After School Schedule: Fill & Download for Free

It depends.Around here (Chicago) most teachers have a contract that says when they can leave. At my school, students are dismissed at 3pm, and teachers are dismissed at 3:30pm, unless:there is a staff meeting after school.they’re running an after-school club.they’re meeting with parents after school.they’re coaching something after school.Some teachers prefer to stay late to do grading and planning, so they don’t have to schlep all of that stuff home and do it there.Some teachers (like me) have to get their own kids from school and leave as soon as they’re allowed most days. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to be a teacher… for the family-friendly schedule.

The Helicopter ParentI had a friend middle school through high school, let’s call her Jane.Jane lived in a McMansion with every possible comfort the world had to offer. Her stay-at-home mom hovered over her 24/7 to make sure that every detail of her young life was mapped out.She was in the PTA and on every teacher’s case if Jane didn’t get special attention because she was “gifted!”When we were freshmen in high school, Jane’s mom used to drive her to school so she wouldn’t be subjected to bullying on the school bus (if our after-school schedules synched up, she’d also take me home).One day I noticed another copy of The Great Gatsby in the car — we were reading it in English class. Jane’s mom used to read every single book assigned to us.She did every piece of coursework Jane did, to keep her on track and tutor her if needed. Her full-time job was basically repeating high school to keep Jane on track. (She was a university graduate so this was only to make sure Jane got good grades.) This level of involvement also extended to every club and after-school activity.This struck me as a bit bizarre, but I didn’t think much of it.I’d get into trouble if I didn’t get straight A’s, but the only thing my parents hovered over were the final report card and room cleanliness. Nobody cared how I got to the end result. I developed my own study habits.If I got bullied, I was expected to deal with it. The real world is full of assholes. “Figure it out!” The upside: I learned to deal with it.Jane had every financial advantage over me. When it came to grooming, her mother used to take her to upscale salons on a regular basis. God forbid a 13-year-old went to school without professionally shaped eyebrows! Again, I thought this level of involvement was bizarre, but her mom was always nice to me. I didn’t think much of it.My family moved away halfway through high school. Jane and I went to colleges in different states. About a decade later, we reconnected.She had spent 10 years changing majors, and last time I heard, she still hasn’t finished her undergraduate degree.Both her parents passed away, and there was nobody to keep her everyday activities accountable.The inheritance lasted for a while, but it also meant that she wasn’t forced to get a job.The inheritance ran out, and the reality of a harsh world set in. Her mom thought she was the most special person on the planet. The world didn’t.She never held down a real job for a reasonable length of time, not even as a part-time receptionist. I’ve witnessed several cringeworthy “fundraising” sessions for herself from her Facebook friends, whether it was for rent or gas money.Now in her late 30’s, there is no cheerleader for her minor accomplishments. Nobody wants to hire her because she got good grades in high school. Years of doing nothing, and the mentality that goes with it, has made her virtually unemployable.Everyone her own age has moved on, progressed, and made something of themselves.I’m sure it’s not the life her mom imagined for her all those years ago. She had the best intentions in mind. She wanted the very best for her because she loved her so much, but she inadvertently took away the chances to develop abilities she needed the most.

My small second grade student sat beside me with his head in his hands. He was not interested in working that day.“What’s wrong?” I asked.“I don’t have any time to play,” he answered.This is what unfolded.He had karate practice after school on Monday and Wednesday.Piano lessons after school on Tuesday.Ice skating lessons after school on Thursday.That’s 4 after-school events per week. Except for Friday, his playtime didn’t begin until after dinner. He had 2 hours each day of playtime. This little guy was 7 years old.His parents were high-earning, high-profile people. I don’t know whether they wanted their child to be well rounded or whether they just wanted to arrange for “constructive” things to do after school.The truth is they could have signed him up for after-school care at my school. It would have been far less strenuous physically and mentally.Sometimes, he could handle his schedule and sometimes he was anxious about it. The issue was brought up at a parent-teacher conference, but the parents felt he could handle it.I wasn’t so sure about that. I was the reading specialist and he’d been referred to me. He was very bright. I sometimes wondered if the fact that he was functioning below grade level was because he was stressed out.The little boy didn’t complain to his parents. Perhaps he put on a “brave face” because he wanted to please his parents.