Job Discussion Forums

[denise]

I have a very relaxed work environment--I am supposed to be there for office hours for five hours per week, and we are alloted 15 hours of prep time, but there's no rule that says I have to sit there in my office for those 15 hours. If I need to run errands, or if I feel like going out to lunch, or if I just want to relax in our library or at home for an hour, I can. (In contrast, another program here requires that its teachers basically just sit around in their office for several hours just because...)

What ends up happening is I end up doing a lot of prep at home, in front of my computer, in the evening and on weekends. I always bring materials home to grade over the weekends. I have no problem whatsoever bringing my work home with me, primarily because my brain is always on--I am always thinking of new ideas, ways to change lessons, etc. Just because our school is open from 9 until 4 doesn't mean that I only think about my job from 9 until 4. I really like the flexibility of my schedule. I am actually far more productive at home than at school anyway.

What about the rest of you? Do you have to spend X amount of hours on site? Do you work overtime? Do you work at home? And do you mind working at home?

d

[Roger]

Not sure what the rules are in most countries but in HONG KONG, I once read you are NOT ALLOWED to take home student exam papers for grading. A teacher once was caught doing this, and she was severely reprimanded.

[Boy Wonder]

I did at the beginning of my present job in a muggy frenzied zeal to be professional and organised and to try and do my best for my students.

Now the only thing I take home from this place are my wages once a month!

I succumbed to the realisation after two months or so that teaching isn't valued at all at this particular establishment.

The Schools refusal to bring in any school resources.i.e books/audio-visual aids or even colouring pencils for the multitude of kids we have here gives them no right to expect anything more than the absolute minimum.
My lessons are all planned and homework/tests marked entirely onsite.

[Gordon]

A lot of my work is done at home. I'd rather do it here than at work since I don't have to be at work except to teach. My office has most of my books in it, but if I have stuff to do on the computer, like tests or worksheets, I do it at home.

[phis]

Our school started with the 'do it at home if you want to' philosophy. Unfortunately, the native teachers who were working here at that time took it as 'just turn up for class (unprepared) then disappear again until the next class' (also unprepared) philosophy.

This quickly gave rise to the idea that you were only doing a 'part-time unimportant job' that required minimal effort, although the contract clearly stated that you were employed in a 'full-time capacity'.

We now require our teachers to be 'full-timers'. We make this clear before they sign the contract, and so far nobody is complaining.

Tell people the truth up front. This may make it more difficult to get employees. But it certainly gets rid of the 'backpacking' element.

[ntropy]

On the very odd day when there isn't something from work going home in my backpack, there is a whole whack of it bouncing around between my ears. I reckon I get more planning done on my two-way 1/2 hour walk between parking and work than I do the rest of the day with all the interruptions. And I hate those 3 am "Eureka" moments that wake you out of a sound sleep.

[denise]

[ls650]

I share an office and a PC with another teacher. I often do word-processing or updating of my grades spreadsheets on my home PC, as I don't always have access to a work machine.

[Glenski]

When I worked for a conversation school, my time out of classes was my own. I either prepared for lessons, ran errands, ate, or did some office work (interviewing students).

At my high school, I work long hours. I can leave the building, but I have to check out officially. I rarely take work home because I just don't have time to do it at home anyway. Many times, though, I work on ideas for lessons and mull them over with co-workers by phone or fax from home.

[thelmadatter]

I rarely take work home because I get too distracted (by the TV, the fridge etc ) But Im lucky enough to have my own small office, and I do come in on weekends to work... esp. Sun when no one is here and it is quiet. I get a lot done then! (But I balance it out playing Hexic on work time )