https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:08:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806814 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 19:25:04 +0000 MissKriss19 2806814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take the summer off if I was in your shoes (I’m taking the summer off unpaid to stay home with my 3 so I kind of am in your shoes 🙂). In the grand scheme of life your kids are only this little for such a short time. You will have years and years of opportunity to teach in the summers when they are older and have their own lives and don’t want to hang out with you. I would soak up all the fun summer memories and cuddles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806721 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:00:38 +0000 alphagam84 2806721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd pass on teaching the summer semester in favor of spending time with my daughter unless I could find a nanny-share or part time daycare to avoid having her out of town during the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806716 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:47:24 +0000 LemonJack 2806716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is no right or wrong answer here. It comes down to what you want to do. It sounds like you really like the idea of staying at home for the summer, so that’s what I would do. Plus, it might be the last summer you’ll have only one child, so I’d really live it up with your LO. If you aren’t struggling financially I wouldn’t even entertain the thought of teaching in the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806712 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:23:24 +0000 rpparker 2806712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I didn't have terrible morning sickness but not sure if work or home with a 3 year old would be harder!</p> <p>@petitenoisette: Yeah I think that's the sticking point right now. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806647 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 08:17:11 +0000 petitenoisette 2806647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would teach it for one more summer but plan to figure out a better childcare situation so you don’t have to send DD away for the week. If that’s not possible then I would probably not do it. Agree with @DesertDreams88: that I would also probably not do it if I thought I’d be in the throes of bad morning sickness. It was a lifesaver for me both pregnancies as a teacher to be home over the summer of the first trimester! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806608 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:06:26 +0000 DesertDreams88 2806608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>, for me, I taught summer school when I was pregnant with no kids, and when I was pregnant and had a toddler... Summer school was actually a good break from my toddlers antics and crazy energy. I did not teach summer school when I have a young infant, because of breastfeeding and because of lack of sleep.</p> <p>Also, for me, summer school was only 3 weeks long and thankfully it was at the very beginning of my pregnancy before the real morning sickness it. How was the morning sickness and fatigue when you were pregnant with your daughter? That would be a big factor in my decision making, if you're possibly going to be pregnant over the summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806590 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 15:53:38 +0000 rpparker 2806590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: That would be fun and she is potty trained. So far I've only seen ones that start at 4 but haven't looked much so great idea!</p> <p>@yoursilverlining: I think it would almost be easier if it was required because then I wouldn't have to make any decisions. Just knowing there is an option to be off is hard to ignore! And you are right - the hours that I have to be physically here are still way less than most jobs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806582 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 15:27:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2806582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is a college professor who teaches a course every summer session for 4-5 weeks. Honestly; he still overall works fewer hours than I do at a traditional corporate job; although there are some tight days in there for sure so for us it makes sense to keep doing it. If the class could be capped at 12 I think that would make a huge difference. I think it would also make a huge difference if you already have a developed curriculum. And if you have a TA, that would be ideal for sure. </p> <p>To me, the hardest part about your situation is the childcare. We just kept our LO in daycare through the summer. Having to juggle difficult childcare logistics would have been a bigger headache than the hours he worked, I think. </p> <p>I would bank the $$$ personally; but then again I never have the option of semesters off so I can’t even imagine how nice that option would be!! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806576 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 15:10:51 +0000 jape14 2806576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rpparker: one more thought: if your DD will be 3 in June and is potty trained, that may open up your options for summer camp type offerings. not sure where you are located but in my area (NC) there are a lot of preschools/camps that offer half-day programs starting at 3/potty-trained. in my case, our MDO/preschool doesn't offer camp all summer but another one close by does and some of my son's classmates attend that for half-days. maybe you could combine something like that with a baby-sitter and get coverage for some portion of the 6 weeks, and then only ship off to grandparent care for a smaller amount of time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806560 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:11:28 +0000 rpparker 2806560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: That's awesome! We are doing a pilot program for some online classes right now. I'm involved in the training so maybe that will be a possibility in future semesters. I wish a course release was an option but now it's just for the extra money. Maybe it will help my case if/when I am discussing maternity leave! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806558 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:51:06 +0000 gingerbebe 2806558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rpparker: My husband did a Jan term 5 days a week (and his commute was 150 miles round trip in Bay Area traffic) when our very colicky DS1 was 3 months old and I wanted to MURDER HIM. I get it. But we also got extra money and he got to reduce his course load by 1 class during the school year so he only had to commute in 2 days a week instead of 3 during the semester, so in the end it was better for our overall family schedule. Because he was an in-demand professor, the school also ended up working with him to be one of the first professors to offer online and hybrid courses. He actually got paid a $5,000 stipend to go through a training course on how to run an online course and through that program developed the curriculum for his classes. Then he went on to teach a bunch of evening classes from home that were so much more convenient! He would teach online one night a week from 6-9pm, then go in every other Saturday for a half day, and it was so much easier he had no issue picking up an extra summer school course or whatever like that. He used those extra classes as course releases during the school year or just for extra cash. So in the end it was a great investment of time and dues to be able to get that flexibility. The last year or two he was teaching he only drove in like 2 days a week and was around to help with the kids so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806554 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:41:17 +0000 rpparker 2806554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: That is my first instinct too! She is so fun right now! I told my DH last night that I didn't want to teach it and he was like well there is your answer! Then I toss and turn all night thinking about it!</p> <p>@gingerbebe: You are right that this would be the last time I could probably teach it and I'm not sure how my schedule will work with 2 so might as well do it while I can! I'm thankful for your commiseration with you DH's schedule - it is the best sometimes and then hard other parts of the year. I also think you are right that reality would hit both of us pretty hard once fall comes around.</p> <p>@jape14: All good things to think about, thanks! It's a 6 week session - we have mini terms but this class has a lab component so it can't be taught during that. I have asked for a TA and waiting to hear about that. I have taught this course before during a normal term and summer so the prep is minimal. I have also been encouraged to keep the cap low (12 students versus the 22 last summer). I'll also have to request to have lab following lecture (2 days a week) but that's my set up now so should work out. I think what made me "miss" so much of my LO last summer was that even when I wasn't at work, she was at out of town grandparents so we couldn't even get an hour of pool time or whatever after work. I really appreciate your insight - I'm kind of a pushover with requesting stuff at work but there is still a demand for the class and I'm the only instructor for the position so I should make some scheduling request while the ball is in my court! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806550 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:27:23 +0000 jape14 2806550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it a new prep or a course you've already taught? Is there anything you can do to make the schedule or class less demanding? Are you teaching the entire summer or can you just do one term? Not sure of the particulars at your institution, but I taught summers three years in grad school (at a private research university) and the first year was definitely rough. Not having a new prep made it easier, but I also negotiated on the time (my course had a lab and I negotiated to have the lab directly following the lecture once a week to minimize my time on campus) and grading (our school will pay graders a nominal amount per term depending on class size; I was teaching stats so I qualified). For grading, if applicable, you could lobby for it as a TA/learning experience for an early-year graduate student or an advanced undergrad. I also set my office hours for right before or after class once a week to minimize on-campus time (again, your flexibility here may vary depending on your institution). Another thing that may be useful depending on the course is arranging for tutoring so your students aren't only relying on you for outside help. In my case, our campus had a healthy tutoring program and I arranged for another grad student in my lab to join - he tutored a group of my students regularly and it reduced the amount of time I needed to spend in office hours with students. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806539 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:58:26 +0000 gingerbebe 2806539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband was a college professor for years, so I get how these winter and summer term schedules suck.</p> <p>However, if I were in your shoes, I'd do it one last time. For one, you probably wont want to do it again after you have 2 kids - you probably wont be able to dump 2 kids off with your folks all week. Secondly, 3 year olds are hard and being home with them all day every day is exhausting - especially if you're pregnant. Third, if you spend all day with your kid and then you suddenly have a baby, I wonder if it might not cause increased separation anxiety and jealousy issues. And saving up some extra money is nice.</p> <p>Before we had our 2nd child, we just kept DS1's schedule and life as similar as possible. DH never even stayed overnight with me in the hospital when I delivered DS2 - he just went home every night, picked up DS1 from school and followed his same routine. Aside from me being gone for 2 days, he didn't really notice much of a difference - until there was a baby in his house of course. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806537 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:56:26 +0000 erinbaderin 2806537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, if you can swing it financially I would pass this year - your daughter will only be this age once, and three is a great age for doing stuff - they're old enough to take advantage of more things and appreciate them more, while still young enough to be amazed and entertained by little stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teach-summer-school#post-2806534 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:52:48 +0000 rpparker 2806534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've come to Hellobee before with work issues and here I am again! Sorry it's long...just sorting my thoughts!</p> <p>I am starting my third year teaching at a small liberal arts school. When I first started teaching, they asked me to run a summer session. I wanted to secure my position for the next year so was happy to do it even though it was super demanding and the schedule was terrible - normal term I'm on campus 2 - 3 days/week and during the summer it's 5 days/week. Now that I'm more established in my position I feel like I have more options but still taught again last summer because there was a demand for the class. Now, emails are starting about planning for 2018 summer courses.</p> <p> Here is my issue: Our DD will be 3 in June and we are starting to try for #2. I have this dreamy picture in my head of us being by the pool, parks, beach trips and just a nice summer at home together before a possible fall/winter baby. B U T since the summer teaching schedule is so demanding the pay is amazing - it's basically a 20% bonus of my annual salary. Our DD's daycare doesn't have a summer program so past summers we have done a mix of babysitters and grandparent care (which means shipping DD out of town for the majority of the week). I would try to just have her home more this summer to soak up some fun when I'm not at work. </p> <p>DH is open to me not working but we did just start a renovation project to the extra money would be nice but not necessary. </p> <p>Since summer school is a separate contract, I am not obligated to teach and my supervisor is supportive either way. </p> <p>Every summer I say I'm never teaching summer again but now here I am! </p> <p>I know I won't regret the extra time at home but it's so hard to say no to work too! </p>