Teachers - mixed reactions????

jerseykates · August 2011

I teach in Maryland and our students return this Wednesday. I had a lot of mixed reactions when people heard I was coming back, even though I'm due October 8th. Do people normally give themselves 6 weeks of leisure before their due date?? I do not plan on returning to school this year once I go out on leave, but thought starting the year was important.

However, this could all go out the window since I've been experiencing some pretty severe crampings and back pain just from working on my classroom and walking so much around the school. Everyone thinks I will be given a note to leave work early.

Any teachers in my boat? I am not sure how my body will handle being on my feet ALL day!

morsey2011 · August 2011

I've had a few people wonder why I was going to start the school year too. I'm due October 3rd, in-service was today, and students start Wednesday, so I have 6 weeks before my due date. I don't understand sitting at home doing nothing, IF you're not having problems. I didn't do much with my classroom ( I teach high school), and I've planned my lessons differently than normal (we are adding ten minutes to each period, and going to 4 day weeks this year). Instead of teaching a long lesson, and letting my students complete an assignment the next day, I'm teaching shorter lessons and they are to work the rest of class period to finish it. I will be teaching every day but for only 15-20 minutes a day, with my feet up the rest of the hour. Or at least that's the plan. I'm still worried about how my body will handle it too, but just praying about it! I'm not sure what grade you teach but maybe you can modify your plans to have more time to put your feet up and rest.

LindsayB0505 · August 2011

Because I'm in Canada and get a whole year off for Maternity leave, I am starting my leave at the beginning of the new school year (next Monday). I am due October 5th. If I was due much later than that though I would have started the year out. I figured I'd probably want to be done a couple weeks before my due date so didn't see the point in working for only 3 weeks or so before going on leave for the remainder of the year.

IF I was planning to go back in this school year though I would have started out the year so that I could meet the kids and set expectations, etc.

k2west · August 2011

I've had people ask me that too and I'm never sure why. I'm due Oct 14, and also have 6 weeks of school beforehand. (I plan on working to my due date). Why would I want to sit home for 6 weeks? I'd drive myself, and DH, crazy.

I also want to start the school year because I think it's important to meet my students, set routines/guidelines for the year .... but I also plan on coming back to work in January. I might feel differently if I wasn't returning.

BabyBurgess2011 · August 2011

I teach third grade, and we've been back for a week now. I am due on October 27th, and I plan on returning in January. As much as I wish it wasn't, it is a financial matter for me. I have to work as long as possible up to the due date and return within a decent amount of time. If I want to get paid, I have to use up my sick days while I'm off, and of course, there are only so many of those.

It has been physically demanding to be on my feet all day, but I am really trying to sit down more as I teach. It's amazing because I did SO much work around the house this summer, and it still was never as demanding as my teaching schedule is! I am having a lot more lower back/tailbone pain now that I'm back to work.

I've never really heard of any teachers in my area taking six weeks off before the due date, but I don't think it's uncommon to take a week or so off beforehand. Good luck with whatever you end up doing! Take care of yourself with that cramping and back pain!

weddingbells2010 · August 2011

I guess it depends on two things: when your new school year begins and when your EDD is. For those of you who start the year in August, it makes more sense to start the year- especially if your EDD is later in October. For those of us who start in Septemer and are due earlier in the month, there is less time to consider.

I don't start teaching until September 6 and am due October 12. It's only 5 weeks, and with holidays and weekends it's only 4 teaching weeks. That being said, I'm contractually obligated to work until my due date if medically possible, and use banked sick days before maternity leave if the doctor wants me out earlier- I cannot elect to not start the year. However, the school realizes it's not in my best interest or the kids for me to be in the classroom for such a short time, so close to my EDD, so my leave replacement will begin the year and I will float and keep busy with nonsense for the 3-4 weeks that I'm there.

VeilSdeGTO · August 2011

I'm due Oct 11 and we got back at the end of Aug (in service for teachers) and students start Sept 7.

I am going to be there the first week the students are, but it is just to make sure the long-term sub starts the year off with my routines and procedures. I'm mostly there as support.

I would have liked to be there longer but my school is actually hesitant about me being there and having to pay for both of us. I will be off four weeks before my due date and not sure what I'll be doing.

colliebabe · August 2011

I am due Oct 1 and we start on Monday the 29th but I get this question a lot. I also have to use my banked sick days so I don't want to waste 25 or so school days sitting at home. Unfortunately the school won't pay for the substitute teacher until I go out on leave, so I will be teaching right up until I go out. I wish I could at least have the sub in there for a few days with me to "learn the ropes."

teachermeesh82 · August 2011

I am due Oct 20th and there really wasnt an option for me not to go back. I could only use a certain amount of sick days before and like many of you I am going back to work shortly after so setting the routines and getting to know the kids is important. I will pretty much be teaching for a month. I am going out Oct 10. It all comes down to the $.

lcp23 · August 2011

I am due October 3rd and kids start at the beginning of September. My doctor put me on bedrest, so now I can't start the year out. I would have liked to work for that month so I could get to know the kids and they could become familiar with my policies. Luckily I got a great long term sub who I used to work with for many years, so she knows the curriculum and all my policies. I am glad I will be able to rest beforehand. The bad part is that I was going to take 12 weeks after my son was born. Now I have to take 5 weeks before, so that leaves me with only 7 weeks after.

Morsey, 4 day work weeks. Where do you live? I think I would love 4 day work weeks.

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