My phone buzzes and it is the first in a series of alarms I have programmed to go off every day to help keep my time organized. I have a prep for the school day alarm, two five minute warning for classes to start and two wrap up alarms. I need these outside cues because I do not have a good awareness of time. Five minutes and fifty minutes feels the same to me. I have learned over the years that I need these alarms to help me utilize my time effectively and efficiently, so that I am respectful of others time.
Schedule wise I am teaching part time this year, however, I do not really have a part time mode. Most teacher do not. And this stretching of time has been exponentially exaggerated during the pandemic. I may no longer have a commute into the physical school building, but my workday has extended.
I know that time is not always on a teacher side. There is seemingly always another task that we need to fit into our ever decreasing time. I know I am consistently trying to fit two or three tasks into the space of one so that I can get the necessary content covered, provide support for the various learners in my class, communicate with parents and guardians, check in with administration, grade student work and plan engaging lessons for the future.
Just when you become adjusted and comfortable with the schedule of things, an email comes in an hour before school that says there is a major shift in the schedule. Educators were already masters of adjusting to changing situations and defying the limits of time.
I am keenly aware that time is precious and I lovingly give mine to my students. I am grateful to have the opportunity to do so, but right now I have to a few of those moments for myself because my alarm is about to buzz and I have to pee.
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