for 4 or 5 years now.

Original poster
Verycold · 22/08/2013 13:22

Thanks colander!

OP posts:
CharlotteParks · 22/08/2013 18:21

Wow, this is the thread for me. I'm starting back in September after 5 years away and feel strangely calm about it all at the moment. I'm sure I'll have a total meltdown about it next week though.

Worried about fitting marking and planning in around home life but only doing 2.5days so should manage really.

petalpower · 22/08/2013 22:04

What age group are you teaching Charlotte?

Original poster
Verycold · 23/08/2013 10:01

Woke up feeling sick again... In a wat can't wait for term to start, just not to have this anxiousness anymore

OP posts:
CharlotteParks · 23/08/2013 19:58

Petal Secondary science. I don't think it has hit me yet that it is really happening.

I've done lots of preparation and went in during June and July to teach a few lessons to get some practice which was invaluable. I hope it goes well!

missmakesstuff · 23/08/2013 20:11

You're definitely not the only one, I get nervous and start to feel sick about this time every year! Every week I get 'antiques roadshow anxiety'. I teach secondary art, I'm hod and in charge of creative subjects at ks3 too, plus we have a new building this year, nothing is ready! It helps to just plan roughly the first few weeks, then the first day or two in detail, at least then you might feel more comfortable. You willbe fine though, we all get it. My dd is 3, I do what a lot of people posted above, leave earlyish, get dd to bed then work a bit more. Plan is to try to delegate more and try to make my life easier this year, I tend to take on too much...

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