I have retired about five times already and I keep going back (apparently I am a glutton for punishment) I just moved to this town and started a new teaching job two days per week. Now, I am very jealous of my newly retired husband who does as he please every day... He would like to start traveling and wants me to go with him...go figure, after almost 36 years he still wants me to go places with him So, May 16 is now my official Retire Forever Day!
I am glad that you have set the stage for a new chapter of your life.......after teaching. There is a such thing as retirement? LOL. Personally, as long as I am healthy and fully functional (well...as functional a special education teacher can be), I will continue teaching for at least two more decades.
I retired last June and we moved into a new home in an active adult community. I’m kind of bored. I just signed up to sub in the local high school district, so we’ll see if that scratches the itch.
I have three more school years before I'm eligible to retire. While I may decide to work longer, at this point I'm counting down.
Congratulations! I hope that you're off and traveling soon after! I'm sure education will find its way back to you in some form over the years.
I have 2 more decades to go at least. Some days I can’t even fathom doing that for that many more years and some days I can’t see myself doing anything else. But one day at a time. Congratulations and a well deserved retirement!
Ha Ha... no wolf for me this time...I'm already giving away school supplies, clearing out the cupboards! It helps that I have some Canadian snow bird friends who came to visit last week and they are both retired teachers. They gave me some wonderful ideas to do with my new found freedom. If anyone is curious, my first teaching job, after student teaching, was in 1974.
At the time, what grade/class setting did you direct? Also, how was teaching in the 1970's? I have been teaching since the late 90's, so I would not know about teaching in the 70s and 80s.
The biggest difference about teaching in the 70's and 80's was the autonomy teachers had to direct their classroom. We taught what we needed without interference from administration, parents, community, and other stakeholders.Then, at the end of the year we gave one standardized test (like the Iowa test of Basic Skills) and that test took a few partial days...that was it. We had course outlines for the topics that we should teach in each subject, but it was generally up to us how we did it. I taught mostly elementary school with some middle school thrown in for a few of those years. Early on, all students were mainstreamed...we didn't have an ESE program. My first couple of years were preschool, then called nursery education. The other main difference I noticed, as has been mentioned many times before, was respect and behavior. Students and parents generally respected their teacher and there weren't many behavior concerns. If I could, I would gladly go back to teaching in those years.
Thank you so much for replying! I am so fascinated by how teachers taught in those time periods. That sounds so nice and relaxing to teach like that.
You taught for 45 years?! Incredible. Absolutely incredible. I plan to teach for at least 30 years. Though, if I can financially retire sooner, then I might.
Enjoy. I 'retired' 3 years ago, Mrs blazer had subbed for years and so also cut down her hours. I now sub when I feel like it. Our pensions cover all of our living expenses with a bit left over. This means that we can travel whenever we like (Just got back from a month in Australia) and then can pick up a few days/weeks work to replenish the bank account before going on vacation again (2 weeks in Slovakia booked for May). Its a great life and at last I get to play the system instead of it playing me.
I subbed for the first time yesterday and came home exhausted! The schools here are on block schedule, and I’m not used to such long periods. I’m going to be very selective in when and what subjects I’ll sub for. We’re very stable financially, but I’ve missed interacting with teens.
You will find schools that you like and some you don't. Also as you get known the schools will ask for you.
New history has been made. We have begun traveling, I let my teaching certification lapse, and have no desire to be back in the classroom.
Congrats and enjoy your retirement. I need to too! I could have retired this year, but was offered a really good deal if I'd stay. At 1st, I did not trust it, but it has turned out to be better than I could have imagined. It is making me think maybe 1 more year....lol I have been saying 1-2 more years for so long, but at some point, I need to jump ship too. My cert is going to lapse at the end of next yr and I am thinking if I don't renew it, I will stop for sure. I am really tired too, so I need to stop. A lot of teachers without jobs here are probably hoping I die soon. ( Joking!) But, they are waiting!
Thanks for all your good wishes and I hope you are able to retire with pleasure when your time is right.
