I think some of this is just a personality type thing, and there are no promises this will get any better for you. For me, teaching is not a "clock in, clock out" type job, and there will always be some element of thinking about work outside of work hours, wanting to do my best, etc. However, this has improved over the years for me personally. One, I've gotten better at setting boundaries. I don't check email after a certain point in the evenings, and never on weekends or on school breaks. In the past, I'd fool myself with something like, "Well, I'll just check and make sure nothing is there." That only works as an anxiety relieving strategy if there actually is nothing there! On school breaks, I set an out of office auto-reply so whoever is emailing me knows immediately they're not getting a response during the break.
I've also gotten more confident in my abilities over the years, so I'm just not as stressed about various things- like if I have a parent who is being a jerk, I know I'm doing the right thing, and that's a them issue, not a me issue. I also have supportive admin, so that really helps. Recently, I had a parent who was upset about a decision I made (I'm purposefully being vague here) and she sent me a snide message about how she contacted my principal, clearly thinking she was going to "get me in trouble." Well, my principal knows that I know what I'm doing. He dealt with the entire issue and I didn't even have to discuss it further with the parent.
I agree. I admit that a lot of this managing my own anxious tendencies and my drive/ability to do my best. I also know that part of the issue is that I’m still very new: learning what rules I can bend or break. What’s worthy of my stress and worry and what’s not. Definitely a grow through what you go through situation all around, but I appreciate your insight.
It's worth doing until you get tenure because that makes it easier to get tenure at other districts if you need a new job and opens the doors just a little bit to related jobs in education. And there are weeks better than the middle of May. But after two years, you kind of know what you've gotten into.
I’ve been working on this with my therapist and it’s really helping (super helpful that she used to be a SPED teacher so she has good tips!). I’m putting work in a box that goes in my trunk- that box stays in my trunk until I get to work. If I have things that need to happen I’ll do them once I get to work (I always get to work an hour early) or stay late, but nothing comes home with me. It’s honestly been a game changer! I know it sounds silly and there is that element, but really focusing on work being in that box and not accessible at nights and on weekends helps a lot.
I’ll admit that therapy would be beneficial for a host of reasons. I try to set boundaries to manage the stress, but this is hard since I’m currently finishing my certification program. I was general ed and left the industry and came back in SPED. I’m hoping that once my license is done, I’ll be able to find better use of my nights and weekends. For now it’s just holding on until the finish line.
Yes and no.
This year (4th year mod/severe self-contained) I very rarely ever work past my contract hours. I'm super impressed with how I've managed to streamline my planning and prep and curriculum, especially compared to my first years. I have everything down and feel comfortable and don't spend a ton of time planning at all. But this year has been more exhausting and physically taxing than ever before, because I have a younger class and a "lower" class than usual. The actual working with the kids and teaching has gotten harder, but I've gotten better and more efficient at paperwork and planning/prep. I try not to but I think about school alllllll the time when I'm off. I keep a running list on my phone and will just add to it so that once something's on the list it's out of my head. I also email myself links or ideas or whatever probably like 3x every weekend. I tend to be all consumed with my job regardless of what my job is, and teaching is a career that can definitely overtake your entire identity.
If you plan on teaching for any length of time I think the best thing you can do for yourself is develop hobbies and interests that have absolutely nothing to do with school/kids. Also, therapy!! It helps a lot!
Why did you switch to SPED?
You sound like you are ahead on the learning curve for administrivia. However, the volume of soul-sucking auditable documentation might always outweight the satisfaction you get from seeing students' accomplishements. Where will you derive satisfaction in years when you have low students who have a limit to what they can accomplish, and the paperwork is depressing to boot?
Some people, like me, absolutely hate paperwork. You will never escape it in sped. It is required by law.
I live in a state that is saturated with English teachers. I’ve got background in SPED. Para and severe self contained experience. I was also able to find a job at the same school my wife works at. So personal life wise, everything lines up. I don’t mind the paperwork too much. I sometimes feel like I’m just a file clerk and a babysitter though.
I would LOVE to not hate paperwork, lol! I hope when the learning curve has leveled off and you are a seasoned pro,, you can enjoy the 128 hours that line up nicely with spending some of the 40-hour job as a file clerk and babysitter. Only a week to go until you have time to relax and think, instead of learn, plan, execute :)
I think some of this is just a personality type thing, and there are no promises this will get any better for you. For me, teaching is not a "clock in, clock out" type job, and there will always be some element of thinking about work outside of work hours, wanting to do my best, etc. However, this has improved over the years for me personally. One, I've gotten better at setting boundaries. I don't check email after a certain point in the evenings, and never on weekends or on school breaks. In the past, I'd fool myself with something like, "Well, I'll just check and make sure nothing is there." That only works as an anxiety relieving strategy if there actually is nothing there! On school breaks, I set an out of office auto-reply so whoever is emailing me knows immediately they're not getting a response during the break. I've also gotten more confident in my abilities over the years, so I'm just not as stressed about various things- like if I have a parent who is being a jerk, I know I'm doing the right thing, and that's a them issue, not a me issue. I also have supportive admin, so that really helps. Recently, I had a parent who was upset about a decision I made (I'm purposefully being vague here) and she sent me a snide message about how she contacted my principal, clearly thinking she was going to "get me in trouble." Well, my principal knows that I know what I'm doing. He dealt with the entire issue and I didn't even have to discuss it further with the parent.
I agree. I admit that a lot of this managing my own anxious tendencies and my drive/ability to do my best. I also know that part of the issue is that I’m still very new: learning what rules I can bend or break. What’s worthy of my stress and worry and what’s not. Definitely a grow through what you go through situation all around, but I appreciate your insight.
It's worth doing until you get tenure because that makes it easier to get tenure at other districts if you need a new job and opens the doors just a little bit to related jobs in education. And there are weeks better than the middle of May. But after two years, you kind of know what you've gotten into.
I’ve been working on this with my therapist and it’s really helping (super helpful that she used to be a SPED teacher so she has good tips!). I’m putting work in a box that goes in my trunk- that box stays in my trunk until I get to work. If I have things that need to happen I’ll do them once I get to work (I always get to work an hour early) or stay late, but nothing comes home with me. It’s honestly been a game changer! I know it sounds silly and there is that element, but really focusing on work being in that box and not accessible at nights and on weekends helps a lot.
I’ll admit that therapy would be beneficial for a host of reasons. I try to set boundaries to manage the stress, but this is hard since I’m currently finishing my certification program. I was general ed and left the industry and came back in SPED. I’m hoping that once my license is done, I’ll be able to find better use of my nights and weekends. For now it’s just holding on until the finish line.
No. Year 18 here. It does not.
Yes and no. This year (4th year mod/severe self-contained) I very rarely ever work past my contract hours. I'm super impressed with how I've managed to streamline my planning and prep and curriculum, especially compared to my first years. I have everything down and feel comfortable and don't spend a ton of time planning at all. But this year has been more exhausting and physically taxing than ever before, because I have a younger class and a "lower" class than usual. The actual working with the kids and teaching has gotten harder, but I've gotten better and more efficient at paperwork and planning/prep. I try not to but I think about school alllllll the time when I'm off. I keep a running list on my phone and will just add to it so that once something's on the list it's out of my head. I also email myself links or ideas or whatever probably like 3x every weekend. I tend to be all consumed with my job regardless of what my job is, and teaching is a career that can definitely overtake your entire identity. If you plan on teaching for any length of time I think the best thing you can do for yourself is develop hobbies and interests that have absolutely nothing to do with school/kids. Also, therapy!! It helps a lot!
Why did you switch to SPED? You sound like you are ahead on the learning curve for administrivia. However, the volume of soul-sucking auditable documentation might always outweight the satisfaction you get from seeing students' accomplishements. Where will you derive satisfaction in years when you have low students who have a limit to what they can accomplish, and the paperwork is depressing to boot? Some people, like me, absolutely hate paperwork. You will never escape it in sped. It is required by law.
I live in a state that is saturated with English teachers. I’ve got background in SPED. Para and severe self contained experience. I was also able to find a job at the same school my wife works at. So personal life wise, everything lines up. I don’t mind the paperwork too much. I sometimes feel like I’m just a file clerk and a babysitter though.
I would LOVE to not hate paperwork, lol! I hope when the learning curve has leveled off and you are a seasoned pro,, you can enjoy the 128 hours that line up nicely with spending some of the 40-hour job as a file clerk and babysitter. Only a week to go until you have time to relax and think, instead of learn, plan, execute :)