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March 2020 Moms
keeksie84
member
Teacher's Lounge
keeksie84
member
Stolen from another board. I think we have a fair number of teachers here, and with back to school season in full swing I thought now would be a great time to start this!
What grade(s)/subject(s) do you teach?
When do/did you go back? Students?
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy?
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general?
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives?
When/how do you plan on telling your students?
What grade(s)/subject(s) do you teach?
When do/did you go back? Students?
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy?
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general?
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives?
When/how do you plan on telling your students?
Re: Teacher's Lounge
When do/did you go back? Students? Today is the first official day back - students come next Wednesday.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? We switched from semesters to trimesters this year and one of the FCS teachers at another middle school JUST quit (major eyeroll), so this year will be interesting. My brother in law is interviewing for the position, so if he gets it things will be VERY interesting...lol.
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? My only question right now has to do with when I'll tell students. I'm concerned about running food labs whilst super super pregnant - just because I know how tired and cranky I'll be.
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? I'm hoping to take the rest of the year off - about 15 weeks. My state has new maternity leave laws that haven't been fully explained. They start the first of the year, so I'm hoping to know a lot more then.
When/how do you plan on telling your students? I don't know!! My blump is already getting hard to hide so observant kids will probably notice soon. I'm on the fence if I make an announcement or just let it ride. I'm looking for the least awkward way to do it because like middle schoolers, I'm also socially awkward.
When do/did you go back? Students? I go back Monday and I'm really excited! Students K-8 start Thursday and my students come in for a half day orientation Friday.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? I partially agreed to making the after school care schedule and one of our administrators started telling everyone who was asking that it was 100% doing it. So now I was peer pressured to doing it and I don't really want to and I have to find someone to cover for me for maternity leave but I haven't told any of my coworkers that I'm pregnant soooo it's just annoying and stressful. But at least I get paid for the extra time spent.
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? I don't know if anyone will know the answer, but is spring break part of maternity leave/FMLA leave or is it like a free week? I don't know if that makes any sense?
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? I want to take off 12 but I don't know if we can swing it financially. I get 3 weeks paid maternity leave and can use sick time for additional paid time but I only started at this school last year so I don't have much time built up. So I'll use that and take some unpaid time and probably go back for the last few weeks of school.
When/how do you plan on telling your students? I'm not sure how to tell them or when. During summer camp I had some boys wrestling and playing pretty rough and one sort of jumped on my belly so I want to make sure that they know in order for them to be gentle around me. I'm 10 weeks not and not really showing at all so I don't think they will notice for a while.
When do/did you go back? Students? We had 2 institute days and then kids came yesterday, so today was the second day with kids.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? Not duties, but I am the only instructional tech coach for all three buildings, so teachers likely will not get the intense support I can provide while I’m on maternity leave. Feeling a little guilty about that!
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? How are you telling your staff? I want to put food in the lounge with a cute sign, but don’t want it to break the bank since I have multiple schools to announce at!
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? I’ll likely take off until the end of the school year, but it depends on if I end up needing a c-section or not. I have a very slight bicornuate uterus (look it up! It’s so weird lol) so there’s a good chance I’ll need a CS. I talked to HR and if I have one I’ll only need to take 3 unpaid days to finish out the year. If I have a vaginal delivery I’ll need to take 14 days unpaid, so I’ll potentially go back to take less unpaid days. But we’ll see!
When/how do you plan on telling your students? I won’t do anything special for students since I don’t haven my own classroom, but I’m sure the questions will start rolling in once I’m showing more! You know how kids are!
——
@sivosk our spring break does not count toward parent leave. It’s a free week for me. However, my leave includes weekends which I find bizarre.
I saw a cute announcement for staff/coworkers that involved munchins from Dunkin Donuts that wouldn't be too expensive. I don't remember exactly what it said but I'm sure it was on Pinterest and would be easy to find.
When do/did you go back? Students? I’ve been back for two weeks! This is our first full week with kids.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? Yeah. I have an overage and that’s been not fun. I’m also department head so in addition to teaching 5 classes and assisting with another, I have to sort of run my department. It’s my second year in this role and it’s fun but definitely more work.
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? Not really
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? I am going to just take off until summer. So it will be like 4.5 months!
When/how do you plan on telling your students? I have an appointment in two weeks and after that I plan to tell my boss and my coworkers. Then a few days later I’ll make announcements in my choirs.
When do/did you go back? Students? Our first day was last Tuesday and kids came back this past Wednesday.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? This year I am in charge of standardized testing, I’m not too concerned because I did a lot of the job last year to help out but it will require more work.
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? No questions. I’m just excited the second time around as I feel the timing on this pregnancy works better for a teacher schedule. My first has a late July birthday so I missed the beginning of the year with her and that was rough to come back to.
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? Like many others I plan to take off the rest of the year. Between FMLA and sick time it will be possible.
When/how do you plan on telling your students? I haven’t figured this one out yet. My principal knows and I’m telling the staff tonight at happy hour. I think with the kids I will just share the photos we will announce with to the rest of the world. They will be the last to know because we are announcing to the world next weekend when I am almost 12 weeks (and after our next doctor appointment). I’m ready for them to know though because of the looks at my bump and the eyebrow raises at all my snacking.
What grade(s)/subject(s) do you teach? 4th grade
When do/did you go back? Students? I was in all last week working on my classroom and this was our teacher work week. Students come Monday!
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? Nothing new, just worried about all the usual teaching chaos and feeling so hormonal and tired. Not to mention I don’t think I’ll be able to have the bladder of steel this year that I’ve mastered in the past....
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? Has anyone ever been out during end of year testing? I’m feeling pretty anxious/guilty about being out during such a stressful time of year. Also, how have people dealt with telling parents? In my experience at our school parents have some pretty mixed reactions to the long-term sub situation. Related, any tips for writing long term plans? Feels super overwhelming!
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? Hoping to take until the end of the year.
When/how do you plan on telling your students? Literally no clue! I had a loss last year so I’m tempted to be cautious and announce later than 12 weeks, but I’m already very puffy/bloated (10 wks today) and can tell some of my colleagues are suspicious so not sure how long I can really hide it. I just want to have all my ducks in a row before the parent start finding out so I can assure them the kids will be in good hands.
@lemonlove86 I have the biggest work crush on our technology coaches! The ladies I work with are amazing and have really helped me improve my practice and make my projects better/more meaningful. How long have you been in that position?
@kantobean Have you been exhausted or has it been manageable? I'm worried that I'm going to want to come home from work and crash. I get home at 4 and my husband usually doesn't get home until 6:30 or 7. I'm thinking taking care of DD in the afternoons is going to be a struggle!
@AAAG13 How did announcing to your staff go? This is only my second year at my current school and I'm such an awkward person, so I'm kind of dreading making some kind of "public" announcement at work.
@hmjensen Good luck tomorrow! I'm also worried about the whole peeing on a schedule thing. My classroom is SO FAR from the staff bathroom. I might try to get permission to use the girls' locker room across the hall. I taught 4th grade and missed state testing with DD two years ago! Our school has historically low test scores (despite our very very best efforts) and TBH, it was kind of a relief to miss testing. Our families were wonderful and caring, but not the type to freak out about something like this. I can see how you might have mixed reactions with different student/family populations. I announced to kids and families after conferences because I didn't want to waste any conference time talking about me. I wanted to wait until we found my long-term sub, but that didn't happen until a few weeks before I left!
ETA @keeksie84 when are your conferences? I would like to wait to announce to my students until after but ours are in October. I know I will be showing by then.
@lemonlove86 Aw I like the idea of food and a cute sign! I think you should be able to come up with something that isn't too much? God, speaking of which I am DYING today suddenly for cake, but dogsitting & can't leave the house or at least shouldn't bc my dogs and the dog that's here have never been alone together. I texted DH but.. crickets...
What grade(s)/subject(s) do you teach? University research writing and women's literature
When do/did you go back? Students? Tuesday/Monday, though as a grad student I've been to a number of events this past week plus sat on a panel to help new incoming grad students adjust. (My most memorable advice apparently was "Don't sleep with your cohort!" bc they all recognize & remember me as the person on the panel who said that lol.)
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy? I'm supposed to be on the job market (I'm also a grad student), which I'm planning to do, but two things bc of pregnancy are a concern: 1) We might just move back home after/soon after I graduate, rather than waiting until I get a job to move and 2) I'm gong to be late in the third tri when campus interviews are supposed to take place--and I am REALLY not sure how/if that's going to fly/not fly if I can't travel? I CANNOT afford to have the baby already, let alone have it out of state/out of network (el oh el), so I really am not going to want to risk it--but I also really need a job come fall bc--well, obviously as a broke person and ESPECIALLY as a broke person with a baby on the way, I really effing need a job. So, not sure how that works...
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general? Any other college-level teachers here?
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives? I'm a grad student--who WAS going to stay on through the end of Spring semester & graduate then... before we got KU, but now I am looking to graduate this semester. Bad for our finances bc that means I don't get a check in the spring, but--it's unclear whether I get maternity benefits as a grad student, and from my interpretation of our HR's (SUPER AWESOME otherwise -_-) family leave policy, because I was not employed over the summer by the school, it doesn't apply to me. =/ I don't want to not graduate this semester and then not graduate in the spring bc it'll be third tri/newborn time--I should have graduated last spring! But alas, I did not. I also don't want to... not get paid for too too long. We can't afford that. So I would have "off" when my classes end & I graduate (maybe/hopefully) in Dec. until... I could find work.
When/how do you plan on telling your students? We're waiting until genetic testing results before we tell most close friends/fam, and then after that, we will do a social announcement online & that is when I'll tell my students.
@kagesstarshroom I wore a tight shirt today and I felt HUGE, but when I told my coworkers many of them were like "well you hid it well." My guess is that your students probably won't notice for a while.
Kids start this Wednesday and I'm on the fence about including my pregnancy in my "meet the teacher" slides. I teach trimester classes, so I'm guessing that 1st tri won't really care.
@keeksie84 yay for tech coaches! This is my third year in the position. Previously I taught third and fourth grades in this same district. I'll happily solicit any tech coaching services to ya'll
@kagesstarshroom I have no idea about traveling in third tri but do whatever is best for you! Your classes sound so cool to teach. Are you certified to teach any online courses? I looked in to teaching some through some online companies but didn't want to deal with the workload. They seem like they pay pretty well though, maybe that's an option for the spring semester to bring in some extra cash?
@lemonlove86 I don't have offficiaalll certification, but I designed and taught online previously. So that's something I could look into, you're right. I don't have the energy to do the certification this semester, either, and in the past didn't do it because I had otherwise over extended myself, which I tend to do. But maybe I can get some sort of online teaching gig this spring, thanks for the suggestion!
First day went well today! Being back makes me feel way less sick because I have so much to focus on. I also am usually pretty hyper after teaching, and had planned to come home and nap but instead I'm taking advantage of the fact I feel pretty good. Yay!
I just finished my first week (well, three days) and I'm happy to say that (a) I'm less exhausted than I thought I would be, and (b) I'm really enjoying my students so far. I was pretty burnt out by the end of last year and I definitely had some "oh, this is why I am still teaching" moments already this week.
9-12th grade. Avid and English.
When do/did you go back? Students?
Went back August 9th. Students came the 12th.
Any new duties this year that you are questioning with pregnancy?
everything... three preps is killing me. I’m also working on my master’s degree.
Any questions for STM+ teachers? Or just questions/concerns in general?
When is everyone telling their principal? And or hr?
How many weeks do you plan to take off when baby arrives?
12 if we can swing it financially.
When/how do you plan on telling your students?
going to just tell them after I disclose to hr and supervisor. Hopefully, it’ll make them nicer to me.
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20
Will the district need to post for a long term sub for your position? If so, I’d probably tell HR sooner rather than later so they can start making arrangements if needed.
@lemonlove86 I’m a school nurse at a high school so i would definitely need a long term sub to fill in for me. I guess I should start getting ready to tell HR and get the paperwork done!
Due to my low salary and the insane price of daycarefor 2 kids DH and i are going to try to have me take off 18 months and have me go back to work when our DD starts kindergarten (Sept 2020). Which means HR would have a lot of work to do!
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20
Good luck!
@kagesstarshroom I also feel weird about students looking at my body, but oddly enough I feel the opposite was about it. I don't want them looking at me and speculating.
@AAAG13 I waited until after conferences with my first four the very same reason. I didn't want to waste any precious time.
I told my kids this week. Many of them were excited /congratulatory. Some of them didn't care. At least one per period shouted "who's the dad?" which I simply ignored.
I teach high school but these were in my self-contained SPED class. Love those kids.
I am teaching two back to back classes, and I am always like scarfing down almonds in the second class & trying to talk (I lecture a lot in that class.)
see excerpt below & for more lols: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/professor-minerva-mcgonagalls-letter-to-the-tenure-committee
EXCERPT: "I, Professor Minerva McGonagall of House Gryffindor, respectfully submit to you my application for tenure. For the past 20 years, I have taught a 12/12 teaching load with seven preps every semester since I am, like many of my colleagues, the only member of my department. What sets me apart, however, is that I have excelled in my considerable teaching responsibilities while simultaneously serving as the Vice-President, Associate Provost, Associate Dean, Chief of Campus Safety, New Student Orientation Coordinator, Registrar, Director of Admissions, Work-Study Coordinator, Head of New Faculty Training, Director of Student Conduct, and Advisor of the Student Rebellion Army, as well as live-in R.A. and academic advisor to one quarter of the student body."