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2nd Trimester
honeybee111
member
S/O: Teachers - telling your class
honeybee111
member
After reading the below post about telling your class, I realized that the reason I don't want to say anything is that I am not planning to return this year after I give birth. I'm due Jan. 30th and am 99% sure I will take the rest of the school year off. So, I'm not sure how to address the question if parents bring it up. I kind of feel bad - like I'm abandoning my class, but I also really want the time with our child. Right now, I've been avoiding the issue(some of my coworkers have asked me) by saying I don't know yet. Which is not a total lie, because I haven't talked to HR about reserving a sub for me or filled out the paperwork yet. I guess I'm afraid of parents'/coworkers'/principal's negative reactions. Oh, and there are two of my coworkers at my school are also pregnant and they will both be returning to work after 6-8 weeks. I'm definitely getting the message that this is expected. I'm going to tell at least my principal within the next week or so, but I'm not looking forward to it.
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Re: S/O: Teachers - telling your class
Tell your principal that you're not ready to tell other teachers you won't be back, so he doesn't hear that response and think you are going back and forth. And you do need to tell the other teachers relatively soon, it will get out when they are looking for another teacher for you.
Parents will definitely be pissed, so be sure of yourself and get your answers ready. How would you like your child to have 2 different teachers with possibly 2 different styles in the same year? But that can happen to anyone (someone gets an ilness or injury.)
One thing is when you do tell parents, try to know who the replacement will be, reassure parents how you have prepared the sub for this and follow through. Prepare the next teacher well and start writing stuff down early in case you have to go on bed rest.
I will tell parents in October (13-14 wks) and I am coming back in 6 weeks. I will tell them that this is what I did with my other 2 as well. For my first, the parents didn't believe me and kept saying I would change my mind and not come back. (Are you kidding, I had to get away from the colic screaming:)
I would continue with the I am not exactly sure card. That is what I am doing, i said i will be off for 12 weeks and that is all anyeon at school knows. If I am able to take off the rest of the year I will decide between now and then but in this economy I am afraid just in case something happened with DH's job and who knows what else. I have learned you dont have to look out for anyone else but yourself, which was a hard lesson for me to learn but I thkn I've got it now...good luck to you:-)
as far as actually telling my class, I am just going to bring it up in some sort of all about me thing, i teach 2nd grade. some of the parents already konw though i did not tell my class last year bc i was just hitting 12 weeks the last week of school, they may notice that ive gotten bigger before my new class who has never met me:-)
I can relate. I am planning to return, but do plan to take 12 weeks off, or close to it. Another teacher is due right after me & I think she is only going to take 6 weeks. My 2 other co-teachers (grade-level) are single and act like they think I should return then (6 weeks). It annoys me, because it is not anyone's business and I really don't need their opinions.... but I'm not good at saying that.
I haven't talked to my principal yet, but am dreading it. He is a nice man, but he doesn't like when people are out.... I know the parents aren't going to be too excited about me taking off so long, but if I had any other job besides teaching I don't think I would even think twice about it. There are many very qualified teachers around my area without jobs, so they will be able to find a quality sub.
I just keep telling myself, I have to be strong- it is nobody's business except mine & DH's. I am the adult & it is my right to have this time with my LO.
Our school is totally different! My principal was upset for me that I couldn't take a semester off. We're VERY family oriented. Our school puts our students on the buses at 3. I'm leaving right then to meet DH to pick up our LO. He's laidoff and going back to school. I'll meet him so he can make it to his classes, and I'll bring her back to school to get my work done. The secretaries have already said they want to "babysit."
You do what's right for you! Your family is #1. If they have issues w/ you taking more time off, then they don't have their priorities straight. Parents will understand, too. I know how you feel though! I was nervous just telling them I was pg. Good luck!
I agree, you should do what's best for you and your baby. I'm not a teacher, but I can understand why you are hestitant to tell your co-workers. Sometimes people aren't understanding when it comes to a mom's decision regarding ML. Again, it's up to you though. If you can take the rest of the school year off, then that's awesome! Your co-workers will probably just be jealous. Good luck!
That is exactly what I always hoped to do! I always thought it would be perfect to be due in March and then to stay home until the next school year. DH & I wanted to plan for that, but since this is our first & we weren't sure how long it would take us to TTC we started earlier. I would rather be due in January though, go back for a short time & then still get my summer off with LO, than to be due in May/June & only have my summer off with LO.
Good points! I just noticed your badge and that you find out tomorrow! Have fun at your US, it is so exciting!
I wanted to take off for the rest of the school year. For various reasons I am returning May 3rd (16 weeks off). DH and I work together and when I come back he's taking off for 6 weeks.
Once I decided what we were doing I just answered truthfully when asked. It's our decision, our family. I am confident with my response and haven't been questioned by anyone. In my district tenure staff members can take two years off. I am returning to maintain medical insurance at no cost to us.
I'm a principal,and I've been wondering how to tell my staff and students.
I've already told my super, and he was very supportive. I'm trying to iron out how much time to take.
In regards to your principal and co-workers, and the parents...Just remember, schools are ABOUT kids!
You've given part of your life to everyone else's kids...now it's time for you to do what's right for your own. ?
I would be surprised if anyone gave you a hard time, but it might be wise to be prepared with a witty comeback, just in case.
I keep telling myself "This is something to be celebrated...Not apologized for."
In the end, you'll be home with your baby, and none of the rest of this nonsense will matter!?
Yeah I found this hard with my seniors. I'm taking a year off and will miss all of my Yr 12's final year in Drama.
They have whinged at me qute a lot. Good naturedly but they're still disappointed.
I'm sad too but at the end of the day I have a life to live.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
I put off telling the admin until I absolutely had to -- even though I was 90% sure I wasn't coming back -- because there were cuts at DHs school that year and I wanted to be 100% sure he had his job before resigning from mine. I hated to be so wishy washy with my colleagues, but it was just a fact of necessity in this economy.
Ironically, now I'm a SAHM and I vacillate Every.Single.Day about staying home vs. going back. And if I was working FT I would probably feel the same way.