Let me start off by saying that Teachers Pay Teachers has been amazing for teachers to find meaningful lessons and resources to meet the needs of all of our little learners while making learning fun. It's brought teachers together in a collaborative forum where we can connect through social media. I have been inspired by so many of you. It has pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, to come up with new ideas, and create a wonderful classroom environment. But here's where it gets tricky.
Over the summer, I was hired to teach in a new school district an hour away, with a combo class teaching first and second graders (2nd grade was brand new to me), while implementing Common Core State Standards. Did I mention I was hired the day school started? Holy moly, what have I gotten myself into and where the heck do I even start?
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| My kiddos used these props on the first day of school for adorable photos |
Like most of you out there, we lacked materials for CCSS so TpT was my new best friend. I'd spend hours on it finding amazing products and resources. I'd stay up until midnight for months, searching for ways to make my lessons engaging and finding things that were the best fit for a combo. I'd print it out at home on copy paper, rush to school (in an hour of traffic) to copy it onto colored card stock and laminate it. The more things I found, the later I'd stay up.
Copy.Laminate.Cut. Copy.Laminate.Cut
All of my lunches were spent this way for the first few weeks. At first, I was in laminating heaven. But by mid-September, it was turning into a vicious cycle.
Copy.Laminate.Cut.Copy.Dang, out of black ink…drive to Staples.Copy.Laminate.Cut. Copy, what… out of card stock, another trip to Staples. Copy, are you serious, I just got home from Staples, how am I out of colored ink? Drive back to Staples {while cursing in my head} for colored ink and all of that washi tape teachers keep blogging/Instagramming/Facebooking/Monday Made Iting about.
I kid you not, I racked up so many Staples reward points the first few months. Just when I thought I was finally catching up, a new month came. I have to make everything thematic and cute and aligned to Common Core. I was buying and downloading great things likes crazy. I'd stay up late creating new products for my
store. Then, back to copying, laminating, cutting, copying, a glass of wine, laminating, cutting, Staples, and a margarita.
My nights and weekends were devoted to creating, downloading, and prepping centers. I loved it because:
1. I'm a workaholic
2. I'm a teacher and we live for this stuff
3. I like cute stuff
4. I'm a perfectionist, according to my boyfriend
But the lack of sleep was starting to hit me hard. I don't know about you but my immune system crashed and the bags under my eyes could no longer be covered. I was constantly sick and had migraines on the regular. Heck, I even ended up in the ER for exhaustion.
All I wanted to do was sleep but my mind was constantly thinking about teaching. I'd make myself go to bed early. But as soon as my head would hit the pillow, I'd grab my phone and check my Instagram.
I'd take screen shots of craftivities {this is a new term for me} and management ideas, and classroom decor. I swear, I couldn't get enough. I.Was/still am.Obsessed. Then someone would post about a “flash freebie” they were offering in their TpT store. Like any teacher, free things are golden. I'd open up my TpT app and download it and leave great feedback. But wait, they have other amazing products that I must have. Then the ideas I'd see would get me thinking about other ideas so I'd start searching for more things. I kid you not, I couldn't stop myself {who am I kidding, I still can't}.
When my IG and TPT time was over, I'd have to check Facebook because by this time {2 am California time}, all my East Coast blogger friends are up and posting more great things.
It went {and has gone on} like this up until now. It's December, and I'm tired. I can't wait for Christmas break to spend time to relax. But let's be honest, that's just extra time to create more things, hold giveaways on my blog, and find more goodies to prep for my classroom.
I have gotten better. I've tried to set limits, I'm prioritizing, and I'm trying to be better about taking care of me. But like any teacher knows, there is and will always be stuff to do.
Please tell me I'm not the only crazy teacher like this? Can you relate?
9 Responses
Oh my dear Kristen! You took the words out of my mouth. I am currently doing what you typed right now… but I felt like I just had to reply! I keep thinking how all these people do such crafty/engaging/fun things all day everyday. It's exhausting and I hope all my late nights this year with laminating and cutting and printing and buying ink, etc. pay off for some year when I can one day just pull from a file {wishful thinking}! Then my fiancé tells me, "You do so many amazing things in a day!" and I think, well one instagram post that looks good probably makes me look genius ha when in reality it was a hot mess hah. I appreciate your honesty! It is a gift and a curse! I am looking forward to break, but like you said, it will just give me more time to start more projects. We are so passionate to love and teach our little ones that eventually it takes a toll on us and the people around us. I hope you rest, relax, and spend time with the people you love over your break!!
I just felt like I was reading about myself!! Lol:/
My son had a fantastic relationships with all of the teachers. He would hug each one before we were leaving from there. If that isn't the sign of a good school, I'm not sure what is.
I don't know you but I do follow you on Instagram. I am a teacher in China and I know EXACTLY how you feel. I love the cute stuff and I am a workaholic and I want to do my best for my kiddos. Unfortunately it means I am EXHAUSTED all the time!!! Hanging in there with you and hoping you get some REST over your break!
As you mentioned..,finding a balance is not easy. TPT, IG, FB blog pages, blogs in general, and other social media outlets are both challenging and discouraging. I look at what others create and think "I want to do that!" I see IG posts and wonder "How in the world did she find time to do that?" It can be very overwhelming. I HATE the word overwhelming. So…I made myself a promise. It is actually typed up and hung above my desk at home to remind me. It lists all the reasons I do what I do. Then, the last line says " I will be real, I will be honest, I will be ME." Reminding myself to be me and not what media wants me to be has been a huge help. I am so inspired by what you do and I hope you find your balance soon!
-A Rocky Top Teacher
Don't worry you are not alone. I have taken on coordinating the elementary levels for my school and teaching grade 4 core subjects. We do what we do because we love what we do, and we love who we do it for. Your post makes me feel that I am not the only one who feels that there aren't enough hours in the day to download, cut and laminate..I even bought a brand new printer and laptop because of TpT and bloglovin'. I hear you sister. You are not crazy you are just an awesome teacher!! Have a great holiday!!
This could be ME too…ALL of it! Very well written and so very raw and true! I am a looping teacher…so I am in a different grade level every year. I just shuddered thinking about the fact that all of the "stuff" I've downloaded, printed, cut, laminated…will not be used next year because I probably won't be in 5th grade. Ugh…I'm going to go check instagram. Lol!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
Hi Kristen,
You are totally right – sometimes the 'peer pressure' coming from IG, FB, blogs etc. is really stressful… but really, it shouldn't be like that at all. I think in our desire to be the best teachers we can be for our kidlets, we see products, pictures and ideas as things we MUST do, RIGHT AWAY instead of seeing them for the inspiration and encouragement they should be. I had a month earlier this year when I was physically stressed when I didn't get a blog post up, or make something for TpT etc… and I'm sure during that time I wasn't doing the best job in my classroom. I had to take a step back and remember what my priorities were, and what things I was doing because they should be relaxing. I forced myself to have one full day a week with NO printing, laminating or cutting – and no school based computer work either. It really made a difference to my sanity! 🙂
I must admit, I'm glad that our months here in Australia don't match up with the US themes – because I honestly don't understand how teachers prepare all new games/activities each month. I'm glad to have things that I can use at any time of the year – sometimes just switching out things like themed counters and props.
Thanks for a very honest post! 🙂
Lauren
Love, Laughter and Learning in Prep!
I can relate. After a health scare earlier this year, I decided that it's time I take care of myself. The work will always be there. There will always be something to do.