[goldenbeads]

manage to spend more than 10 hours working today?

It's Sunday. My day of rest, right?

Why is it that, the longer I do this teaching thing, the more time it requires of me, not less?

What am I doing wrong?

I'm gone from 6:45 - 6:45 every day. I'm exhausted. I'm running from one end of the building to the other. I'm always going, until I stop - if I stop before I fall into bed - way too late at night, only to wake up way too early in the morning to do it all over again.

I used to have more balance than this. What happened?

(I know: more kids, no summer vacation, no more coteacher, but same kid makeup, new assistant, more paper work, more assessments, more data required, more kids without diagnosed needs...)

But . . . AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

[Recess]

I hear you. I've been teaching for 33 years and it takes more time every year.
Today I prepared a week's worth of lesson plans for my sub. This is her second week in my room as I had surgery last Monday. My plans ended up being 11 pages long in 9 pt font. That didn't include the plans for Guided Reading as my sub did those on Friday before she left.

[Milyn]

I was just thinking the same thing. I have been working since morning on school things. I'm dreaming school. I'm living school. I'm working long hours and coming home and working. I too am wondering what is going on. Is it me? Am I just taking too long to get things done? Am I too detailed? Why does it seem like other teachers have a life and I don't?

I have NO assistant, so I'm alone. 25 students, some without IEP's, but should have them. Way too many extra pieces of papers required by the system. Lots of assessments, etc. Still, how do others do it without all the extra hours and still have a life?

Someone please tell me how you do it. I'm going CRAZY!!!!!!

[1956BD]

Your head is full of children and you are consumed with thoughts of them. Take back some time for yourself. Start small and then build from there. Good luck!

[Nunziata]

I thought I was the only one that left long sub plans. I've been out for 6 days and will be out Monday also. I don't know about the rest of the week. My sub plans have been very long and detailed, but I have heard back from the sub that she is thankful for the plans. That makes it worth while. I know my students are being well taken care of and still learning current information and not just doing filler work.

Still, it is taking me way too long to write these plans and everything else that I am doing. I'm feeling just like the rest of you and wondering why work isn't getting easier instead of harder and longer. The paperwork is killing me.

I've been thinking the exact same thing all day. I feel like all I've done is work for the last few months. It's starting to feel like a nightmare.

I just keep reminding myself that this is the worst time of year. Summer is forever ago, Christmas still feels a long way off, and all of the people at school (kids included) are really, really, REALLY tired. Just remember: one more week and it's Thanksgiving. Then three more weeks until Christmas, and then we're through the hardest part of the year. I know it's not the best way to live your life, but looking forward to vacations gets me through a lot of bad moments.

Good luck!

[goldenbeads]

I understand the saying, "misery loves company." I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

I do try to put myself on the schedule, I just always fall off of it! It didn't used to be this way.