TL;DR:
- The unique difficulties in this time of remote teaching, as both a teacher and a mom.
- 6 strategies and suggestions to balance support for your students and your own children.
During a normal school year on a normal school day, you juggle the duties of being a teacher and a mom. You have two lives and two sets of responsibilities. The first set is your own family. You are their life and breath, and they depend on you for every need. The second set are those with whom you spend eight hours a day. Those you have come to call your own. They also depend on you; for academic needs, emotional needs, and sometimes much more.
I see you.
What do you do when those two worlds collide?
Recently, teachers were thrown into unknown waters and are now required to provide instruction from our own homes. Moms are being asked to monitor academics and instruct their children. Teacher moms started pulling double duty; instructing our students while teaching our own children. And honestly? There are days this task seems impossible.
Teacher moms started pulling double duty; instructing our students while teaching our own children. And honestly? There are days this task seems impossible. Click To TweetWill you survive? How can you manage the overwhelming task of meeting the needs of every child at the same time? Is this even possible?
Here are a few tips to lighten the load and reduce the stress. And maybe, just maybe, you will enjoy the unique opportunity we have been given.
Teacher Mom Tip #1: Set a Schedule
By nature, teachers thrive on a schedule. Setting a schedule at home will ensure that you are consciously making time for everything that needs to be done.
Our children also need a schedule to maintain a sense of normalcy. Sure, lazy days are fun, and a much needed break sometimes, but they will quickly draw us further from our purpose.
Every district requires something different from their teachers and every family has different needs, so write your own. Your schedule doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s, but it does need to work for you.
Teacher Mom Tip #2: Plan Ahead
Treat this time at home just like you would a regular day at school. Plan for what you want to accomplish with your family and your students.
Schedule Google Classroom posts in advance. Decide on which days your children will focus on art, music, and science. Know ahead of time which movement activities you want to incorporate. Plan for meals and chores and stick with that plan.
Having a plan for the big things will give you the opportunity to enjoy the small day-to-day moments.
Teacher Mom Tip #3: Go Slow
Right now, there are an abundance of ideas, activities, and free technology options being offered. The whole country is pitching in to offer support and make this transition as easy as possible. However, that can get overwhelming if you’re trying to do everything all at once.
Take a breath, and then pick and choose what you want to try. Not everything will be appropriate for the age of your children at home. Not everything will meet the learning needs of your students.
Once you have a handful of ideas, go slow! You don’t have to learn a new tech tool today. Trying five new websites this week is not necessary.
If you try this, your family and your students will be overwhelmed, burnt out, and confused. Everyone will benefit when you take the time to truly understand a new idea before presenting it to your learners.
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Teacher Mom Tip #4: Use Your Talents
Your children at home may be a completely different age than those you teach. That can be intimidating. However, you have qualities that make you an excellent teacher, no matter what.
Are you creative? Incorporate art as much as possible into your plans. Do you love technology? Try out new sites and apps with your children.
You can veer from the lesson plans and put your own spin on learning. Everyone will have more fun!
Teacher Mom Tip #5: Take Care of Yourself
Don’t forget about you! Your mental health is just as important right now. There is a lot of fear and anxiety surrounding our current situation.
Do what you need to do to stay healthy. Take a step back from social media. Try a new hobby. Read a book that’s been in your Kindle for a month. Learn something new just because it interests you.
You have permission to step away from all the teaching and just something just for you.
Teacher Mom Tip #6: Give Yourself Grace
This will not be perfect, and not everything will go as planned. We know better than anyone that our plans are completely dependent on the children in our lives. Someone will oversleep and throw your schedule off. Your children will decide they don’t want to read today. The Zoom call won’t have sound. Your website won’t load.
It’s okay. Take a breath, and try again tomorrow. Go to plan B, and play outside for the rest of the day. Everyone will survive.
Overall, just enjoy! It sounds cliche, but these are moments you won’t ever have with your children again. They are looking to you to set the tone for the coming days and weeks. Smile. Laugh. And realize we have the best of both worlds.
About Maggie Gifford
Maggie Gifford is a 17 year veteran with a background in elementary and special education. She is currently loving 2nd grade! Maggie’s ultimate goal is to reach all learners and develop self-motivated change makers. Her passion is to go beyond the standard to make learning fun! She thrives on coffee and good books.. She lives with her husband and 2 children in southeast Ohio.
