when monday comes and it doesn't feel like there's been a weekend.

skiteacher · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 06:59 PM

Hi guys, I supposed mainly i'm asking for a hug, cos I feel crap today, just exhuasted and therefore today didn't go well, I forgot my lunch so didn't have anything to eat until lunchtime (can't go without my playtime snack usually) so snapping at children.
The reason i'm feeling so mondayish, is that when I woke up this morning, I jsut didn't feel like i'd had a weekend. I worked practically all of it, when I wasn't I was cleaning. I know this is exactly how most teachers spend their weekends, but after having my weekends back as a supply and knowing I could feel better than this, I know i've got to do something.
I just seem to have so much work to do, yet I just don't organise myself to get it done productively so I can have a life. THere is more pressure at my school at the moment due to the new head / trying to drag the school up the attainment tables, the threat of OFSTED, but I don't really think much more actual work is being demanded of us than would otheriwse (though I know it is having an emotional impact which doesn't help)
So after the hug, advice from the many full contractors on here - how do you do it and still have a family / life? (apart from not checking facebook every 30secs
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I had always thought of myself as organised but i'm realising i'm not and that actually i'm a faffer. Especially when it comes to the internet distracting me.

THank you muchly in advance.

danfur · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 07:10 PM

Big hug ski. I know what you mean about being a faffer and time running away, I am exactly the same. It's like you sit down to do planning etc but it has to wait til you have checked emails, here, facebook etc and then
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e a cup of tea = 30 mins at least!! No real advice apart from trying to get bulks of planning done in one go (especially foundation subjects) which is what I used to try and do to rescue my weekend. Making sure that Saturday was a day off come what may was good for the soul too. Also I think they've come with me but check out my list of websites that I put on as there were loads of time savers which had full medium and short term plans on.

On the topic of not feeling like you've had a weekend I also feel fairly rubbish. Spent best part of last week blitzing new house as have no excuse now all the unpacking is done and OH's parents were coming to visit on Saturday. Felt knackered all weekend as entertaining them and waking up approx every hour, every night since last Thursday. Then after standing on the side lines yesterday afternoon cheering on my brother in the freezing cold and rain, I have now come down with a massive cold, can't stop sneezing and am aching all over.

And to top it all off had to turn down work this morning cos of said cold and am really disappointed as it was the class I was in last Thursday and Friday and the school and staff were lovely and asked for me back by name which is always flattering and I had to turn it down.

Sorry to hijack your hug ski, just feeling rubbish so empathising!! 4 days til the weekend.

danfur · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 07:12 PM

Forgot to say that there is no logical reason for waking up every hour during the night which is more annoying than if there was one.

NuttySupplier · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 09:17 PM

Tonnes of
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going out, but I'll gladly share them!

Like Danfur said she does, I keep Saturday work free... keeping Sunday work free doesn't work, you'll work anyway, and being a faffer like me, you'll do nothing on Satuday as there's not enough pressure on you to get it done.. procrastination, there's still tomorrow.

How do I maintain a family/life? I don't I'm afraid! Which is the main reason I gave up five years ago. Which is why I only accepted supply for the last 3 years. Which is why I can't believe I've ended up where I am, with all the responsibility I have, and which is why I'm in talks with OH about whether or not we can afford for me to just work 4.5 days, and stay in school on the 0.5th day so I can enjoy Sundays.

Other than the half term just gone, I haven't taken the
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s for a w.a.l.k since the summer hols. It's not right is it?

I know what you mean about emotional impact too, OFSTED gets a mention at least once a day in our school, 'got to get this done, in case we get the big O call' etc., no actual extra stuff I have to do, but completely draining.

Sorry, no suggestions really, but tonnes of 'I know what you mean' sympathies! And to be honest, thank god for the internet! I do relax while I'm checking the sites I believe!

Danfur... gosh, have you cut out caffeine etc?

firecrest · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 10:08 PM

Big
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from me too. A fellow faffer that doesn't use time as effectively as I could. I now have a face book account too, addicted to scrabulous at the moment.

Gnomoospan · #6 (**permalink**) 13-11-2007, 04:52 AM

Hi ski, it is tricky for people to advise because we don't know how much paperwork you are expected to hand in etc, but from my point of view I try and get the majority of my planning done pre-term, so then every week during PPA all I have to do is my weekly planning. Invest in a
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of maths and english books that have the planning done and use them, why reinvent the wheel! Don't stress if something is done, nobody will die. DO NOT spend all weekend working, nobody will appreciate you for it, remember why you are a teacher, and enjoy what you do.
I know it's hard with the new head etc, but try and get things done at school at lunch, after school etc so you're not taking loads home.
And big
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xxxxxxxxxxx

skiteacher · #7 (**permalink**) 13-11-2007, 06:21 PM

thank you all for the
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and advice.
Danfur I really hope you get your sleep sorted, that is part of my problem as i have sleep problems, so constantly feel shattered.
I have just deleted a big rant about all of this, about the planning and the split between me and the job shares in the other class and all the changes my school is going through.
I know at the moment I do just have to accept it and hope that it gets better. I tried to be more efficient after school today, sorting out for tomorrow and getting important bits of paper done.
And I was even going to not turn the computer on - but well, as you see that didn't happen!
So, now, I will go and get the little bit of work done that I bought home and hopefully i'll be done in time for my daily dose of autumnwatch! I can at least pretend i'm outdoors!

Thanks again.

NuttySupplier · #8 (**permalink**) 13-11-2007, 08:45 PM

I just got in, parents' evening tomorrow, not ready... sod 'em!

skiteacher · #9 (**permalink**) 14-11-2007, 05:52 PM

that's is certainly one way to think about it!

Footiegirl · #10 (**permalink**) 14-11-2007, 06:11 PM

Bit late but big
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to you all. I can remember that feeling well, even though it is 3 years since I had my own class. I used to do what the others have suggested, have one totally school free day at the weekend to give myself a bit of a break.

As for sleep... I would give anything for an unbroken nights sleep and a 'lie-in' until 7am!!

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