Re: Sick and Student Teaching

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This is not at all an uncommon experience. You have been
exposed to a virtual hurricane of germs and your immune
system has been overwhelmed. It will pass.

Gee, it's a real pity that you are inconveniencing your
supervisor!! Isn't life just hard sometime? ( she says,
dripping with sarcasm!) She can't have been a supervisor
very long if she hasn't had this happen. Obviously, if you go
over your three days, you will need to make arrangements to
make up the lost days, but I have often had this happen.
Unless you are graduating in Dec., it's not much of a
problem. Usually the second college semester starts toward the
end of Jan., giving you several weeks to get in needed
make-up days.

As for preventive medicine, you have kind of missed the boat
on that one. I always advise prospective STs to start taking
vitamins several months before beginning student teaching. As
for right now, you can still do several things.

1. Buy something called Airborne. Your dr. will pooh-pooh it,
but teachers swear by it.

2. I also swear by the Zicam line of products. These are nasal
swabs that you use at the very first sign of a cold, flu,
etc.

3. Get as much sleep as you possibly can. Do not over-extend
yourself with outside commitments while you student teach.
Drink lots and lots and lots of water.

4. In addition to hand-washing, get some hand sanitizer and
keep it on your desk. Use it frequently through the day.

5. Stay home if you are running a temp or are obviously
contagious. Tell your supervisor for me to stuff a sock in
it! ( No, not really :) )

6. Get a flu shot as soon as possible.

I think this issue will clear up for you soon. Keep us posted.

On 9/18/09, VTteach wrote:
> So it now 6:30am and I have called both my supervisor and
> CT and told them I will not be coming in because I am sick.
> This is the 3rd week of school and my 4th week with my CT
> and I was also sick last wed with the stomach flu. Then
> starting on Monday I had a horrible cold. I have been going
> every day with my tissues, cold medicine and a smile. Then
> last night I was upcoughing really bad and nothing helped
> so I am on my way to the DR at 7. Anyways my supervisor
> suggested I ask if they can get something to helpmy immune
> system because it is so early on in school and this is the
> 2nd time I will be out sick (you get 3 days). She was
> supposed to observe me today and she said that this is hard
> because she really needs to see me teach. I understand her
> warnings but it is not like I can heal myself. Also she is
> not observing her other people until late next week so
> there is still time. I can't do anything else other than
> offer to get a note from a DR. Last week I had a stomach
> bug and those are highly contagious so I really could not
> go. Normally I am not one to get sick.
> Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions on how to boost
> your immune system besides washing your hands every 30 min
> (which I do)?
> THANKS!
 

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