sandy5673
04-24-2008, 08:06 PM
I am a high school math teacher with MS. I am having a very difficult time trying to decide how/if I can cope another year. My hands are mostly numb... typing is with two pointer fingers, handwriting (remember math teachers have to work out example problems) is HORRIBLE. The kids are forever asking "what does that say?". I move slowly to be sure I don't slip and fall and usually am so totally exhausted by the end of the day I jsu tgo home and collapse. I would love to hear coping skills from another teacher.
Sponsor
MSJayhawk
04-24-2008, 11:29 PM
I home school. My 9 year old is finishing his 9th grade studies. Math is his strongest field and I am forever trying to stay ahead of his math ability. One thing I have found is that I will do one problem and then I turn the whiteboard over to him.
One suggestion would be for you to type up math problems, print it out, and then make transparency copies that you can use on an overhead. If you have a projector available, you can also project right from your computer.
I have found that my son enjoys the challenge of working the problem on the whiteboard.
As to maintaining your hands, you might try hand coolers or a head cooler. I use these in addition to my passive cooling vest. Due to the mental calculations and continual explanations involved with math, I can well understand your exhaustion. I usually nap for an hour after teaching Algebra. Perhaps your school district can better accomodate your disability. Under ADA, you are allowed reasonable accomodations in order to better perform your job. You might also see if there is funding to grant you a teaching asistant.
Other than that, I offer you my prayers!
One suggestion would be for you to type up math problems, print it out, and then make transparency copies that you can use on an overhead. If you have a projector available, you can also project right from your computer.
I have found that my son enjoys the challenge of working the problem on the whiteboard.
As to maintaining your hands, you might try hand coolers or a head cooler. I use these in addition to my passive cooling vest. Due to the mental calculations and continual explanations involved with math, I can well understand your exhaustion. I usually nap for an hour after teaching Algebra. Perhaps your school district can better accomodate your disability. Under ADA, you are allowed reasonable accomodations in order to better perform your job. You might also see if there is funding to grant you a teaching asistant.
Other than that, I offer you my prayers!
mary63
04-25-2008, 06:04 AM
Hi there- have you or are you able to see an Occupational Therapist- there may be some equipment or modifications you can have to help you...?
hotflash
04-25-2008, 01:10 PM
My aunt who has been a teacher for over forty years has lupus and she said when it was acting up she would call the smartest kid to the board and ask him to show the class the example that she was talking about.
hotflash
hotflash
taosdaphne
04-25-2008, 03:44 PM
Not a HS teacher, but a college professor of English with all kinds of teaching awards, and someone who NEVER missed class (I woul xc ski in) until the MS symptoms started showing up. I'm someone who likes to roam the room, but found if I tried I fell. Got a walker w. a seat and sat on it. I expend a HUGE amount of energy teaching (those of you who do it know it's like starring in a Broadway show all day everyday), and it was getting to the point where I was falling and splitting lips or dislocating shoulders or calling the EMTs to get me up off the floor. The day I burst into tears in the Dean's office after hanging onto the hallway wall to keep from falling, she said, "Go home. Take medical leave. I had no idea you were so ill". I, of course, thought the world would stop without me and was reluctant (I'd just taken over chairing the Women's Studies program, which was floundering badly). Took the rest of the semester off, came back in the fall, still felt like shit, and then my partner had a heart attack in NM and I took the rest of *that* semester off to care for her. Anyway, long story short, my wonderful administration agreed to keep me on half-time while I taught web-based courses from NM. It's more work than classroom teaching in some ways, but *so* much fun. And I can type comments right on the papers thy submit and zip them back electeonically. I retire officially May 22 with lots less money than I'd like, and thank god my insurance comes with me. I pay a little more for it, but considering the bills I'm racking up, it's a good thing.
If you are close enough to retirement age to strike some sort of deal like this, do it. Be the computer expert and teach other teachers or give workshops. Switch to a PT administrative job that is less stressful. If you trust your principal, talk honestly with her about what's going on and ask her advice. Go on short-term or partial disability. I am 100% better since I started this web stuff, though of course not well. Mobility problems, and I type with about 4 fingers now--but I can still type, read, and make good connections with students on-line.
Good luck to you. I've been really annoyed by the limitations I'm facing (esp not driving), but the teaching thing has worked out better than I expected--and they'll keep me as an emerita at $3300/course as long as they can afford it and I can keep up with the technology.
If you are close enough to retirement age to strike some sort of deal like this, do it. Be the computer expert and teach other teachers or give workshops. Switch to a PT administrative job that is less stressful. If you trust your principal, talk honestly with her about what's going on and ask her advice. Go on short-term or partial disability. I am 100% better since I started this web stuff, though of course not well. Mobility problems, and I type with about 4 fingers now--but I can still type, read, and make good connections with students on-line.
Good luck to you. I've been really annoyed by the limitations I'm facing (esp not driving), but the teaching thing has worked out better than I expected--and they'll keep me as an emerita at $3300/course as long as they can afford it and I can keep up with the technology.
Pens'nChalk
04-29-2008, 09:26 PM
Not high school, but 8th grade history ... 90 kids in a week, 24 at a time, plus an enrichment group twice a week ... I see the academic kids every other day, in 90 minute blocks. When I give assigned essays it's a given 15 to 18 hours of correcting, typically, and that's only allocating 10 minutes per student ... I usually assign 6 essays per year, sometimes more if needed ... I'm a former English teacher so essays elicit two types of responses from me, which takes time but is so worth it. My students are writing very well - they really do pay attention to all the comments I offer on their papers.
My energy is best for the morning classes, but I do make it through the afternoon sessions. We flip-flop our schedule so that the same kids don't always have afternoons... I sit more often now, on a stool at the front of the class, or in a rolling office chair to move from desk to desk during writing or group activities. I haven't disclosed to my students or their parents, and don't plan to unless symptoms become more visible.
My teaching partners know of my MS but I haven't needed any special assistance - we all help each other, which is a blessing all around. Every teacher, healthy or not, has bad days now and then, and being on a team where people balance each other is a true blessing. When I'm very tired, my voice drops in volume, and breaths become a bit shallow; that's when I use a microphone (and I share it with the kids - they respond very well to that, rising to the occasion so to speak, and their oral comments become much more polished and valuable!) Not expensive to buy a mike and amplifier at Radio Shack.
I wish you good partnerships, and good days. I have five more years to earn my pension, and I'm feeling optimistic at this point.
Take care of you :angel:
My energy is best for the morning classes, but I do make it through the afternoon sessions. We flip-flop our schedule so that the same kids don't always have afternoons... I sit more often now, on a stool at the front of the class, or in a rolling office chair to move from desk to desk during writing or group activities. I haven't disclosed to my students or their parents, and don't plan to unless symptoms become more visible.
My teaching partners know of my MS but I haven't needed any special assistance - we all help each other, which is a blessing all around. Every teacher, healthy or not, has bad days now and then, and being on a team where people balance each other is a true blessing. When I'm very tired, my voice drops in volume, and breaths become a bit shallow; that's when I use a microphone (and I share it with the kids - they respond very well to that, rising to the occasion so to speak, and their oral comments become much more polished and valuable!) Not expensive to buy a mike and amplifier at Radio Shack.
I wish you good partnerships, and good days. I have five more years to earn my pension, and I'm feeling optimistic at this point.
Take care of you :angel:
Stacy1403
04-30-2008, 09:47 PM
I'm not a High School teacher, but I am an Elementary School teacher. I know exactly where you are coming from concerning coping with symptoms at work. As an elementary school teacher I teach all subjects including Physical Education (very hard), I also have to include recess duty. I find I have a little more energy in the mornings, but afternoons are really tough. Throughout the day I find myself to exhausted to even walk, not to mention stand and keep my balance. To help with my energy level I try to do a lot of my teaching from a seated position whether it be sitting on a stool at the black board or beside a projector. In my classrooms I have flexibility in how I want to set up my students desks, I find it helpful to put them in a circle or semi-circle where I can sit in the middle and am able to go desk to desk on my rolling desk chair. This saves a lot of energy when I need to make rounds during my students work periods. When it comes to teaching physical education classes, if I can trade off with another teacher I will do that. They will teach phys. ed. and I will teacher their students something in the classroom where mobility is not as much of a problem.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help and I hope you can find ways of coping with your symptoms where you can keep working.
Good luck with everything.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help and I hope you can find ways of coping with your symptoms where you can keep working.
Good luck with everything.
MSNik
04-30-2008, 10:16 PM
I just want to say that all of you who posted are really inspirational! Im not a teacher or educator, however Im a sales rep and certain times of the year, I give quite allot of talks and "inservices" which are basically like mini collequeums- dealing with, of all things- healthcare issues! I find that during these times, I get extremely stressed and exhausted- both from the preparation and the time standing, teaching, walking from person to person- station to station, etc. I also do quite a few expos throughout the year, in large expo centers as well as smaller venues- these consist of 12 hour days, not to mention innumerable hours of prep prior to the events!
I think that some of you made some points that I can use, too. So, thanks! I appreciated the tips.
Nikki
I think that some of you made some points that I can use, too. So, thanks! I appreciated the tips.
Nikki
sandy5673
05-05-2008, 10:23 AM
Thank you all so much. You have given me good ideas and HOPE! I am still 15 years away from retirement and really want to teach that long but am afriad I won't make it. I took the day off today (I guess the students can survive without me! ;)) to try to get my 'head together' and rest a little more. After cleaning my house and doing laundry over the weekend, I often go back to work as tired as I was Friday. I don't know if it is just me or if I have more stressful duties. I teach 9th graders who have not been successful in math in the past and are often unwilling learners becaue they fear they can't be successful. Occaisionally I am able to 'reach' some of them and they turn their attitude around. This is very fulfilling when I can help some of them. It is also emotionally and physically challenging. On top of that I teach a Leadership class that competes every year with a community service project in a program called CmPS. It is a great program but very time consuming and requires much planning and orgnization. I just feel like my disability has suddenly made me unable to cope with it all... maybe this summer will re-charge me!