Teachers Unite! (in boredom) (Fairfax: home, school district, bus) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

hl6451 · 01-31-2011, 05:41 PM

Ugh, no more snowdays please! I'm an elementary school teacher and these snow days are killing me.

I can't complain about my paid days off, but man it just gets boring! I was off wed-fri last week and had to watch my husband trek off to work while I sat home and entertained myself.

Any other teachers out there?

Hoping for good weather tomorrow so that I can actually get something done at work!

On another note, what do you parents do when the kids have off? As one half of a DINK couple new to the area and new to teaching, I've always wondered what parents have to do when the kids get off and work isn't cancelled.

tgbwc · 01-31-2011, 06:30 PM

I got a lot of school work done on Wednesday. I even went in to school for an hour or so in the morning. At home I spent a few hours bubbling scan sheets for grades, emailed a few parents an invitation for a school assembly, and responded to a couple of emails.

Friday is being made up on President's Day in Fairfax County. (For those who are wondering, it is a full day for elementary schools on that day.)

My spouse and I both teach elementary students and agree that this has been too long of a break. It is going to be tough getting the students back into school mode.

CaliTerp07 · 01-31-2011, 06:33 PM

SO BORED. SO SO SO BORED.

I'm student teaching, so I have even less to do. I'm currently going through binders and books of sample multiple choice questions and computerizing them for SOL practice. Tedious and mindless, but at least it's something to do. If I organize my closets one more time my husband is going to commit me to an insane asylum.

Gottasay · 01-31-2011, 06:40 PM

Have you read my thread proposing that we simply declare January and February the annual school break and instead have school in July and August? As a parent, I get tired of this unpredictable schedule, not to mention that the kids aren't sent home with any meaningful work while waiting for school to resume. I think they should be. I took matters upon myself to create busy work for them, more or less following their curriculum, but not every parent has the time nor inclination. I think that whenever a large storm is looming, kids should be sent home with a packet of work to do at home.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/north...y-why-not.html

BTW, it wasn't all hitting the books for us. In addition to playing school, we had several playdates with friends, built snowmen, forts, shovelled snow, played instruments, and went sledding.

tgbwc · 01-31-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gottasay

I get tired of this unpredictable schedule, not to mention that the kids aren't sent home with any meaningful work while waiting for school to resume. I think they should be. I took matters upon myself to create busy work for them, more or less following their curriculum, but not every parent has the time nor inclination. I think that whenever a large storm is looming, kids should be sent home with a packet of work to do at home.

It's tough to put together a packet of meaningful work in advance for the kids to do. A lot of it would probably be busy work IMO. Last year, during the big snowstorms, I was able to scan a few things and post them on Blackboard for my third graders to complete. They were optional. I also started a discussion board thread on Blackboard and asked the students to write about how they were spending their days off. It was popular. There were many posts and a lot of discussion. That turned out to be worthwhile.

movingtodcfromseattle · 01-31-2011, 07:16 PM

I've been busy with report cards and taking care of my own kids (our oldest got sick on Friday). It's been a GREAT break for potty training my 2yo! I do agree that it's going to be hard to get the kids back in "school" mode.

I do remember snow days prior to having my own kids.....they were b-o-r-i-n-g! Who else wants to beat up Mr. Groundhog if he says more winter?

ajzjmsmom · 01-31-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by movingtodcfromseattle

I've been busy with report cards and taking care of my own kids (our oldest got sick on Friday). It's been a GREAT break for potty training my 2yo! I do agree that it's going to be hard to get the kids back in "school" mode.

I do remember snow days prior to having my own kids.....they were b-o-r-i-n-g! Who else wants to beat up Mr. Groundhog if he says more winter?

ME, I will help beat the groundhog up

Gottasay · 01-31-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgbwc

It's tough to put together a packet of meaningful work in advance for the kids to do. A lot of it would probably be busy work IMO. Last year, during the big snowstorms, I was able to scan a few things and post them on Blackboard for my third graders to complete. They were optional. I also started a discussion board thread on Blackboard and asked the students to write about how they were spending their days off. It was popular. There were many posts and a lot of discussion. That turned out to be worthwhile.

The internet is a beautiful thing, isn't it? Granted, not everyone has internet access in my school district...but most do. Those who don't are far and few between and the schools know who they are and how to get a hold of them. Sounds like a great project for a bored student teacher to do, lol.

car54 · 01-31-2011, 08:06 PM

Bus drivers get bored too...at least this one does! Yesterday and today I put an engine in a co-workers car....poor girl would be walkin' otherwise and it was a great way to pass the time in my man cave! LOL

Tomorrow is the mandatory Winter Safety meeting...4 hours of YAWN. Then I have a field trip from 2:00pm to 10:00 pm...weather permitting.

CaliTerp07 · 01-31-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gottasay

The internet is a beautiful thing, isn't it? Granted, not everyone has internet access in my school district...but most do. Those who don't are far and few between and the schools know who they are and how to get a hold of them. Sounds like a great project for a bored student teacher to do, lol.

Would love to...but unfortunately at the school I am working at, less than 50% of kids have internet access at home

We put everything on blackboard anyway, but we can't rely on it as a way to get to the students.

Maybe I should send math problems via text message to kids on extended breaks...seems all these middle schoolers have cell phones.