Snow Days: Not Even That Fun for the Teacher, tbh
Let’s talk about snow days: a teacher’s perspective
Day 4 of the home hostage crisis. Or, as I should say, our 4th snow day in a row. It has dumped an entire winter’s worth of snow on my home in two days, and our region had to grind (or slide) to a halt.
As a mom, a little extra time at home with my baby is very appreciated and I’m thankful for it. As a teacher, an unexpected break is also very appreciated. But here we are on day 4. My students are officially one week behind, and my own baby is DEFINITELY GETTING ON MY LAST NERVE.
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And all over social media, I’m seeing families mimic my frustration. Kids are going stir crazy, snack supplies are running low, and parents are so ready to get back to work.
Then the schools decide to be back in session for ONE DAY this whole week. Public school kids get back to business tomorrow. And those same stir-crazy parents are livid. “The roads aren’t safe!!” “How are they supposed to walk, the sidewalks aren’t clear!” “DO YOU CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS AT ALL?!”
Okay, listen. As a working mom who had to grapple every day this week with the idea of putting my child in a car on these roads, I get it. Uncertainty is scary. There are so many situations we can’t prepare for. That’s our baby in there.
But I’m also a teacher here, and I get what they’re trying to do. Your kids just lost an entire week of school schedule. Routine is vital to kids’ adjustment, it’s crucial to get back to it as quickly as possible. Every day that goes by racks up hours of backtracking in reinforcing the same rules and schedule the class has practiced since the beginning of the year, and those are hours of learning that are lost. Little Billy doesn’t have time to practice his reading when his teacher has to spend half the day reminding him how to keep his body still at carpet time.
And another big thing: extra snow time off can equal more time shaved off your child’s summer. State and county regulations can mandate the school year length, and schools sometimes have no choice. Teachers AND your child do not want a shorter summer!
In essence, this is just one example where I want to stress that teachers are just like you, parents. None are perfect. Most of them are doing the best they can with what they have. Before you pull on your bathing cap to jump down their throat, maybe wrap yourself in that towel and participate in a dialogue with your child’s instructor. If you don’t like school policy, be an active participant in the processes and help make the school community a better place.
I can assure you, from personal experience, that when parents and schools are teammates rather than rivals, it pays off in thriving and successful kids. We’ve got enough keyboard warriors.
Your car broke down. Your hours at work were cut. Your debit card was stolen and money taken from your account. Ends just didn’t meet. Whatever happened, if you’ve fallen behind on your utility bills, there are resources to help you, especially as winter approaches and cold weather hits parts of the United States. Utility assistance programs are very state-specific, but there are some commonalities between states that can be helpful.