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Beginning Teachers Chatboard

Procrastination

by Someone Somewhere

Oct 10, 2011

I am a second year high school English teacher who is battling procrastination/ lack of motivation. There is never enough time in the day to do anything. I only get two meeting-free preps per week, and often have to stay late to grade papers and do plans. No matter how late I stay, I still can't seem to get enough done. At this very moment, I have a stack of papers in the trunk of my car waiting to be graded. I have lesson plans to do, along with supplemental handouts, and bulk copies I forgot to make last week.

I am thankful to be working, but I am just not motivated. I know that my lesson plans are gonna take me about 3 hours to complete (and that's for one prep). I'm young, and this is only my second year of teaching. I worked really hard to make it where I am. However, I find working with 6 groups of hyperactive teenagers draining at the day's end. When I'm at home trying to relax, I feel guilty because I have so much schoolwork to do. I even feel bad for sleeping eight h...See More

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Someone Somewhere Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. My stress level is high; as I type this I am experiencing a splitting headache that extends into my shoulders and neck. I gave up on my eight hour class today; I was trying to explain directions to an assignment and kept having to tell students to be quiet and listen, so I stopped mid-sentence, sat at...See More

Oct 11, 2011

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older teacher Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. My stress level is > high; as I type this I am experiencing a splitting headache that > extends into my shoulders and neck. I gave up on my eight hour class > today; I was trying to explain directions to an assignment and kept > having to tell students to be quiet and listen, so I stopped ...See More

Oct 11, 2011

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RodriguezCBU On 10/10/11, Someone Somewhere wrote: > I am a second year high school English teacher who is > battling procrastination/ lack of motivation. There is > never enough time in the day to do anything. I only get two > meeting-free preps per week, and often have to stay late to > grade papers and do plans. No matter how late I stay, I &g...See More

Oct 14, 2011

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old teacher Good advice on this thread.

There would never be time to do all that that needs to be done. Cut corners and work efficiently.

If you went in 3o min. early would you have time to work with out disruptions? Try setting a length of time to work after school. For me, it was 1 hour max. When that time is up, leave, and don't take reams...See MoreGood advice on this thread.

There would never be time to do all that that needs to be done. Cut corners and work efficiently.

If you went in 3o min. early would you have time to work with out disruptions? Try setting a length of time to work after school. For me, it was 1 hour max. When that time is up, leave, and don't take reams of work home with you.

You deserve a life outside the classroom. Do not make the huge mistake of making teaching your life. It is not. It is a job, an important job, but a JOB. Burn out can result from making teaching your life.

How about assigning a student or students to teach/present some lessons? This could be presented by one student or a small group of students. This can be a great learning experience for your students and the presenter(s)and no papers to grade.

If students are to read a certain number of pages(that high school English teacher was a bit vague. What does it involve?)let them make an outline of the section. This will be good for their formal outlining skills and for studying the lesson.

I ha had students make up 10 questions on the material as homework for the lessons on some occasions. It is a good idea to have them pass them on to other students to answer or take themselves. Mix it up.

An open book test is also a good plan infrequently. Best wishes.

10/10/11, Someone Somewhere wrote: > > > I am a second year high school English teacher who is > battling procrastination/ lack of motivation. There is > never enough time in the day to do anything. I only get two > meeting-free preps per week, and often have to stay late to > grade papers and do plans. No matter how late I stay, I > still can't seem to get enough done. At this very moment, I > have a stack of papers in the trunk of my car waiting to be > graded. I have lesson plans to do, along with supplemental > handouts, and bulk copies I forgot to make last week. > > I am thankful to be working, but I am just not motivated. I > know that my lesson plans are gonna take me about 3 hours > to complete (and that's for one prep). I'm young, and this > is only my second year of teaching. I worked really hard to > make it where I am. However, I find working with 6 groups > of hyperactive teenagers draining at the day's end. When > I'm at home trying to relax, I feel guilty because I have > so much schoolwork to do. I even feel bad for sleeping > eight hours during the night. Shouldn't I be more > passionate? What is wrong with me?

Oct 15, 2011

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SomeoneSomewhere I decided to return to post an update to my OP. Thanks, again, for all who responded with advice. My biggest problem has always been procrastination and lack of motivation. In my ideal world, I would read all day and travel the world. However, that's obviously not the case, so here I am, forced to make a living. I've always felt that the demands of...See MoreI decided to return to post an update to my OP. Thanks, again, for all who responded with advice. My biggest problem has always been procrastination and lack of motivation. In my ideal world, I would read all day and travel the world. However, that's obviously not the case, so here I am, forced to make a living. I've always felt that the demands of society have always been a bit too much for me. I'm an introverted person, have a only a few (but awesome) friends, am very close with my family, and prefer to stay to myself and be left alone. I'm a simple person. I hardly ever feel the need to impress people, and hardly get stressed; which for me has proven to be a double edged sword. Over the past few weeks, I've been working on simplifying many of my duties. For example, for quizzes, I grade and go over them in class the same day, instead of collecting and grading them. I make students keep their bell-ringer sheets, instead of collecting them and passing them back out every day. Instead of trying to grade a huge stack of papers, I pick one assignment at a time to grade. I've also been making great use of the planning time that has been allotted to us by my school, since they demand a lot from us and take away our planning time.This has helped me come up with better lessons that are more engaging and less "hum-drum." My mentor from student teaching told me that she doesn't take work home on the weekends; I don't think that's a realistic goal yet for me. Maybe after December, but not now. Although the work is challenging and difficult, I am blessed and lucky to have a job. The commute from home is easy, and the school is better than the previous one in which I worked. I can see myself staying at this school for another year or so. With that said, I must make this work. Even if things don't work out, I still need to be a better teacher for my next job, and have a system of doing things. I would like to sponsor an after school club next year, but cannot see myself doing so right now. There are other new teachers who are sponsoring clubs and doing more than I am, which does make me feel a bit inept. However, my motivation is making my job easier so I can get through the year.

Nov 5, 2011

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