Back to School

teachmegs817

Ever since I joined The Bump, I've found out that many of you ladies are teachers.  Some have already been back for several weeks, (I've been back for 2, for workshops and to set up my classroom) but many of us are starting back tomorrow with students.  So I wanted to say to those who are heading back to work tomorrow, good luck and may we all make it through another successful school year. How long are some of you ladies planning on taking maternity leave, once baby arrives? My due date is Jan. 24th.  I am hoping to go as close to due date as possible and take 12 weeks off.  I am in Upstate NY so our April break is very late this year in my district. I'll be back the week before break, to ease back into things and then have 1 week off.  Once we come back from that, there are only 8 magical weeks left! Hoping they fly by, so I can enjoy my first summer off with the LO.  I'm spending my last day of summer vacation getting myself a pedicure, doing a little retail therapy, and having lunch with one of my friends. 

CaraBoonie

Thanks, chica! We started up this past Wednesday, and despite it only being a 3-day week, and not even touching anything really academic yet, I am EXHAUSTED! It's going to be a long semester! I'm a student teacher and will be graduating/certified in December, so I plan on just taking off from then on and not looking for a post-grad job until the fall 2016 semester. My biggest thing so far is finding time to pee (I've found especially when I sit down and then stand back up I have to GO), but there are 2-3 other adults in my classroom at all times (inclusive with TA, push-ins, 1-1, etc.) and they all know I'm preggo and are accommodating. 

JandJ62914

I've been back since last week, the first two days were in-service days and then the kids were there Thursday and Friday.  (I'm already nursing a cold after two days with the kids! Ugh!)

I have a similar maternity leave plan to you. I'm due the 9th so I won't return after winter break, and then I will come back after spring break.  You have a good idea to come back the week before and ease back into it. I might consider doing the same too.

Enjoy your last day and good luck tomorrow! 

willashbaby

We get one whole day for meetings and setting up our rooms, that's tomorrow, kids on Wednesday. It's going to be chaotic madness! 

ChristinaAnneW

Hello fellow teachers! I start back with students tomorrow also, I'm hoping I have the energy to make it through the whole day I am due January 2. If LO comes close to her due date I'll be off through December break until March 3 (about 9 weeks.)

I'm off to buy a comfortable computer chair and a ton of groceries! Good luck everyone!

teachmegs817

@caraboonie Such a god send having the extra support! I am a Special Ed. Teacher with 2 TA's and 1 of my students has a 1:1 this year. With a faculty bathroom, right outside my door, it's great to not have to figure the bathroom situation out. 

CaraBoonie

@teachmegs817 Yes! I'm also lucky to be in a room a few feet from the staff lounge...but unlucky to be in a room without a/c, haha. Can't wait for it to cool down!

BarrettJ89

I'm a parapro at a school for students with autism. Tomorrow we have a district-wide, all-morning snooze-fest, I mean meeting *insert eye roll* then another meeting at our individual building after... talk about giving us the bare minimum of classroom time before students arrive on Wednesday!
I'm so anxious about going back this year. We are facing HUGE pay cuts, I'm leaving my 9 month old after having a great summer home with him every day, and I'm walking in pregnant (they treat us preggo's like we have the plague).
My due date is January 9th, so I'm hoping to work until Christmas break (we would get back on the 4th). We will see... I'm hoping that by then my boyfriend's new job/pay pans out and I won't have to go back at all.

catgraz

Hello everyone! I'm teaching in Austria and we'll start up next monday...I love my job but this time I'm not really excited. By law, mums to be stop working six weeks before due date so that I'll be working only 7 weeks and then colleagues will takes over my classes: not ideal for the kids... after the birth, I'll stay a full year at home (with 80% of my salary) which is to me pure luxury! ;-)... even if my austrian colleagues think that only one year at home is not enough ( they tend to stay two or three years and then come back part time only)... so as you can see, there are big differences between cultures! ;-)
Wish everybody a good time with sweet kids and understanding colleagues! :-)

Sahara26

So jealous of you all that are just now starting back! I have been back to school officially for 4 weeks. I have a great group this year, so far. It hasn't been nearly as stressful as last year. I teach Kindergarten so I always have an assistant. Thank goodness because I already have to go to the bathroom all the time.

For my maternity leave, I'm hoping to go into labor as close to my due date (Jan 28) as possible. I want to take 12 weeks of leave which will put me coming back the first week of May. Then I will only have 2 1/2 weeks until summer!

Good luck to all of you with your first days back!

missperky

We've been back for 3 weeks with kiddos and I've had my kinders for two weeks. Oh my gosh if I thought last year was exhausting, being pregnant and dealing with kinders is a whole new ball game. We got a 7th kinder teacher and we all still have 24 + kiddos. I'm taking off when ever I deliver mid January which will give me two weeks to set up routines after winter break and come back after Spring break the 3rd week in March.  I'll be in work for about 10 weeks after I come back. I'm really tempted to take off longer, but being non tenured and gone scares me to death. 

mstefanovic

I've been back with my 7th grade darlings for three weeks. Plenty of snacks and tons of water are getting me through the days. They have already shared a head cold with me. It's a week old and still going strong. Ugh.

I'm not due until Jan 22, but I don't plan to return after winter break. It'll be a cleaner break for the kids, and I'm taking the rest of the year off, so my replacement will be able to be the new teacher, and not just a short term sub. There are two other teachers due within a week of me, and it's nice to have a support group!

I hope everyone has a good start to the year!

jrouge12

Thanks for the well wishes! I'm in upstate too (capital district) and start with students tomorrow too. I'm so nervous about how this year will go because I am hoping for 12 weeks of leave as well. I'll be working until I can't and hopefully that means labor. I already noticed too how nicely April break fits into the maternity leave.

teachmegs817

@missperky I am un tenured too. This is my 2nd year. I wouldn't take longer than the 12 weeks, unless something medically were to be wrong with myself or the baby. We can take up to 12 through FMLA. 6 paid through whatever time off Ihave and then 6 w/o pay. I have to get on my paper work for it all, sometime in October.

adcc43

We officially started back last week but tomorrow is the first day back with the kiddos. I am due Jan. 7 and am planning to work up until baby is born. I plan to take off until the first week in April.

Ebiejay

I haven't taught for the last couple years since I moved countries, but I just wanted to say you guys are all amazing. I know how exhausting, demanding and stressful teaching is, and I couldn't imagine having to do it while pregnant. You all deserve medals. I hope you all have/had a good start back this year, and enough time off when baby comes! 

Y'all rock!

missperky

@teachmegs817 This is my second year too. I mainly would like to take off longer to better establish breastfeeding. Last year with DD I very suddenly dried up when she was six months. I was really bummed about it. This time around I am going to take more breaks to pump not just during lunch and prep.
I finally got my paper work for FMLA filled out and planning on submitting it tomorrow.

JDBtwinmama

@jrouge12
I'm a second grade teacher in the capital district! We've had kids for 2 weeks though and I'm exhausted. Also my blood pressure has been through the roof since I started back. Our April break is really late this year so it doesn't fit into my schedule as great as I would have hoped

jrouge12

@Juliadowlingbrisbane Oh man, second grade! I have high schoolers and can't imagine how stressful the little guys must be. Just after the first day today I noticed my heartburn is back with a vengeance!

CaraBoonie

@jrouge12 It's so funny you say that...because I could NEVER deal with high schoolers! I can handle ages 3-11, but to me high school seems SO much more stressful than young children! In fact, I'm terrified for when this chica in my tummy becomes a preteen, I wish I could skip ages 12-18, haha.

teachmegs817

I figured this thread would be an appropriate place to comment on how the first day actually went! Mine went very well.  I had 6 out of my 8 kids.  I work in a Special Ed. class for students who have severe behavior difficulties (8:1:2, setting) I have 1 new student this year and after announcing/putting it out there to the kids that I am having a baby, we move onto a different task.  10-15 minutes into the task the new kids says; "Hey baby!" I turn around with "Excuse me?" He replies, "Your baby in your belly, Hi baby!" and waves at it.  I had to laugh because I thought he was just getting comfortable real fast with me, being the new kid and I was going to be having problems.  ) He continued to make sweet comments to the baby and me throughout the day.  All in all, while I am so tired from Day 1, I have no complaints. 

essentialpeace

We've been back in school since the last week of July! It's exhausting. I teach 5th grade and I love it. Pregnancy has zapped my normal energy and that couple with needing frequent restroom breaks without necessary support staff has been difficult. Get as much sleep as possible, pack snacks, and BREATHE ladies. We will survive. We are teachers

I plan to work until Christmas break then return the week before Spring Break. Have a great year!!!!

jem8407

We are on our third week back with students and I am beat, much like the rest of you. My high school students have been so caring and cute about it.
I have been discussing options with my HR director and it seems I will use all of my leave (one month worth) and I can take from the sick bank for the other two months of FMLA! I am elated! I donate to the sick bank each year but never really thought I could use it for maternity leave. I feel so beyond blessed!
My work at the dance studio starts this week and I am exhausted thinking about it, honestly.

BarrettJ89

I have 7 students in my class, all boys with autism, ranging from 17-25 years old. They have been great, although I've found out that one specifically has a vendetta against women who are pregnant and attacked a teacher last year because she was pregnant (peachy, right?). Our classroom air conditioning is not working. 10 people (3 staff, 7 students) in one room without AC... ugh! The room has been no lower than 81 degrees! Pretty sure I've sweat out any weight I may have gained so far.

katiet925

I'm a 5th grade special education assistant teacher and I have to do recess duty. It was 93 degrees today and I told my student the baby doesn't like the heat so we might go in early.
Half way through he said your baby must be cranky we have to go in. Needless to say, we went in bc of my cranky girl.

CaraBoonie

@BarrettJ89 oof, is it possible for him to be placed with somebody else for your safety if he has a history with pregnant teachers?

And not to compete, but my room has been 90 degrees and humid every day with 25 drippy sweaty kids and 2-5 adults at any time (inclusive with different push in support) and it is HELL. I was never good at dealing with heat, but it's worse pregnant, and the kids are too fried to think...it rained last night and is supposed to be down closer to 80 today though *fingerscrossed* My water bottle hasn't even been staying cold for a full period, and anything I put it down there is a puddle of condensation sweat on the table.

Where is Fall?

teachmegs817

Yikes, to all of you ladies with no AC in your buildings.  Luckily, mine has AC, but of course I still sweat from moving around so much.  I just read quite the report about a student who is supposed to be in my class who is very violent.  Hoping to have a meeting to see if he can be evaluated for an alternative setting. Not even just for my safety, but for the safety of the other children and the fact that none of the other adults in my room want to have to deal with that. Job security and proper restraint training for a child has been a huge issue in my district, which has turned many of us who work in these Special Education settings away from even wanting to remove a kid from the room. 

JDBtwinmama

Ok third week in, I'm ready for vacation.

ondabianca

Hi teachers!:)

I am a first grade teacher and we are finishing our third week with kids (we were back 2 weeks before for PD and such).  I am due January 6th...right after winter break.  I am going to work all the way up to delivery (even if the baby comes late) and am hoping to take somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks (depending on how many days I actually have saved up).  

I am already quite tired and ready for a break.    I am dreading making maternity leave plans and I also am a grade level chair and want to prepare everything my team needs before I go out too.  I haven't even bought one thing for the baby yet (or started a registry) so these next couple of months will be quite busy!

BarrettJ89

@CaraBoonie I wish, but unfortunately the program I'm in is absolutely against the thought. Our classroom is the best situation for him... he told the other Para today that he likes me and admitted to her that he knows I'm pregnant. I know him from the past when I was on the behavior team and we built up a decent friendship. I'm hoping that carries over. If not, I have other staff in my room/building that I know will protect me, and if it ever gets to a point that I truly don't feel safe, I'll remove myself from the situation. I'm going to hold out as long as I can, as the bills gotta get paid somehow

And holy crap, 90 degrees? Nope. Nope, nope, nope. I suck at dealing with heat when I'm not pregnant, while pregnant I have this wonderful ability to overheat at the drop of a hat. Passing out is no bueno!

CaraBoonie

@BarrettJ89 As long as you feel safe

And seriously...the OTHER teachers said they almost passed out the other day, it's a miracle I haven't! It rained today, hopefully it's a sign of cooling off!

TurtleMeg

I teach at the high school level in a special education setting. I'm taking off winter break through spring break for a total of 3 months. I'm so look forward to it! I have great classes, but the drama in my department this year is going to drive me over the edge.

TurtleMeg

P.s. @Sahara26 we are due date buddies!

BarrettJ89

@CaraBoonie It rained here too. I don't think I've ever been so excited for rain. We do a cooking class. Once those ovens are going with a bunch of sweaty young men....... Oyyy! Nose plug, please! Pregnancy nose does not help the situation lol.

CaraBoonie

@BarrettJ89 Today was the first day I didn't feel like I was going to faint or sweat myself to death! Hoping it keeps up next week!

Do you ladies get Rosh Hashanah off? My school has both Monday and Tuesday off, my feet are thankful! Using Monday to get my 20 week ultrasound, since it's hard to get to the OB when it's a school day.

teachmegs817

@Caraboonie, we do not get that day off.  The first day off for us is Columbus Day. I am right there with you, with scheduling appointments on my days off, because I want to keep as much sick time as I can, for when baby arrives.  I never liked taking days off to begin with, but now I hate it even more. 

CaraBoonie

@teachmegs817 I was able to schedule my November appt in advance for the 11th which we have off (is that Columbus Day? Veterans Day? I'm so bad with those things lol), but I'll have to leave early for my October appt, we only have one day off in October and my doctor is also closed that day

teachmegs817

@Caraboonie I have my 28 week appointment then too!  That's Veteran's Day, lol. =P October is Columbus Day. November is actually a really heavy month for us for time off and half days.  We have 2 parent teacher conference days, Veteran's Day, the 3-4 days for Thanksgiving and I think one more Conference Day in there too.  

BarrettJ89

We don't have Rosh Hashanah off here either... Scheduling appointments is going to be a total pain as my doctor and my job are ridiculously far apart. I have zero time off (ugh) because I used all of my time off, plus some last year because of my maternity leave with my son.
Our district is ridiculous, they use all of your sick time/vacation/personal business towards your maternity leave. Then you come back, having a newborn at home, and no time off. My son ended up hospitalized at 5 months, and I couldn't even begin to explain the crap they gave me about it because I didn't actually have time available to take off...

CaraBoonie

I was SHOCKED to learn this school has TWO days off for Rosh Hashanah...especially since the school is largely Hispanic, and so far I'm the only Jewish teacher I've found there (and I don't observe, lol). But NOT COMPLAINING!

ChristinaAnneW

Thursday was the first day I moved around the classroom and felt like I was getting more involved. The heat we had the first two days had me moving as slow as molasses (along with all students and other teachers as well!) I slept 12 hours last night and my DH said I even snored. Wishing you all cooler weather as we move into early fall.