| Teaching is a very giving profession. That is what the | | | | colleagues know from the onset that it is a pet peeve |
| whole profession is based on; you give all of your | | | | of yours to be interrupted during class time; you might |
| energy to educating others. You share of yourself to | | | | have to gently remind some folks that might seem to |
| entice students into learning what you know. But there | | | | not understand that this little "quirk" of yours applies to |
| must be a limit to what you are willing to give - you | | | | them, too. |
| have to have some time for yourself. It is so important | | | | With Administrators |
| to set limits with other people, whether you verbalize | | | | Administrators are the hardest folks to set limits for |
| them or you simply set them in your head it is essential | | | | because they can make or break your career as a |
| because if you don't you will have nothing left for | | | | teacher, but you have to be able to set boundaries for |
| yourself. These tips will help you to recognize where | | | | them as well or you will not get any work done. Some |
| you need to set and sometimes state your limits. | | | | administrators relish in their ability to call teachers out of |
| With Students | | | | the classroom for impromptu meetings right there in |
| Obviously as a teacher, you need some time away | | | | the hallway - even for frivolous discussions that can |
| from your students each day, even when you're at | | | | clearly wait and should wait. You can try the sign on |
| school - such as during your planning hour. This seems | | | | the door trick or you can simply let your administrator |
| like it is the easiest place to set limits but some | | | | know that you cannot speak about something at the |
| students make it very difficult to do. You have to be | | | | moment because you are in the middle of an important |
| firm and set limits as to when you are available to the | | | | lecture or discussion with your students. When the |
| students. You cannot have a mad rush of students | | | | school day is over you would be happy to meet with |
| hunting you down throughout the day or worse yet | | | | them and discuss anything that needs to be |
| calling you at home after hours. You can set clear | | | | addressed. |
| limits with the students on the first day of class; you | | | | It can sometimes be hard to stand up to people and let |
| can put it in writing and present it with the other "first | | | | them know that they have crossed some boundaries |
| day of class literature". | | | | that you have set up and have moved across the line. |
| With Colleagues | | | | It can be an uncomfortable conversation but one that |
| Colleagues are a little bit harder to set limits with, | | | | must be had otherwise your day will be filled with |
| largely because some folks have no idea that it is rude | | | | keeping everyone else happy and not getting a whole |
| to walk into a classroom during a lesson or barrel into | | | | lot of teaching done. You can be nice about it and still |
| your office during planning. Buy a little sign for your | | | | get your point across. Set your limits and be firm! |
| door which states do not disturb, and let your | | | | |