I think I have confessed before my obsession with planning. I LOVE it!! I compare the success of fitting the Australian Curriculum into one year to fitting every last dish into the dishwasher… there is great satisfaction in completing the puzzle – anyone else out there with a dishwasher filling obsession?
However, when I returned to work after maternity leave 2 years ago, the thought of putting this puzzle together I found completely overwhelming. This may have been due to the fact that I was still recovering from baby brain (which I swear is a real condition) and any normal functioning brain cells that had survived my pregnancy were now occupied with remembering nursery rhymes and wiggles songs… but for whatever reason the thought of trying to cram every last piece of content in the year before me, as well as care for my student’s social, emotional needs, was purely terrifying.
AND THEN… I also had to juggle the responsibilities in my own house… cleaning, washing, grocery shopping, nurse, mediator, playmate, teeth cleaner, bottom wiper… the list goes on.
My husband will testify to the anxious mess that I became as the start of the school year approached.
I was determined though to not let my anxiety get the better of me. So, with a block of chocolate by my side and a day free of toddler interruptions I surrounded myself with curriculum documents and set out to plan my whole year. I used the exact same documents that are in my Free Resource Library (the password is available when you sign up to our mailing list) and I mapped out how I was going to fit everything in. I can tell you, it was the best thing I could have done for myself. My year was mapped out. I now had a plan. My brain was now free!! Now I could focus on ALL the other things required of me as a teacher and a mum.
Now, if you know my story, you will remember that I didn’t really get much of a chance to implement many of the plans that I had made for the year ahead but I can assure you it certainly helped having my plans there when I was on sick leave for six weeks, in and out of hospital and still required to send detailed lesson plans for relief teachers that were covering my class. I can not emphasise enough the importance of having a bigger picture plan in place to help balance your home and work life!
So is this something you do? Or is this something you need help with?
Let’s start a conversation… Email me at admin@ridgydidgeresources.com with your curriculum concerns. I’m here to help! I would love to help you find a better home and work life balance as I did!