I am a teacher for how long?? I can’t remember.. half my life has been consumed of planning, writing reports, talking to parents, turning my brains upside down to find solutions and solve issues within my classroom and so much more. One of the hardest things I face everyday as I come and step in my classroom is the pressure. I am a teacher for children with learning disabilities. So everything that I do with each of them, is tailored and refined to suit their skills and needs in all areas – cognitively, physically, psychologically and emotionally. It pressures me when dealing with big tantrums, typical whines, lesson plans in all major subjects and report deadlines (daily case notes, and progress reports etc. ) for my home school program. Sometimes, its just too much too bear.
At the end of each teaching day, I somewhat feel a remarkable feeling of accomplishment ,however, alongside with it, is the feeling of mind and physical exhaustion.
Teachers wish for a looooooooooooooooong and undisturbed holidays as well- may it be just staying at home and surf the net all day reading, blogs, books (books that are not teaching/work related of course) celebrity news, play online games, etc.. lay down and sleep till sundown, wake up and eat and sleep again or watch old movies in a row or just watch tv. ,
- or may it be going for a trip somewhere away from the constant sound of whines and children footsteps.
When I was an ESL teacher for Chinese children in China, I create my own “day off” meaning I will take one or two (or some months even 3 or 4) days in a month to just lazy about. I believe I deserve it. And these two days refresh my whole system to survive till the next month.
What I do? Before that “day off”, I stuff my fridge with food (mostly chips), I get dvds, and series (the simpsons is my all time favourite), I clean my apartment, and finish the laundry that piled up, and then make a call early the next morning informing them that I am not feeling well. (of course with a sick voice)
Then that’s when my holiday starts. And it feels good because its a not a common perk I get.
Teachers deserve it. I deserve it.