Every teacher, school, city, country, etc is different. This is why I enjoy reading about how teachers spend their time around the world! After reading Sare’s account of an average Tuesday for her in London, I wanted to share what an average Monday is like for me here in Venezuela.

September 22nd

5:30– The alarm goes off. I hit snooze.

 

5:50– I finally roll out of bed, get dressed (I usually pick out my clothes for the week on Sunday night so this is a quick process), cook some eggs for breakfast while getting my coffee going in my French press.

 

6:35– Leave my apartment, walk to the school bus stop, and catch a ride to school with a few of the other teachers.  (Now I’m going to be driving my own car).

 

7:00- Start reading my school emails because usually someone starts sending them around 4AM and I typically have a few waiting, and there are always extra emails on Mondays. Get situated for classes. Go over the schedule with my new TA.

 

7:50– kids start coming in and we begin our Literacy Block.

 

9:55 – I might get to go to the bathroom at this time on other days but on Mondays and Thursdays I have recess duty.

 

10:05– Thankfully I have a TA this morning so I can run to the bathroom, then I eat a quick snack of a handful of almonds as I set up for math while the kids enjoy their snacks in the classroom.

 

11:35– I take the kids to lunch and grab my lunch to take back to my classroom. I meet with my mentor over lunch to discuss upcoming events at school.

 

12:05– Students come back to class. My TA takes them to Spanish class. I meet with the Counselor and the other third grade teacher every other week to discuss the behavior of the third grade students.

 

12:50– Kids come back for Social studies.

 

1:35– Kids and I go out to Recess where I have another duty.

 

1:45– TA takes kids to Music class and I have a period to plan and grade papers! I try to talk to people in HR about papers for a car I’m trying to buy and the cedula I’m going to get tomorrow.

2:35– We have Science class.

 

3:15– Some kids go with the TA to dismissal and some stay with me. Other kids come into my After School Geography club.

 

3:55 – The bell rings for us to all go outside for dismissal.

 

4:20– Most of my students have been picked up by their parents or drivers, I take two students to the office to wait for their parents.

 

4:45– The school bus comes to take me home. In my head I prioritize the papers that I will grade once I get home.

 

5:00– I get home and I make some tea because my throat has been sore for about a week and the warmth of the tea helps. Take out my grading and get to work. I only allow myself an hour a night of extra planning and/or grading time.

 

6:00– I’m hungry so I start cooking myself some fajitas for dinner. Only half of the grading got done that I planned to do, so I plan to grade the next morning instead of starting with my email. School email is a black hole! I look at some Pinterest lesson plan ideas on my iPad while I eat dinner.

 

7:30– My water arrives so I can wash the dishes and take a shower.

 

8:15– I decide to read for a while in bed.

 

9:45– I go to sleep.

 

So there you have it. Not terribly exciting, but on Mondays I am usually pretty tired. Occasionally I vary my schedule a bit:

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays my friend and I go speed walking around our neighborhood for about an hour. Sometimes on Wednesdays a bunch of the teachers will meet up after our staff meeting and have dinner at a pizza place near school. Friday night some of us might get together for dinner or a movie. Saturday is usually my market day where I get my groceries for the week.

 

Please comment! What is your schedule like as a teacher? When are you required to be at school? When do you actually leave? Do you set a limit for the work you do at home?