My iPhone starts playing some kind or other tune at 5:45. I usually snooze until 6:00 or 6:15 max. Then I get out of bed, put on a sweater, jacket and shoes to walk my dog. This will take me about ten minutes. So at 6:25 I’ll feed the dog and make breakfast (coffee, juice, peanut butter sandwich) for me and my husband. I take off my sweater and shoes and go right back into bed to eat my breakfast while watching the morning news on the TV. I shower at 7:30, then dress myself and go to work. I’m lucky to be living at a two minute walking distance from my school, so I’m usually there at 8:00.
At work I prepare my classroom, take my books and notebook from my cabinet, put the planner for next lesson on the blackboard and maybe read some e-mails or notifications; most times I chat with my co-workers. At 8:25 the first bell rings and the first students will file into my classroom. I try to be at the door to greet them and sometimes shake hands. At 8:30 the last bell rings and the first lesson of the day wills start. The lessons at my school are 60 minutes and after the first lesson we’ll have a mini break of 15 minutes, during which time I’ll always put everything in order for the next lesson. Then I’ll have two more lessons before lunch break, which is 30 minutes. For some reason, I never bring any lunch and I don’t use the bathroom either (teacher’s bladder, anyone?). Then there are two more lessons and another 15 minute mini break. I usually end the day at 3:30 with one last lesson after the last mini break. Every day is different in what classes I teach and what I teach, since I teach first and second years and different levels and I teach three different subjects: English language (EFL), social studies and homeroom.
At 3:30 I usually look for another computer to read and respond to e-mails, do some prep work and update the grades in our online system. Sometimes I chat with colleagues while doing this. On Tuesdays I have meetings until 4:30 and on Thursdays I go to school myself from 3:00 until 9:00. I usually go home at about 4:30 and when my husband hasn’t already walked the dog, I go with him to the park either on foot or by bike. Sometimes I have to do my groceries. At 5:00 I feed my dog again. At about 6:00 I’ll start making dinner and watch the news while eating.
I spend my evening either grading, prepping, blogging or doing my own school work or a combination of some of these. Sometimes I’ll watch TV or something I’ve got on my to-watch list on the computer. I get ready for bed at about 11:00 and fall asleep, after reading or writing in my journal, at 11:30.
