Other teachers out there? I need advice

[kadi]

Dear Fellow Teachers,
I wasn't sure what category to post this under....

I have been exhausted lately. Today, I came home from work at 4:00 straight to bed & slept til 7:00. It's 10:30 now, I'll be in bed as soon as I'm done posting this.

I'm so tired, I'm having trouble planning, have been going day to day, unlike my usual unit-planning for 1-2 weeks at a time. I'm teaching a lot of each class sitting down, because I'm too tired to stand & walk the room all day.

I reduced my work to 7:45-3:45 (it's still 45 minutes over contract). I'm cutting corners on planning, grading, and parent contacts, but I figure- me at lower capacity is still better than a substitute.

How are you managing? I decided not to teach summer school, although will sign up to sub a few days here & there (maybe make up a little $ I've lost this year)... But I gotta make it through the next 24 work days... (I usually don't count down til the last 10 days, but this year...)

Any thoughts?
BTW: This is my 13th year teaching (but first year of IC).

[kadi]

Yep, I am too tired. Just realized there's a "Career" section I should have posted this in. Oh, well. Good night.

[Sarojini]

Hi Kadi,

I'm not a teacher, but my husband is... so I know how difficult that job would be with IC!!

I'm not sure what to tell you... but I can definitely sympathize with you. I too am exhausted. Because I work in a lab, reducing my workload is sometimes possible, sometimes not. I am actually taking a personal day today to rest, because I am in between experiments and can do it without too much trouble. But there are other weeks where I work 8:30 until 5 or later, and it is difficult! At least I can take bathroom breaks as needed... I cannot imagine how difficult it must be teaching classes and not being able to go on a moment's notice...

I guess being tired just comes with IC territory :(

[lulu5]

Hi Kadi-
I totally understand where you are coming from :) I teach eighth grade English, and I feel like I am doing a complete disservice to my kids sometimes. I was just diagnosed three months ago (This is my eighth year teaching), and my world has simply come unglued at times. I, too, have been cutting corners, pulling out last year's plans, and teaching sitting down! I am never like that :mad: and I get so angry with myself that I can't just "suck it up" and be super teacher!! My husband is also a teacher; we teach in the same building, and he has been absolutely wonderful with me and handling this. He tells me all the time that I still do more sick than he does well with his kids. My guess is that you are the same way- I have also fallen onto the couch and slept from 4-6, and feel frustrated. Yet, sometimes we just have to do what we have to do. My kids seem to know something is amiss with me, but I don't think it is affecting their education or that they are that terribly worried. Anyway- I just wanted you to know that I can commiserate with you on this one-you can pm me anytime-I am new at this, but it would be nice to talk with another teacher who understands. Hang in there-only 5 weeks left ;)
Mindy

[valleygal]

Hi Kadi, I'm not a teacher I am a instructional assistant for the school District. We have a special class that is not affiliated withSpecial Ed it is seperatley funded but on a regular school campus. I've been off most of the school year this is our last month and then we start the new year, July 30th I am praying the elmiron kicks in and works for me. I miss the kids I miss our wonderful program I miss my life, but I know that I have to take care of my body!! Alot of people at the school don't understand what ic is , however I have taken pictures and lots of info. to help give them some what of a clue. Just so you know, if you do take off for a length of time, by law you do not have to go to the district doc. I made the mistake of doing so, because they told me to, found out from the union , that we don't have to.Any way I 100 percent synpathize with your ic and the work load situation! I wish you lots of luck, you sound very dedicated , don't beat yourself up to badly, who would have known that we would have a rare disease? A Big Hug to you. Coleen Sunshine:hi:

[Sandy N.]

I teach kids with special needs at a private school, and some days I do not know how I make it. Itoo am counting down the days until summer comes. I will be tutoring over the summer but that will be on my terms...Hang in there who knows maybe soon a miracle drug will be found. Sandy N.:angel:

[1tuffcookie]

Kadi,

You are so right--you at lower capacity is still better than a sub! Also, I always found it more work to prepare for a sub than to just go to work myself. Last year was my tenth year of teaching struggling Navajo students, 5th and 6th grade. I loved the kids and teaching, but it was soooo exhausting mentally, physically, and emotionally. I would just try to take one day at a time, which I still do. I used to take a nap every day after school, then get up and work until about 11. I also prayed constantly and leaned on my husband quite a bit. Besides my IC, (which was never really in remission until after I quit) I was constantly having sinus infections and feeling achy. I finally know what caused the aches--I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a couple of months ago.

You and several others mentioned sitting down a lot to teach. I used to have to do that, too. But last year I was hit with a double whammy: we were in corrective action and I was teaching a new reading program that was the superintendent's baby. That meant she or one of her stooges was observing me more than once a week. Plus we had someone from the N.M. Dept. of Education observing at least once a month. The superintendent and assistant superintendent made it clear repeatedly to the entire staff that it was considered a deadly sin to be caught sitting at one's desk. I tried to sit often at the student tables, but the type of program it was made that really difficult. Then throw in nonstop computer malfunctions, a couple of slandering co-workers, and one class that was from hell. I wanted to run screaming into the night! The main reason I didn't was because I didn't want to desert the kids, because most of them were wonderful. I still miss them sometimes, but I knew it was time to quit. Now I'm enjoying tutoring from home and working on my writing as well.

The only advice I can think of is to go to another teacher in your school. By now I'm sure you know which teachers are really good at managing time. You could ask one or more of them how they manage to not take much work home, for example. Because you sound dedicated, you will probably not like some of the suggestions you get. Then you will probably need to decide what you can change or compromise on, and where you draw the line. Oh, and maybe there are some things the students can do instead of you? Most of my kids loved to help out. Hang in there--the school year's almost over. You can PM me anytime, too.

[liznazz]

I know the feeling. I've been teaching for a while now, and the last few years I have been able to be part time because I'm in the Foreign Language Dept. This year I travel to 3 different schools everyday and teach three fifth grade classes. I'm grateful my school day is shorter than usual; Monday I taught sitting down because I was in so much pain and wore one of those heat packs. It's very frustrating; I'm waiting for the summer so I can try to "recuperate" a little bit. I've only been diagosed 6 weeks ago, so I'm hoping in the next few months the Elmiron will kick in. It's so frustrating, isn't it? Try to save up some sick days and use them as you need them. And this may not be the time to come up with creative and different things to do in the classroom. Pull out some plans from last year and don't overextend yourself. Take care.

[blue]

I homeschool my daughter. This is much different. More layed back and relaxed. The thing is, I don't know how I would do it on my feet, and with 20 children in front of me!

Good Luck, I hope summer comes quickly!

[kadi]

Thanks guys for responding. Fell asleep at 4:00 Wed, Thur, & at 6:30 Friday nights. I think I'm going to have to cut everything out but the bare minimum if I'm gonna make it til the end of the school year.

Some days I feel ok, other days not.
I'll be having 6 DMSO treatments this summer, maybe things will get better after that...

My colleagues are asking me to commit to things, classes, conferences, summer school or not, and I'm trying to without knowing how the DMSO will affect me. I'm taking a middle of the road path. I'll sub this summer on good days, if there is work available, but not take a class of my own. I'll go to the local 3-day conference in August (after treatments), but not the out of town ones. I'll take the class (late Aug), but have warned my assistant principal that if I'm ill, I might have to cancel. They were okay with those decisions. It's so different from the usual way I do things (100% and enthusiastic) and this time of year, I used to be planning a trip somewhere interesting, so I'm a little sad, but it can't be helped I guess, and hopefully this is temporary.

If you can offer encouragement, I can use it! Thank you again for responding.

[blue]

I'm having great success with my DMSO treatments. Tomorrow is my 6th one! Yippee, no more stinky me!