https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:57:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher/page/2#post-2512818 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:50:29 +0000 Autumnmama79 2512818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: We couldn't get any further apart if we tried! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher/page/2#post-2512797 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:29:56 +0000 Charm54 2512797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: NB </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512789 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:27:10 +0000 Autumnmama79 2512789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: Cool! What province are you in? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512788 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:25:36 +0000 Charm54 2512788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: yes, I've come to find that teaching in Canada is much different than the US, in terms of benefits , salary and general expectations. I used to live in NC and many of my NC friends are teachers so we often compare notes. I am saddened by how little they get paid. I feel lucky to work in a province that values teachers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512765 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:14:28 +0000 Autumnmama79 2512765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Enjoying reading the other teachers responses! I teach at a public school in Canada and am represented by a strong union and a well-negotiated collective agreement. </p> <p>I agree that those who work in the private system (and therefor not protected by the union or collective agreements) have it much harder, and for less pay. They MUST be at school at a certain time each morning and cannot leave until a certain time after school. For us in public, its at our discretion. Sometimes I leave right away, sometimes I stay a bit longer but admin can't call me on it - which I appreciate!</p> <p>We are given 15 sick days per year and 5 personal days. Having a little one means I often use nearly all of them every year :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512754 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:06:15 +0000 Anagram 2512754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: eys, so I get 10 sick days per year and 4 personal days. But my current district has it written into the contract that sick days are only for the employee (not family illness), and you are supposed to use personal days for kid illnesses. So 4 days for the whole year. Can you lie and call in sick? Sure. But it creates that atmosphere that makes you feel like you can't be honest and say, my kid is throwing up.</p> <p>And I worked in 3 schools in Texas and they were same or worse in terms of taking sick days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512671 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:22:25 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2512671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @petitenoisette: I agree that how easy it is to create a balance depends heavily on the school/administrators. I've worked in 4 schools/districts &amp; they've all been different in how much time I'm expected to give. Its difficult because teachers are pressured to give so much of themselves, but I have had success saying "no" - or even changing schools because I wasn't at one that would work for me &amp; my family. Yes, we work more than the 40 hor week, but it doesn't have to be 60 hours either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512645 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:00:24 +0000 petitenoisette 2512645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I think regarding sick days, this is also very highly school dependent. I get 15 (ETA) sick days a year that roll over, I technically can use 5 for dependent care but no one ever questions that. I do not have to get my own subs and let's say I was on my way to work and LO got sick in the car, I would just call my school's secretary and they would take care of it for me. But I work in a relatively big high school and we have building subs and they can draw from teachers who are free certain blocks if really necessary. But basically, my administration takes care of it and it is not frowned upon to take days off to take care of your kids. </p> <p>That being said, I obviously have to do lesson plans and that can be stressful and difficult from home but it's doable. And for Dr's appointments I usually have to take a full day off unless I arrange in advance to leave early (that you can't take too much advantage of at my school).</p> <p>ETA: I realize I am really lucky. I work in MA and I think we probably have the best working conditions for teachers in the country. I don't mean to imply that it is like this everywhere! I'm sharing because I think it's important in terms of collective bargaining for people to realize where their school stands in terms of working conditions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512640 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 09:56:22 +0000 pachamama 2512640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a high-school teacher going back to work in a few months. Commenting so I can follow this </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512604 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 09:35:15 +0000 Anagram 2512604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think work/life balance is just so-so, but so much of that depends on the particular school you work in and your administrators. In terms of time off, you definitely get the scheduled breaks, and that's nice....but taking time off during the rest of the school year has always been really tough for me (like when your kids are sick or need appointments). You have to get a sub and make all the plans to leave them and I find that administrators generally create a culture where it's discouraged to take the days you have. So that part is tough for me as a mom (didn't have an issue before having kids). Like, if our kiddo wakes up with a slight fever, there's no showing up a little late so I can take her to the doctor first--I have to take an official half day, I have to get a sub, send in my lesson plans, and all before the 6:30 am cut off--and you only get 4 days per year, so it's rough to make it through if you have sick kids a lot.</p> <p>When I worked in Texas for 9 years, I worked exclusively in Title 1 schools and the pressure is unreal--I almost always had work over the weekends and at night. Also, when you are a good teacher in those settings, you are "rewarded" with more and more responsibility. By my 4th year in my first school, I was the GT coordinator, the English department chair, Spelling bee coordinator, did Odyssey of the Mind (after school club), was pressured into doing Saturday school for the months leading up to State testing. I felt really burned out by year 5. All of the "coordinator" positions require extra after school meetings and planning. And I taught about 175 students a day, which is a ton of grading. Each teacher had to offer extra help (not during lunch) at least twice a week before or after school. Every holiday in those years was spent with a giant stack of essays to grade, because we had a district wide rule that all English teachers had to grade 1 full process essay every 6 weeks. =(</p> <p>My actual contract hours then were 7:50-4:00 pm. But I rarely left before 4:30-5pm and the only break I got was the 30 minute lunch, where 10 minutes was burned walking my class to the cafeteria and picking them up.</p> <p>Now in another state, it's really different. Our contract hours are 7:50-3:00. I rarely work after school and it's not really expected that you do. But I also now work in a much smaller school district, so there's no district curriculum and a lot of time is spent creating classes and units from scratch. There's less departmental support.</p> <p>That all sounds super negative but most of my family has been in education, and the particular jobs can be great or hell on earth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512576 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 09:14:53 +0000 petitenoisette 2512576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Yes, I didn't mean to make it sound like it was easy to have a good balance! And maybe I'm being overly optimistic because I've been teaching a long time now. That being said, this year has been a transitional year for me because it's my first as a mom, and frankly a lot of the year has been tough and it's been hard for me to be motivated like I once was. But I'm finally feeling like I'm coming out of the weeds (but maybe that's just because summer vaca will be here soon!). </p> <p>I totally agree with you and @Alba4 that the number of preps makes a huge difference. I'm a French teacher so I often have 4 preps, never less than 3 and even then those duplicate preps are often different levels so I need to still differentiate them. But, I have just made a choice that if I am assigned to teach 4 totally different things than something has got to give. I am not willing to sacrifice my life for my job. The biggest thing I do that allows me to survive without being here for hours every afternoon is that I work while the students are working. This is impossible at the lower levels but for high school it can work (this is obviously not ideal nor a "best practice" but this is how I make things work for me). </p> <p>@Makingbabyw: I feel like private schools make it extremely difficult to have a good balance. I think it's supposed to be a trade-off because you'll have smaller classes, maybe fewer, and supposedly better students but you are expected to do much more, probably for free and for less pay. It's a no-brainer for me that public school is the way to go! </p> <p>And yes, if you don't really love teaching then none of the benefits will make it work out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512434 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 06:32:33 +0000 Alba4 2512434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I totally agree that the amount of subjects or grade levels/preps that you have can make your job really challenging. I teach middle school Spanish and ESL and usually have 3 grade levels. The amount of lessons that I must prep compared to my colleagues who only teach 7th grade SS is drasticly higher. In our district, which is a top performing public school in an affluent NYC suburb, the trend is to hire dually certified teachers. My advice is to get dually certified if you can... You will be hired more quickly, and seems to be the future of education.</p> <p>And lastly.... Teaching may sound like a sweet job. Summers off, vacations, work/life balance. But, and it's a big but... if you don't love the kids, the act of teaching itself, and can't put aside all the b.s. politics involved, you are going to burn out quickly. For me, there is nothing I enjoy more than being in a room with crazy adolescents. I laugh every day, although some days are just hard. Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512344 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:49:12 +0000 Makingbabyw 2512344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am just going to put it out there- I had NO balance until I moved to a public school and part time this year. I am very much on similar terms to DESERTDREAMS88 and her post as well. </p> <p>I am a 5th year, high school social studies (all other four years were MS). In the middle school as a teacher I worked frequently 50 hours a week at the charter school. I was literally the only one in my department, coached, did the yearbook and was on the board. I LOVED my kids, my jobs, etc. but it was exhausting on me personally and my marriage (no kids yet). The other teachers in the building did NOT have less hours working than I did, and I was very good about managing my time to make sure I was not just chatty cathy. With out school culture, the evaluation system, and meetings it was just what was expected to keep your job. </p> <p>NOW that I am in HS and part time I leave when I am done teaching, and since I have been doing it a while I dont spend nearly as much time planning and grading. I work maybe 30 hours a week which is what I am paid for and have time to actually get to spend with my coworkers as well. I have never been happier. </p> <p>I say it all the time but even when I was working insane hours, I have never felt like I am working a day in my life. I love my job, my kids, and that I am doing something that truly matters in our world. The students are my kids (none of my own still..trying,..) and will always be that way, perhaps now more so than ever as I am at an alternative school for at risk kiddos. I would spend some time in a classroom because the work load is not for everyone! </p> <p>Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512335 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:41:16 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2512335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread has so much good advice! I've taught elementary &amp; preschool and feel like the balance is good. The hours are nice because they can be flexible (I *could* leave by 3:15 if I needed to, etc) and obviously the school schedule is great. I definitely put in a 40+ hr week between staying late/going in early/weekends, but I feel like it all averages out when you consider the days off. The first few years are definitely more time intensive as you build your toolbox (seriously get a mentor or team member to partner with!!) and find a groove that works for you. It's easy to get sucked in to working an obscene amount, so you have to be deliberate about creating a balance. I've found that I can maximize my time most by just being very organized &amp; sticking to a routine. But I will say that socializing isn't always a bad thing - I get a lot of great ideas &amp; support that way.<br /> @petitenoisette: I hear you on the teacher martyr thing. I've met so many teachers like that &amp; they're so unhappy or stressed. But it doesn't have to be that way!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512330 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 21:29:05 +0000 DesertDreams88 2512330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate to be the naysayer but I will say, I did not have a lot of work/life balance as a teacher these past 5 years. HOWEVER, a couple of caveats:<br /> - I had no children, so no big motivating factor.<br /> - DH is a teacher too, so we share each other's workload and don't find that it detracts from our relationship, in fact it enhances it.<br /> - I truly enjoy my work, so spending 2ish extra hours daily on it isn't a big deal, usually.<br /> - My subject &amp; schedule changed almost every year, so I had to start my lessons from scratch &amp; learn new curriculum/standards.<br /> - I didn't like the district-provided curriculum so I made most of my own lessons.<br /> - I work at a low-performing / low-income school.</p> <p>Years 1 &amp; 2: Part-time student, teaching 2-3 subjects, worked 2-3 extra hours on weekdays &amp; most of the weekend<br /> Year 3: Grad School, only teaching 1 subject, worked 1-2 extra hours on weekdays &amp; half of Sunday<br /> Year 4: Teaching 3 subjects &amp; switching to Common Core, worked 2-3 extra hours on weekdays &amp; most of the weekend<br /> Year 5: Teaching 1 subject, worked 1 extra hour on weekdays &amp; a couple hours on Sunday</p> <p>And I'm actually known for being really, really efficient! The amount of subjects you teach makes a HUGE difference! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512197 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 19:33:34 +0000 DillonLion 2512197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petitenoisette: Right now we have the opposite. I feel like I have NO time off and DH has a ton of PTO. I'm really excited to be able to swap roles in that regard, ha! His PTO policy is excellent compared to mine now, but it is nowhere near the teaching schedule. He was just saying today that he's excited only one of us will have to get PTO approved to do something like say, take a family vacation over the summer. He's very supportive of the change :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512113 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 18:43:27 +0000 petitenoisette 2512113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been teaching for 10 years and I'm loving reading this post! I really am not a fan of the whole teacher as martyr thing so it's refreshing to hear you all speak to having a good work/life balance.</p> <p>I will agree that the first few years are really tough but if you put in the time initially it really pays off. @DesertDreams88 had lots of great ideas for both saving time and just good practices as a teacher. I think for sure be mindful of what you choose to grade. I used to grade SO MUCH CLASSWORK thinking that was what I had to do to get them to do the work but as I have grown more confident as a teacher I have found it unnecessary/an ineffective way of giving feedback/inflates grades. </p> <p>Also agree to use your time wisely. I know a lot of teachers who are always behind grading but also spend their entire mornings socializing. I do eat lunch with my colleagues bc I need a little adult time, but other than that I really buckle down (when I'm not distracted by hellobee :silly: ) </p> <p>Anyway, this is getting long and just piggybacking other posters, but to answer your original question I think I have an awesome work-life balance. I have absolutely zero problems saying that my family always comes first and my job is my job. I am a good teacher (I think!) but I'm not there to sacrifice myself or the good of my family for my job. My biggest "frustration" is really that my husband gets nowhere near the amount of vacation time I do, so we can't necessarily do as much as I'd like to do with it but I'll live :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2512027 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:49:17 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2512027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overall I have a great work life balance. For me, the best part is getting home between 3 and 4:3. Since having my LO, I don't take any work home, but I used I frequently spent most of Sunday's grading papers (English teacher). Now I'm just a lot more efficient and it's easier 10 years in. I do think dance team would add a ToN of extra time...id avoid it if you can get a job without the combo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511996 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 16:20:45 +0000 Alba4 2511996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too was a career changer and have never looked back. I teach multiple grades in a middle school. I'm not going to lie... The first couple of years are challenging as you build your lessons and materials. I'm in my 8th year and it's awesome! Hopefully your district will pair you with a mentor in your first year.</p> <p>As for work/life balance, I feel like it's a very healthy balance. I stay until 4 most days, but have the flexibility to leave earlier for appointments and such. I really try to not bring too much work/grading home since I've had my children. Sometimes, it's inevitable, especially around the end of the quarter. But overall, I love teaching kids so much, and summers off and lots of vacation is just an extra perk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511938 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:19:52 +0000 katsupgirl 2511938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: my first year my LO was napping still so I used that time to get work done. I was adamant about take home work not cutting into family time. I'm much better at it this year so a good work/life balance is totally possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511935 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:17:59 +0000 DillonLion 2511935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: Yeah I will miss my hour long luxurious lunches but I'd definitely trade them in a heartbeat if it meant I could get home earlier! Right now its 8-5 regardless. I can take an hour for lunch or not. So I take the hour most of the time ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511921 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:10:26 +0000 Charm54 2511921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think teaching is one of the best professions for a work life balance. Summers off, spring break, Christmas vacation, snow days... I get so much "extra" time with my kids. I typically work 8-3:30 (sometimes 4:00), but if I have to leave early for an apt or something I can leave at 2:10. I basically shovel down my food (we get 20 mins for lunch, no other breaks) but I like that the day goes by quickly and I'm done early in the day.</p> <p>of course there's some evenings and weekends involved, typically around report card time, but I've found that good time management (I get a lot done from 2:10-3:30 when the kids are gone) limits at home stuff. </p> <p>I've taught most grades from K-8 and found the upper grades less demanding physically and mentally...there's more formal marking, but you aren't EXHAUSTED at the end of the day like I was teaching Kindergarten :silly: </p> <p>I ❤️ Teaching so much . Good luck with your transition ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511910 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:04:28 +0000 DillonLion 2511910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Thanks! Will definitely check it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511908 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:04:10 +0000 DillonLion 2511908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: Thank you! Yes, I sat in on a PLC when I was observing! I'll definitely check out the book you recommended. Thank you thank you for the advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511907 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 15:03:41 +0000 DesertDreams88 2511907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also a huge fan of "Teach Like a Champion" by Doug Lemov, like @matador84: suggested. Each chapter contains an easily-applicable strategy that usually works in a variety of grades &amp; subjects. The chapters are short and I think there's like 50 of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511891 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:57:30 +0000 matador84 2511891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I know what part of TX you live in (where I'm from), and I'm sure you will get a job easily with the certifications you have. I feel like there IS a lot of time required and high expectations for teachers in that area, but it is really well worth it and an amazing job. Of course, lots of breaks and summers off. :-)</p> <p>It wasn't until several years in my teaching career how much time I realized I was wasting on grading papers. I moved to a workshop model my last few years in teaching before moving into administration and it was a huge a-ha for me. The work was more significant and important to the kids because they received immediate feedback and I had way less grading to take home. For me, I manage(d) my calendar really tightly as a teacher and still as an administrator to use my time really wisely at school so I don't stay late every day. My kids have to be picked up by 530 daily, and I'm usually out the door by 4-430. </p> <p>Establishing systems and routines are CRITICAL your first year teaching. I have seen so many teachers become burned out their first 1-3 years because teaching isn't what they thought it was. It can be emotionally draining and a lot of hard work that often new teachers or second career teachers don't expect. There are so many good teaching books out there, but my go-to/stand by is definitely Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. </p> <p>PLC's (professional learning communities) are the standard if you are in the location I think you are, and you'll be well-taken care of by your team members as you transition. </p> <p>Holler if you have questions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511881 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:52:25 +0000 DillonLion 2511881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I really hope I get to say "I feel fulfilled!" That's a big goal of mine with this change. I'm glad to hear you felt that way your first year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511876 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:50:18 +0000 DesertDreams88 2511876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I echo EVERYTHING @katsupgirl: said.</p> <p>1st year was tough but I was so fulfilled. 2nd year I made SO many improvements based on what I learned. Just keep moving forward and learning, don't let the "teacher superhero" guilt get to you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511869 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:46:59 +0000 DillonLion 2511869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Wow thank you thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hows-your-worklife-balance-as-a-teacher#post-2511865 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:45:44 +0000 DillonLion 2511865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yeah I'm definitely walking away from a career that has a much higher pay trajectory compared to teaching, but I'm also strongly considering pursuing administration so I can get into more leadership and higher income a little later in life. The other piece of the puzzle is we have been very passionate about saving/budgeting/investing/etc. and that has definitely contributed to being able to consider this career switch at this time. Without that it couldn't even be a discussion. I consider myself very lucky that we even had the opportunity and desire to be able to cut our expenses and see our incomes rise. That's changed a lot for us. And I don't take that lightly at all. I'm very thankful to be in this position. </p>