Keeping sane as a teacher - anyone want to join me?

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I teach in Secondary, I have a DD 13 and a DS 7. Supportive husband - irritating old sod in many ways but basically good. I have been struggling for the past couple of years, workload, responsibility, daydreams of doing a Thelma and Louise and running away... anyway, I have decided that despite all this I do love teaching and have to get better at managing/balancing. Not that I think there is a perfect way to do it, I think the way teaching is set up at the moment is ridiculous, but I want to try to keep myself sane in the middle of it all. If anyone would like to join me you are welcome.

I'm supposed to be dressing up but really cba - emails coming through already about work scrutinies, it's learning walk week (happens once a fortnight with no idea which class you will be seen with and a 20 minute documented mini-obs), have a really important meeting with external provider on Thursday and a total and utter ton of work to do. Feeling fed up and not like putting a costume together at all - it would just be yet another bloody thing to sort out. Sad really.

Well OH went well, a lot better than I expected tbh but still not 100% happy and Sunday night feeling is not helping.

Kinky - you need to get some staff together and get onto your unions. They really shouldn't be doing that.

I wish we were dressing up. We never do anything fun. :(

My dept are collapsing around me at the moment. 3 in tears in the last fortnight! I feel fine but wonder if that's cos I'm missing something and it's about to hit!

For me the most important thing is me time. Can be exercise, or reading, or mn or a night out but it has to be non-work time and I have to have at least an hour of it every day. Today I've done some marking, watched a movie with the kids, done some more marking and I'm about to go and do a pub quiz with some friends once h is back from the gym. Means I can start the week a bit more physically tired, but emotionally more rested than if I stay in, work then go to bed in a Sunday night.

I think what is really narking me off is that I have a heap to do, have worked across the weekend - counted 15 hours in total - and then I open up the email and there's another heap of stuff which, tbh, is just for SLT to tick boxes on their paperwork and justify their salaries. I'm friends with one on FB and it is interesting to see that they spend their weekends resting and doing nice things whilst I'm still on a hamster wheel.

I think the answer is to start applying for SLT posts!

Crumple glad OH went well - are you getting some support?

Id like to dress up too - I've a fab Mary poppins costume that could get an airing!

Remus missed your post. We had a union meeting, raised concerns and as far as I know they've never been to see the Head. I don't know what else to do. I'm aspiring to leadership, so can't be rocking the boat.

sassy I reached the crying in the cupboard stage last week (it's a big cupboard!) - but haven't let anybody else know - we are a small department and my HoD is struggling, I've been supporting her as much as I can but it's got to the point where I can't take any more on.

I have my WBD costume sorted as I planned it ages ago. Not sure I'm in the mood really, but shall stick a big grin on, go for it, then cry in the cupboard after everybody else has gone home.

I wouldn't want to be SLT. I like teaching. I love it, in fact. It's all the other stuff which means I have less time for teaching that is the problem.

Just finished my preparation for the week.... I started at 7.30pm and it's now just past midnight. That's in addition to 3 hours on Friday night.

I had to leave my planning and prep to the weekend - I usually do most of it on my afternoons 'off' (part time!). I worked 6-10am Saturday and 5-8pm. Then 7-12 Sunday and 5-7pm! I am a very experienced teacher. The paperwork is worse than it ever was.

That's only for a week of lessons too. The detail that our SMT expect is ridiculous, down to the questions that will be asked to each individual in guided reading... there is no respect for our professionalism or skill, no scope for spontaneity and no allowance for individuality.

And still the children 'fail' to make the progress required for our PMR, so this isn't even working!

Sorry for rant/ hijack! I'll post positively later!

asleeponasunbeam feel free to rant! I had a relatively good weekend, I think the relief after my obs had a lot to do with it. I did two walks of 3 miles, trying to build up to start running again. But work today seemed to bring it all crashing down again. I had left a task til my PPA this morning, but then ran out of print credits, leaving me looking like an idiot.
One thing - I am using a hypnotherapy cd before I go to sleep, and it does seem to be helping me to sleep better.
Good luck everyone battling the J.O.B.

I'll definitely feel better when I can start running again. We live very rurally and it's impossible in the dark. But in a couple of weeks it'll be light enough to go as soon as DH is home from work I think. It really helps me in lots of ways.

I think we're all counting down to lighter nights. I'm doing no exercise and I feel really rubbish. I'm working loads at the moment and I need to try and get some balance back - lighter nights and we will go out for walks as a family.

Not long... (though felt long when it was snowing this morning)

Need some energy this morning. Another very busy day ahead and want to go back to bed!

MrsJimmy I usually get asked if I'm pregnant. I say, 'no, just fat.'

I'm in after school detention. Oh joy. It's much nicer now that we have wifi and iPads though. It used to be hellish. Kids have to sit in silence and be bored for 45 mins. They do it, but the boredom of the duty is enough to make you want to scream!

Asleepona... I feel SO MUCH better when I can run and exercise. I am part-time so I can always squeeze two runs in at least, usually one on a weekend too. I've just signed up for a marathon in October, so now I HAVE TO RUN.

I also do martial arts, it is wonderful for stress relief. You just imagine the heads and do the kicks and punches. The shouting really helps too.

Today did not go well. One of those "last straws that send you over the edge" sort of things. Then a colleague asked me if I was OK, and I cried. Cos I'm not, really. Anyway, am planning a night off school stuff, will go to bed really early and see if that helps. Objectively I'm getting a bit worried about myself.

phleba - I used to do martial arts pre DC and loved it for those very reasons. Can't find anything suitable now...or a regular babysitter so I can go. I work part time but have a toddler when I'm not at work.

Endo, that's not good. I won't say anything too nice to make you cry again. I feel like shit - really, really stressed due to the prwtend inspection this week and ridiculous excessive paperwork, planning, target setting, report writing etc. But I'm angry, not sad (except when I shouted at my small children earlier this evening just because I know how much I still have to do tonight.

DH has got a fucking cold. Bet he expects sympathy...

I really like the idea of Martial Arts - I think I need to find my anger (as is often said on the LTB threads, but in this case it might be a LTJ - Leave The Job). I have had some great lessons over the past week, had some great conversations with students. But last week and this week are our observation windows and I have had so many brilliant staff crying because of the stress and worry. Ironically, the really dire teacher I observed today does not appear to be bothered in the slightest - although you never know how people are feeling inside. Pressure is unrelenting, getting into peak GCSE/A level time now. It is good to read all your posts though, so thank you.

At least we don't have the pressure of exams to contend with in primary. It's the relentlessness that bothers me so much. But mostly now the pointlessness of it all. Most of the paperwork I do has no effect on the learning of the children!

I so loved the karate I did. I was in a (different, but still teaching) stressful job at the time and it really helped me switch off. It's impossible to think of anything else while you're concentrating so hard. I'm sure dance or yoga or even playing an instrument has the same effect.

Running is different. I still think about work but use it as a time to usefully do so.

I do martial arts, it does REALLY help. The more violent the better I feel.. That sounds really dodgy but it's true!!

I do Tang Soo Do. You get to use weapons. I really have to concentrate and empty my mind so it's great for focus, and the violence is fabulous. Many a time in lessons I have fantasised a swift round.house, slide chop and hook kick to ensure silence.