Did you know that teachers don’t live at school? Well, they don’t. Some teachers have families and kids to go home to every day, some have second jobs or other obligations, and all of them do more than grade papers and make assignments.
In the morning, one 7th grade teacher on Eclipse, Mrs. Chooncharoen, said, “I hit snooze a lot, and then I lay in bed and looked at my phone for a little bit. And then I finally get up and get ready, and then I get my kids ready and leave the house by like 7.” Chooncharoen has two kids, a seventh grader and a junior.
Many teachers have a routine, whether it’s before school or after, or even during the day. After arriving at school, Chooncharoen said, “I turn on the board & unpack my bag & lunch, open the wall to Mrs. Jones (Eclipse ELA teacher) so we can chat each morning, and I go get ice for my water for the day.”
Seventh grade social studies teacher, Mr. Heinritz, said when he gets to school he preps for the school day. “I check my email first thing, then review my plan for the day and get the smart board ready with instructions for the day’s lesson.” Eighth grade ELA teacher, Mrs. Weidenbach, said, “When I get to school, the first thing I usually do is turn on all my warm, soft lights in my room to set the calm mood for the day.”
Before leaving school, some teachers also have a routine, for example, Heinritz said, “I coach, so I usually head right to practice. After practice, I will get my grade book and folders of assignments so I can grade at home if I need to, and my plan book so I can be prepared for the next day.”
While teachers have their unique routines before, during, and after school, they all balance their professional responsibilities with their personal lives, proving that their work extends far beyond the classroom.
