Why do teachers have so much time off?

 


Why do teachers have so much time off?

The answer...  We don't.  It may seem like it as there are breaks and we are off for the summer, holidays, etc.  But, the truth is that teachers are always working.  There is planning.  There is grading.  There is thinking...  SO. MUCH. THINKING.  Thinking about how to solve problems.  Thinking about how to reach a student.  Thinking about getting a student the additional support they need.  Thinking about how to speak to a parent (or fellow teacher or administrator) about an issue.  Thinking about learning targets.  Thinking about classroom management.  Thinking about how to best utilize your time.  The list goes on and on and on.

It is brutal.

I worked for years at a desk job in an office.  I would come up with ideas, have meetings, send emails, track sales, etc.  I would also sit down all day.  Most of my day felt like a break.

Now...

I am constantly on the move.  Always monitoring.  Always answering questions.  Always evaluating.  Always on my feet.

Teaching is a different profession than any other profession...and it is non-stop.

Why do teachers have time off?  To recharge.  To turn their brains off.  To stop answering questions.  To make up for all of the unpaid time spent working and thinking.  To keep their sanity. 


¿Por qué los profesores tienen tanto tiempo libre?

La respuesta... Nosotros no. Puede parecerlo ya que hay descansos y tenemos vacaciones de verano, vacaciones, etc. Pero la verdad es que los profesores siempre están trabajando. Hay planificación. Hay clasificación. Hay pensamiento... SO. MUCHO. PENSAMIENTO. Pensar en cómo resolver problemas. Pensando en cómo llegar a un estudiante. Pensando en conseguirle a un estudiante el apoyo adicional que necesita. Pensar en cómo hablar con un padre (o un compañero maestro o administrador) sobre un problema. Pensando en objetivos de aprendizaje. Pensando en la gestión del aula. Pensando en cómo utilizar mejor su tiempo. La lista sigue y sigue y sigue.

es brutal

Trabajé durante años en un trabajo de escritorio en una oficina. Proponía ideas, tenía reuniones, enviaba correos electrónicos, hacía un seguimiento de las ventas, etc. También me sentaba todo el día. La mayor parte de mi día se sintió como un descanso.

Ahora...

Estoy constantemente en movimiento. Siempre monitoreando. Siempre respondiendo preguntas. Siempre evaluando. Siempre de pie.

La enseñanza es una profesión diferente a cualquier otra profesión... y no se detiene.

¿Por qué los profesores tienen tiempo libre? Recargar. Para apagar sus cerebros. Para dejar de responder preguntas. Para compensar todo el tiempo no remunerado dedicado a trabajar y pensar. Para mantener su cordura.

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