tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post2723574064166796965..comments2023-07-07T17:42:59.365+12:00Comments on Weaving my way through learning.: Work/life balance???Mrs Mclachlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245017607696411843noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post-50847405684570029572017-05-14T13:57:06.859+12:002017-05-14T13:57:06.859+12:00Kia ora,
We are not alone! Your post was honest a...Kia ora,<br /><br />We are not alone! Your post was honest and thoughtful - ka pai! It can be difficult to find an appropriate forum to 'share the load'. Yes, it is our choice to do the job we do, but we do expect a certain level of life too! There will NEVER be a perfect solution to this dilemma, but acknowledging it is surely the first step for the majority of people - and not just teachers!<br /><br />Hope you are finding wee moments to 'smell the roses', enjoy the fruits of your labour and good luck with your endeavours! <br /><br />HeatherHeather Tebbetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15013542783601619281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post-91098070802660737282017-05-11T20:43:54.341+12:002017-05-11T20:43:54.341+12:00Hi Kate,
I really enjoyed reading your blog. It ...Hi Kate, <br /><br />I really enjoyed reading your blog. It is a struggle that is close to my heart and one that has been on going for well over a year now. This is not the easiest job and as you put it, one that is never done. <br /><br />I'm not convinced that teachers in New Zealand do a good job in promoting the work/life balance and I would say most of us put our job and students well before the well being of ourselves. And the many conversations that happen in the staffroom around this issue seem to support this. So apart from a great uprising across the country to change the way we as teachers function, what else can we do?<br /><br />This year my husband told me that the amount of work I was doing and the stress I was feeling couldn't go on, I agreed and so we discussed some changes I could make. They lasted about half a term. This term I started with the same ideas (less work, none at night ...) but here I am, second night this week I'm 'working'. <br /><br />I found your thoughts encouraging, thoughtful and helpful. It reminded me that a list is helpful, and I can avoid the staffroom without feeling to guilty (though sometimes its good to actually have a break). I look forward to reading more of your journey in this and maybe being able to borrow some more ideas. <br /><br />Thanks! <br />Mrs Spragghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02820128219418363373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post-88676401548150151922017-05-08T22:05:19.326+12:002017-05-08T22:05:19.326+12:00Kia ora Kate, Thanks for your post. It is a timely...Kia ora Kate, Thanks for your post. It is a timely reminder for all of us that like Gary said looking after ourselves and making our wellbeing a priority is so important. In all the years I have been teaching I have never got on top of everything! There are always more comments to make, more lessons to research and endless children's minds to fill.<br /><br /> We need to celebrate our successes even though sometimes they may seem insignificant to others, schedule time to do nothing even if it is only 20 minutes at a time and take time to notice the little things. Sometimes we get so busy life just passes us by. <br /><br />A to do list is something that I have always thought to be a great idea and never managed to keep it going even though I have bought lovely stationery and glitzy pens, but I really believe it's the way to empty your mind of all that clatter and organise your time efficiently. I have got a lot better than I used to be. <br /><br />You are a perfectionist and because you are so passionate about teaching there will never be a time when you get it all done. Use the support of those around you, disconnect from the grid and remember to stay positive. Heather Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11755416258273037912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post-29362853549607515132017-05-08T12:18:36.274+12:002017-05-08T12:18:36.274+12:00Good on you Kate for expressing your thoughts on t...Good on you Kate for expressing your thoughts on this often discussed topic. I totally agree that a work/home balance is crucial in order to maintain your professional standards and a strong sense of wellbeing.<br /><br />The tricky part is how to do this, and trickier for some it seems. No easy answer, it is down to the individual.<br /><br />I believe teachers are entitled to ‘workfree’ weekends, if they choose. I have no expectation that staff would be working in their weekends. So the question is, how do you achieve this?<br />You have identified a number of ways to possibly achieve this, I hope some of these are successful.<br /><br />You mentioned the job is never done and you are a perfectionist. How does one manage this? From my point of view, I do what I can each day to the best of my ability and what I have not completed is on the top of my list the next day. I realised a long time ago I will never get there …! This does not mean you are not acting professionally, it means you are being realistic and looking after yourself.<br /><br />Wellbeing is number one! If you don’t look after yourself, how effective will you be in front of your children? This is it for me today, I’m ready for tomorrow, now I’m going home … One needs to have a sense of self assuredness that it is ok to do this. I’m leaving now to look after myself so that I’m feeling good and ready for tomorrow.<br /><br />I use a racing analogy when discussing this topic - teaching is like the 2 mile Melbourne Cup, it’s a test for stayers, it’s not a sprint! I want our teachers here tomorrow, next week, next month, next term, … If you treat this as a sprint you won’t be any good for your class and certainly no good for yourself.<br /><br />A bit of a ramble, but my thinking. At the end of the day it is what suits you and how you choose to use your time.<br /><br />Thanks once again for raising this issue!Gary Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06141748052738753141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2694010871393891667.post-38343469906761408132017-04-28T09:11:51.335+12:002017-04-28T09:11:51.335+12:00Kia ora Kate, Thank you for sharing your reflectio...Kia ora Kate, Thank you for sharing your reflection, this is certainly an area that has potentially become more of an issue as the technology has become more ubiquitous. I remember when I first started teacher I took a box of books to mark and jobs to do home everyday and never seemed to catch up. I started leaving the box at school and worked from 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday and started to put more responsibility back on to the learners. I guess the challenge now is, our box is our device and it follows us home. I do love my to do list on my calendar, even just creating it seems to make it like their is less to do.<br />Your saying "doing what you've always done and expecting a different outcome' is definitely alive and well here!" is interesting as I know you have introduced a lot of new practices into your teaching, however what "old things" have you removed?<br />Teaching is a marathon not a sprint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com