Taking advantage of time off...

[BuBerry3]

Hello teachers! I am writing to get your opinion. This is my first year teaching and so this is my first holiday vacation with three weeks off. I have been on break for about a week now. I went home to Colorado for a long weekend and have spent the rest of the week cleaning, finishing my master's class and reading. I find that sometimes I feel guilty for having this time off. I know I probably shouldn't and there is a reason that teachers get this time off but I still find myself feeling this way. Anyone else? I am enjoying having the chance to read and relax but don't want to waste away my break without accomplishing anything. What are things that you do over break to help you feel accomplished, relaxed, rested, etc.?

[lynn bambusch]

Feeling guilty about the time off?? NEVER. I only get paid for the days I work, my contract says 185 days a year, those days off are unpaid, so I have no guilt. Plus I am required to go back to school (which I have to pay for myself). No guilt!
As for what do I do, I teach middle school, so I am always looking for good books in the genres that I teach. I work on lesson plans, there is so much information out there! I read professional journals. I sleep in. Sometimes I actually go into my classroom because I can get to the copy machine without a wait. I spend most of my time off, working on plans to go back.
And I love it!!

[Boxcar]

Oh... I know the feeling. It isn't so much guilt as a habit that won't break. I find myself in "to-do" mode continually. I'm always flipping to my mental list of what needs to be acomplished for when. It is a twichy little mind process that is hard to break over vacation.

I'm getting lessons in order for the spring session. It is nice to do them at my leisure, but I still can't help feeling a bit nervous about days where I do nothing.

[teacher5]

Dear Mr. Buberry3, You should be grateful for the time away, and a chance to see your family and finish your masters work. Just remember all the hours yoou put in before and after school and at home preparing lessons, work sheets, going online to supplement, creating new projects, compiling reading lists, creating meaningful tests, quizzes, and assessments, creating rubrics, doing report cards - need I go on! I have a week and half away from school. Even after 30 + years, I will be figuring out a way to revise my lessons to make them more effective for this year's class. I will spend time with my family, and do the "honey do" list my wife leaves me when she has to go to work and I am home. Also, remember if you were in the corporate world, and for every so many years worked you get 1-3 weeks vacations and/or bonuses. Well there are no monetary bonuses in the world of public education, so instead enjoy the time off!

[dsmms]

Dear Mr. Buberry3, You should be grateful for the time away, and a chance to see your family and finish your masters work. Just remember all the hours yoou put in before and after school and at home preparing lessons, work sheets, going online to supplement, creating new projects, compiling reading lists, creating meaningful tests, quizzes, and assessments, creating rubrics, doing report cards - need I go on! I have a week and half away from school. Even after 30 + years, I will be figuring out a way to revise my lessons to make them more effective for this year's class. I will spend time with my family, and do the "honey do" list my wife leaves me when she has to go to work and I am home. Also, remember if you were in the corporate world, and for every so many years worked you get 1-3 weeks vacations and/or bonuses. Well there are no monetary bonuses in the world of public education, so instead enjoy the time off!


AAAAAAAAAMEN teacher5!!!!!!!!!

[Brit]

ah, you good teachers. I feel guilty that I'm not prepping to go back in january, but y'know what? I'm a procrastinator, and I embrace that -- when I get around to it.

Anyone else come off of school into holidays SICK every year? I figure once the penumonia goes away it'll be time to start planning for January -- and not a minute sooner.

[Boxcar]

I was sick most of the fall months, but I'm so thankful to be healthy right now!!! *knocks wood*

[dsmms]

ah, you good teachers. I feel guilty that I'm not prepping to go back in january, but y'know what? I'm a procrastinator, and I embrace that -- when I get around to it.

Anyone else come off of school into holidays SICK every year? I figure once the penumonia goes away it'll be time to start planning for January -- and not a minute sooner.

My timing was off this year. I am usually sick at Christmas Break. This year I had the flu the week of Thanksgiving! Maybe I got it out of my system! :)

[teacher5]

Dear Brit- A good teacher will get bored over vacation and start thinking about the kids and what he/she will do upon return, and then realize you have time to relax, and plan. Make the most of your time. Have a Merry Christmas or Happy Chanukah, and a healthy and happy new year.

[Boxcar]

Isn't it sad that I'm already starting to feel the tension of time running out? I've really got to get some lesson planning done!!! I have been putting things off until this break, and I think that I may have been a bit too optimistic about what I could accomplish.

[landreth2007]

Three weeks?! I only get two! There is never enough time to do what needs to be done. Finish Christmas shopping, cook for Christmas (I cook one meal myself and contribute to 2 others), clean up after Christmas, clean out closets, go through the junk in the garage, finish a few of those projects I started last summer... Do you get the feeling my house has been suffering since school started in August? Of course I've been married 20 years and have 2 children. There is never a lack of things to do around here. Even though I will (already have) spend some time on planning, I try to devote as much of my break to my family as I can. They deserve it!

[BuBerry3]

What great ideas and suggestions! I have definitely been able to spend some time for myself, reading, writing, napping :) visiting friends and family and getting ready for the next semester. Some days have felt strange not having a checklist of things I have to accomplish, but I have enjoyed getting to work in my classroom and on lesson plans.

[BuBerry3]

landreth...we get three weeks I think because we are a year round school and start in July. Also, the very first week of break is for students that are failing and have to go the additional week to try and make up the credit of their quarter...

[Boxcar]

I miss vacation already... :(