A Day in the Life of a Teacher

A Day in the Life of a Teacher

Teacher Life - it’s a thing! Many non-teachers don’t realize just how much we do in a day, so I’ve decided to break down my typical teaching day to give you a day in the life of a teacher.

If you are interested in entering the profession, this blog will give you a better understanding of teacher life pretty quickly! Or, maybe you’re already a teacher— if so, you’ll hopefully nod your head in agreement and feel a sense of community among our profession and craft.

Here’s a day in the life of a teacher, through my eyes!

First Thing | Arrival & Homeroom

While homeroom might officially kick off the beginning of the school day, a teacher’s day has begun far before that.

Usually arriving at least half an hour before we need to, teachers spend most of their morning straightening desks, setting up papers, making copies, and sometimes even attending morning meetings— all for the sake of their students.

Homeroom can seem like a whirlwind. Once the first kiddo arrives, it’s action-packed until announcements. From sorting notes, collecting lunch money, and tracking down homework, taking attendance is a welcome reprieve.

Teachers know that homeroom really sets the tone for the day, so we try to keep things happy, positive, and as mellow as possible. We ask our kids to write in their journals, set up their planners, or even complete an at the bell task— literally anything to get them engaged and keep them busy during this “unstructured time.”

I’ve learned to be extremely organized, become a master at multitasking, and also a pro at listening to a student who is speaking to me and a conversation between students taking place across the room.

Morning | First Classes & Class Switch

We switch classes at my school, so students are scattered throughout my grade level. Some come and some go, and we hit the books right away, never wasting a moment of math time.

Keeping up with my district’s scope and sequence is key to staying on track with learning goals and state testing requirements.

After teaching the mandatory stuff, I always leave a little time for movement breaks, hands-on activities, and even partner games because students need to interact with each other. While non-teachers may imagine that this is a time to lounge around and catch my breath, it actually involves assessing student progress, entering grades, or thinking about tomorrow’s lesson for planning purposes, based on how my students performed today. This could mean keeping my plans or completely changing them!

Lunch Break

Oh lunch, how I love thee! Finally, a moment to take a break and chat with my colleagues.

While we do take this time to unwind duty-free for a bit, we do always find ourselves talking about students of concern, or scheduling changes to accommodate upcoming events or class parties.

I also squeeze in some must-do’s at lunch time. These could include making copies, setting up for Science class, or squeezing in a quick parent phone call or email if needed!

Late Afternoon | Related Arts

During related arts time, our students enjoy gym, art, library, music, or technology.

After I drop them off, I play catch up with my emails and parent calls, and, if necessary, I attend meetings. I also use this time to lesson plan and make copies.

I take this time to scan blogs that focus on teacher life and offer cool strategies, resources, or tips to make my day go smoother and help my students get excited to learn.

I enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack to help me unwind— especially if I’ve had a trying morning. I’ve learned over the years that my breaks are precious and that I should not beat myself up if something doesn’t go as planned. There’s no such thing as “perfect” in teaching. It’s only taken me 17 years to realize it!

End of Day

Clean up, pack up, listen for announcements, and out the door they go. Instantly prepping for tomorrow, I utilize my time wisely, making sure all my copies are ready to go for the next day.

have my plans complete, and cross my t’s and dot my i’s in case of an informal observation from my administrators. I’d like to say that I don’t bring anything home with me, but some days I just can’t be SuperMan and get it all done!

It’s a Teacher's Life for Me

In conclusion, a teacher truly does touch a student’s life in some way, forever. We are always thinking about our kids, our lessons, and how we can provide our students with a safe, nurturing space since our classrooms serve as a home away from home.

While the days can seem long, the year is short. I hope you enjoyed learning about our day through my eyes and appreciated experiencing a day in the life of a teacher. 

Discover a wide range of professional development resources for teachers over at our dedicated resource hub. Whether you're interested in improving your teaching skills with new concepts, learning how to better manage your time in the classroom, or avoid burnout with self-care strategies, we have the advice and resources to help ensure you're teaching at the highest possible level.