In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would write something absolutely terrifying. Something that you can’t forget. Even possibly something that will give you nightmares for the rest of your life.
A view inside a teacher’s brain.
Yes, what seems on the outside as sweet and innocent, will actually absolutely terrify you.
According to google, “The average classroom teacher will make more than 1,500 decisions every school day.” Yes, you read that right. And if you found a willing participant, sawed off the top of their head, and peered inside for a day; you might see those decisions running a million miles a minute through their head.
So, here is a glimpse of a normal day in my head.
I arrive to school at 6:30 every morning. This gives me about an hour and a half before I have students enter my room. This time frame consists of answering email, answering parent questions, getting ready for the day, grading, lesson planning, making copies, and meetings. Often these things all happen at once.
When the bell rings at 8:15 am, I head to the gym to pick up my students. They are all at different points physically and emotionally. We head to the classroom, we do our handshakes, and I ask each student how they are. At this moment, the information and questions start pouring in. I am often having multiple conversations at once.
As we head into the classroom, I am answering questions, collecting homework, keeping track of missing work, collecting notes, making note of transportation changes, sending kids to the office to turn things in, and preparing for the first lesson of the day.
For the duration of the school day I am teaching, answering questions, dealing with interruptions, gathering homework for absent kiddos, dealing with any issues that arise, keeping track of time, keeping track of schedules, making changes to lessons on the fly, and so on.
At 3:15 pm the students head home. I then talk with my fellow teachers about their day. We then sometimes have training. I then am focusing my brain on my family and what needs to be done at home. Often, I am also thinking and worrying about my students.
Once I arrive at home, I have a few messages from parents to answer, I do chores, I keep track of everyone’s schedule, and I am planning for the next week.
By the time I get my own children to bed, I finish my to-do list, and I settle in on the couch; I have been making decisions for 13 and a half hours.
Shew….I am exhausted just typing this. So, you may be asking, what is the point?
Here is your well earned answer. When you see a teacher walking around exhausted, or when you see something posted on social media from a teacher about being tired, PLEASE do not say….”Well, you get summers off.”
We know this. We are thankful for this. However, we have the right to be exhausted. We pour everything we have into every single day. Hug that teacher. Send that teacher an encouraging message. Heck, even a kind emoji is appreciated.
To all of my fellow educators…thank you! Thank you for everything you do, and for every single decision you make.
Kick back and relax this weekend. You deserve a nap!
Real Teacher Real Life 