{"id":806,"date":"2021-05-28T05:54:07","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T11:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/?p=806"},"modified":"2021-07-09T18:10:26","modified_gmt":"2021-07-10T00:10:26","slug":"leaving-at-contract-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/leaving-at-contract-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Started Leaving at Contract Time Instead of Quitting Teaching"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe story of how I started leaving at contract time is weird one.\u00a0 It started with me almost quitting teaching.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Wanting to Quit Teaching<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Yes, you heard that right. In fact, I have almost left teaching two times. The first time was because I was working at a school for Youth in Custody and just had a hard time dealing with the emotional baggage I brought home from school.<\/p>

The second time I almost quit teaching, it was because I was exhausted. I was working until 5:00 every night – staying 2.5 hours after school had ended and I often had to get to school earlier than contract time just so that I could get everything done.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Almost\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

It got so far as salary negotiations with a company that wrote training curriculum for private companies. But guess what I found out – they wouldn\u2019t match my hourly rate, I didn\u2019t have 12 weeks off every year (if you count summers, holidays, and if I took all my sick and personal days), and I would have had to pay for my own health insurance.<\/p>

It was then and there that I decided I was leaving at contract time, even if it killed me. I couldn\u2019t change a lot of things about my job – we all have certain duties and requirements placed on us. But I could change my actions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Why I Didn't Quit Teaching<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

When I look back at that time, it wasn\u2019t teaching that made me want to quit – it was everything else.<\/p>

Those moments from bell to bell with me and my students were golden. I am one of those teachers who loves the teaching part of teaching. I love the learning, the struggle. I love the back and forth with students – even the sassiness of teenagers – I live for it. I smiled and laughed so much during that time.<\/p>

So it wasn\u2019t teaching that I had a hard time with.<\/p>

It was the grading and the copies and the emails and the meetings.<\/p>

I did an exercise where I wrote down all the things about being a teacher I couldn\u2019t change, then all the things I had influence on, and all the things that were in my control. It\u2019s called the sphere of influence. Have you heard of it? Check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Circle\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Everything that was out of my control, I couldn\u2019t do anything about. So, I decided to stop worrying about it. No really.<\/p>

The assembly getting out 20 minutes late causing my daily plans to implode – what are you going to do about it? No really – what could I do about it? March down to the stage and demand they stop. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. But I could change my lesson. I could extend a day. I could take out an assignment. I could give the affected period a free assignment and move on with life.<\/p>

That became my motto – if I can\u2019t change it, then I won\u2019t get worked up over it.<\/p>

This freed up the emotion space I needed to focus on what I could change.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What I Changed so that Leaving at Contract Time Wasn't a Dream<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

1. Boundaries Baby<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

That\u2019s right – set some boundaries. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don\u2019t have to be everything and give everything to teaching.<\/p>

Now, I\u2019m not saying that you shouldn\u2019t be a good teacher. I\u2019m not saying that you just put your feed on the desk and show movies everyday. But what I am saying is that you can and should say no.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Here are some boundaries I set:<\/p>

I get my lunch.<\/strong><\/p>

I don\u2019t have students in my room. Students don\u2019t makeup tests. Students don\u2019t get help. I don\u2019t answer emails. I don\u2019t run down to the office. Lunch was my time. I needed the break. We all need the break.<\/p>

I also didn\u2019t go to the faculty room. <\/strong><\/p>

You see – I\u2019m an emotional sponge and an introvert. The social-ness of the break room was too much for me. After being around 200+ kids everyday, I needed the time to rest and relax. I would eat lunch in my room with my Teacher BFF. And I didn\u2019t eat at my desk.<\/p>

I stopped grading at home.<\/strong><\/p>

What is the worst thing that would happen if I didn\u2019t get something graded the same day or the next? Guess what – students don\u2019t care. Their parents might care, but students don\u2019t.
For the first time in my career I actually sat and watched my favorite shows without essays on my lap or assignments getting entered into the grade book. I quickly found out that some of my favorite shows weren\u2019t as good once I could actually just sit and watch them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I only saw or worked with students during contract hours.<\/strong><\/p>

Yup. I did that. My contract at the time was from 7:00 – 3:00. So if a student needed ot makeup a test – I was there at 7 am and I would stay until 3 pm. That\u2019s it.<\/p>

Sometimes it took students several days to finish a test. That\u2019s fine. My classes were 90 minutes long, so when you missed a day, you missed a lot. I would just give students one page at a time, kept their test in a folder, and when they had a chance they could come work on it.<\/p>

I\u2019ll never forget staying until 4:00 once – just me and a student in my room. Not a good idea! Not only was I donating my time, but that is kinda an iffy situation. All my neighbor teachers had left and it just isn\u2019t a safe thing to be alone with a student in your room like that.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

2. I used my prep time to its fullest.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I won\u2019t go into too much depth here because you can read that blog post here<\/a>. Let\u2019s just say I became an efficiency machine!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

3. I found a person to collaborate with.<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tI know we have all learned about or been in an PLC. You may even have them planned into your schedule. And that\u2019s fine. But what I really want to encourage you to do is to find a teacher in your school or district that shares your teaching philosophy and plan together. And then eventually share materials. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I\u2019ve been lucky that at 2 of my 3 schools I\u2019ve worked in, I have found a collaboration partner. What a relief to only plan half of everything you need for a class. No really. It takes trust, but it is so worth it.<\/p>

It doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t adapt things to your own needs and purposes, but what it does mean is that you aren\u2019t starting from scratch every time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

What Happened and How Soon Did I See a Change?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

I remember the day when school ended and I had nothing to do. No really – nothing. I was finished planning until the end of the year. Everything was graded. Copies were made. It was eerie.<\/p>

I almost left teaching in March of 2015. That was when I started making changes. They were small at first and I just started changing things one at a time.<\/p>

February of 2016 – that was when I had nothing left to do. So, it was about a year to make and implement all the changes.<\/p>

But in that time I also planned curriculum far in advance, learned a new standards-based grading system and implemented it (which caused me to change every rubric and assignment I had previously used), and started teaching AP Lang. So not bad in my opinion. Not bad.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

They say \u201cSmall changes make the biggest differences\u201d and it is 100% true.<\/p>

The biggest small change I made was changing my mindset. If I had never felt like I deserved to be leaving at contract time, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to make any of those changes. Leaving at contract time shouldn\u2019t be a privilege for teachers, it should be a given.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"How\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The story of how I started leaving at contract time is weird one.\u00a0 It started with me almost quitting teaching. Wanting to Quit Teaching Yes, you heard that right. In fact, I have almost left teaching two times. The first time was because I was working at a school for Youth in Custody and just […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":810,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,18,34],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leave-at-contract-time","category-grading","category-planning","tag-leave-at-contract-time"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=806"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1454,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806\/revisions\/1454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationispowerful.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}