Are you a teacher about to go on leave and looking for a guide to maternity leave? First, congrats momma! While you might be feeling overwhelmed at the moment, the end goal will be so rewarding. With so many moving pieces, you may need help figuring out where to start. But fear not, because this comprehensive how-to guide will provide you with all the information you need to confidently take maternity leave as a teacher. From understanding your legal rights to communicating with your school and students, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make the process as smooth as possible. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, this guide will help you prepare for your time away from the classroom so that you can focus on the joys of motherhood without worrying about work. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you through the process of taking maternity leave as a teacher.
Hey teacher, before I share my maternity leave guide, I wanted to give you a shortcut to making maternity leave easy. One of the best ways to make your life easier on maternity leave is to have your substitute teach an insular unit while you are gone. Looking for an easy unit to implement? Check out my Independent Novel Study Unit . This bundle is the ultimate ELA independent novel study unit starter toolkit! In this bundle, you have all the resources you need to teach a novel unit right away. With detailed teacher guides and lesson plans, you can start using these reading activities in your class immediately. Plus check out the free bundle bonus: Independent Novel Study Unit Calendar. This resource gives you a day-by-day plan for the entire unit. In both the block schedule and year-long calendar format, you will see Common Core English standards, links to resources, and lesson overviews. There is no planning needed to start your novel study!
As a momma of three, I have survived three maternity leaves. Each time, I learned a little more and did things a little better. I have been fortunate that each time, I have had my kiddos right near the end of the school year, so I created maternity leave plans that took my substitute out to the end of the year. While I was able to miss most of the craziness of May in the classroom, I needed to ensure that my substitute survived the end of the school year.
Giving up control of my classroom and ensuring that my students are getting what they need is critical. I had to create a system that would help me get everything ready. Getting everything out of my brain and implementing was really overwhelming the first time. However, by this third time, I knew what needed to be done. Plus, I should add that each time, I have left on maternity leave, it was during our state-mandated testing time. If I can trust a substitute during such a critical time in my classroom, then you can totally do this!
For each pregnancy, I create a vision for what I want my maternity leave to look like. I want to be able to just focus on my new baby and nothing else. That means that I get time off from all my other responsibilities. I do not need to worry about school at all. I give myself grace and ask others in my life to give me grace during my maternity leave. This is truly how I enjoyed my time.
I was able to walk away from my classroom confident that I was able to just focus on my baby and my family during that time. And that’s the vision that I want for you! I want you to envision what would make your maternity leave the best. Once you have that vision, let’s get ready to make that a reality. If you want step-by-step instructions, this guide will help you be prepared so you too can walk away on your last day and know it’s in good hands.
