Teachers...talk me through maternity leave

[vthokie]

Of course, the first parent night full of "my kid loves your class" and "he doesn't hate math anymore" has me all stressed about leaving them for 3 months, right in the thick of testing. None of my students know yet, and I'm sort of dreading it, and the parental reactions.
With A, I was a TA and it was April, not February. I've been told I only have to really provide some resources and pacing, but OMG. I'm starting to freak. 

How ow did you manage? Did you just cut ties and leave the. Alone, like I know I have to do? Did you send a letter home to parents? How am I all attached to these stinkers after 3+ weeks?

talk me off the ledge.

[jg183]

With L I was teaching 1st grade. I sent a letter home right before Thanksgiving (I was almost 20 weeks or more and the kids were oblivious!) It was hard to leave but once I was off I was fine and didn't think about work anymore!
This time was easier since I don't work with kids.

[alicia45]

I was teaching 5th grade and never got to send a note home. I was bed rested at 30 weeks. I went to the doctor after work on February 13th and was admitted over night. That was my last day at work. It was really hard being out during testing but I knew I prepared them the best I could and my coworkers had to do the rest. My kids actually came through with flying colors! My words of advice, just teach to your best ability everyday. Give them all the knowledge you can and then it's up to them. You set the expectations and they'll rise to the occasion. You got this.

[imimahoney]

I teach HS and AP

For my 10th graders I sent no letter or did anything special. I was mentoring a student teacher and he became my long term sub. The kids knew by 20ish weeks or so and the transition was fine.

For my AP students, my department head and I sent a letter when I was nearing my leave. All my students knew and had met their sub. My department head also filled in big time so she would answer any parent concerns.

[imimahoney]

Oh and for work, I just told my sub what he had to cover and that's it. I left all of my resources but he had to create everything himself.

[The Foozzler]

We do all of our planning together as a grade level team, so they really helped my sub a lot. I met with her once before I left and showed her where all of the materials are she would need. Then I left and didn't look back. But both times I left I knew I wasn't going back until after summer, so it was easier to just turn the class over to the sub for the rest of the year. I let sure how it would be if I was planning to come back.

[spaghetticat]

We don't do letters in the middle school. I just told the kids. I had some issues where the kids were emailing me an telling me they were having problems in class, but administration told me I was not allowed to deal with it.

[sunnysong]

I teach HS and didn't send a letter home. I just told my students. For the long-term sub, I left a calendar and everything I use with the students. I set it up so she had access to copies of the documents I use online.

[vthokie]

You ladies are making me feel a lot better. The guys I work with will help, and we plan out units together, so that good.
I know they'll be fine. It's just stressful, especially with a new state testing format this year. Really, I'll only miss like 10 weeks of instruction because of tests, and I'll be back the last 3 weeks of school.
I wasn't planning g on a letter, but I expect numerous emails about it.