Preparing for maternity leave is stressful. Teaching is stressful enough, but add in trying to prepare for weeks away from your classroom and it just seems overwhelming. All this while being pregnant and preparing for a baby!
If you prepare before you leave, it is so much easier! Put in the time to get organized and have everything ready so you can have some peace of mind when you are gone. Maternity leave is a time to be with your new child and figure out your new role. You do not want to be doing schoolwork or worrying about work while you are home with your child.
Whether you will miss a few weeks or a few months of school, I hope these 12 tips and ideas will help you prepare for your maternity leave.
1. Pick your own substitute
You are leaving your classroom and students in the hands of another person, which is hard! If you can, try to pick the substitute you want in your classroom. Communication is key, so pick someone you work well with. This person may be a regular sub at your school, a retired teacher, or even a recent college graduate (maybe someone that already worked with you in your classroom while they were in school).
If you can’t pick your substitute or you don’t know anyone to do it, just make sure you get their information, so you able to talk with them before you leave.
My experience: I decided to go with a recent college graduate that went to the same university that I did. This way, I knew her teaching experiences and education were similar to mine.
2. Meet your substitute
Meet with your substitute before you leave. Invite them into your classroom to see how things run. Give your substitute a tour of your classroom, so they know where to find things. Show your substitute around the school, so they get familiar and are more comfortable taking over. You can also review your plans with them and have them meet other teachers that can help them.
My experience: My substitute was able to take a few days to come into my classroom to observe. She met my students and watched our routines. This was so beneficial for her. She was comfortable with my room and the school before she started subbing. I would highly recommend this if it is possible for you!
3. Make your students aware
You may not think about this, but your students will be highly affected by you leaving. Some students may act out or become worried or anxious about you leaving. You need to have open conversations with your students (and even parents) before you leave. Make sure your students know when you will leave, how long you will be gone, and when you will come back. I also made my students aware that I would be in contact with the substitute, so I would know what was going on at all times.
4. Decide on the time you will be gone
You need to decide how long you will be gone during maternity leave. Call your Human Resources department to make sure you understand your obligations during your leave. In my experience, I was not given any days. I had to use my sick days and personal days for my maternity leave. This gave me a six week leave. I decided that I wanted two more weeks, so I had to fill out extra paperwork that I was still going to be gone and would not receive pay during the last two weeks.
You need to figure out how your time off will work and how much time you want to be away. Do this way before your due date to make sure everything is taken care of.
Another thing to consider is the day you will leave. Do you want to work up to your due date? Or take a few weeks off before your baby arrives. This is completely up to you and your situation. Just consider that your baby may come before you are “ready.”
My experience: I was due to have my baby during Christmas break, so I decided I would work up to Christmas break and the sub would start the day the students returned from break. This worked out really well, except my baby decided to come two weeks early, so I ended up missing the last two days before break. I was prepared though, so it wasn’t a problem.
5. Plan Ahead
Whatever time frame you going to be gone for, make sure you plan it out. I planned out the whole 8 weeks I was gone with particular units and projects that could be completed in that time. I wanted to make sure everything would be wrapped up and I wouldn’t have to come back in the middle of a project.
So, I planned out exactly what lessons or chapters I wanted the sub to teach in that time frame. I also left a project to do for English Language Arts, which took up a lot of those weeks but was something fun for the sub and something the students also enjoy. The project I left for the sub to do was a Wax Museum Project, click here to learn more about this project!
6. Have a Substitute Binder
At the beginning of the school year, I put together a substitute binder. This binder has my class schedule, class rosters, classroom information, maps of the school, classroom routines and procedures, etc. I had everything in this binder that a substitute may need. Having this already made, made it so much easier to prepare for my maternity leave. All I needed to add was lesson plans and weekly overviews. This saved me so much time and was so beneficial to my sub. If you want to check out exactly what I included in this binder, click here!
7. Detailed lesson plans for the first 2 weeks
For the first two weeks, I made extremely detailed lesson plans for the sub to follow. I wrote out all directions and steps to each lesson. Also, I made copies in advance for everything the sub would do in those first two weeks. I wanted to make the transition easy for my sub, so she only needed to focus on teaching and getting to know the students and routines those first two weeks.
I made all the copies needed for those first two weeks so the substitute didn’t need to worry about preparing for the lessons.
8. Overview schedule for all weeks
For the rest of the weeks I was gone, I made a simple overview of what I wanted her to do each week. I left the lessons I wanted the sub to cover each day for each subject. I also left the master to each activity I wanted the sub to do. This way, she basically had everything she needed for each week but she would have to make copies and prepare the lessons herself.
9. Organize
Make sure everything is organized for your sub. I made a file folder for each week. So, I had 8 weeks of file folders and in each folder I put the overview schedule for the week, along with any materials or master copies for activities. I put this in plain sight on my desk so it was easily accessible. This helped keep me organized while I was trying to prepare everything and it helped the sub stay organized while I was away.
Also, make sure materials that the sub will use will be available to them and easily accessible. I have a shelf where I kept all math manipulatives and reading magazines that the sub would need. This was easily accessible to her and I made sure she was aware where it was.
10. Management Plan
You need to decide whether your sub will keep your behavior management plan or have their own. In my experience, I wanted my students to keep the same routines and management plan, so it would be easier when I returned. I always make a first days of school PowerPoint to teach my routines and expectations at the beginning of the year. So, I gave the PowerPoint to my sub and told her to review it and even review it with the students on the first day she was there (which was when the students returned from a break so it was good timing). If you want to check out my PowerPoint, click here.
Regardless of how you want your sub to manage your class, you need to talk about your expectations with your sub. This way, they know exactly what is expected of them.
11. Be Flexible
Leaving your classroom is challenging and no matter how well you prepare, there will always be interruptions that will throw your plans off. My maternity leave was during the winter months so there were many snow days. I told my sub to follow my schedule the best she could but ultimately she could make any changes she thought was necessary.
A school day is never predictable. I was not upset if the sub changed up plans or skipped certain lessons to better accommodate all the craziness that can happen during the day. I told the sub I completely understood and she was the one in charge while I was gone. Although I did ask her to keep me updated on major changes so I would know when I returned.
12. Be Available
While you are on maternity leave, try not to think about school. Focus on you and your baby. With that being said, do make yourself available to your sub. The sub may have questions or even just want to keep you updated on things going on at school. Try not to spend a lot of time on this, but you should be there for your sub if they need you.
I hope this will help you prepare for your own maternity leave! Preparing ahead of time will make your time at home with your baby so much more relaxing.
If you want to read my article on returning to work after maternity leave, click here.
Thank you for Continually Learning with us!
Sarah
