As a teacher, I often marveled at how other people manage their 9-5 jobs. How did they ever make it to the doctors or pick up that jacket that was “dry clean only”? During my parenting years, I was always grateful to spend time with my children over the summer. On the other hand, teachers often start their day very early, and their schedules are unforgiving. There is no showing up late or working from home!
So, someone asked, “What do you all do to make your home life easier during the school year?” Good question. Here are some ideas from art teachers themselves.
1. One teacher reports taking loaves of bread and assembling peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to freeze so she could add them to a lunch box with a piece of fruit and a dessert like a premade pudding container for themself or a child.
2. In a similar vein, another teacher stashes a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jelly in her classroom mini-fridge. She can easily put together a basic lunch on the spot when things are hectic.
3. I always made a shoebox “emergency” container where I put things I might need in a pinch. It included some food, such as a can of soup, a protein bar, and applesauce, for days when I missed breakfast because I forgot my lunch on the kitchen counter, and so on. It also included tampons, deodorant, a travel toothbrush, toothpaste, and a change of clothes. And yes, I did have to use the change of clothes on the fateful day I bobbled a batch of slip, spilling slip all over myself.
4. A lot of teachers reported eating a school lunch. I had schools where I wouldn’t touch the lunches if I could help it, and others that were very good (kudos to Furnace Brook Middle School and Wellesley Middle School for having some delicious lunches when I was there). So, to each their own, depending on your circumstances and budget.
5. Lots of teachers depend on routine and rituals. One teacher makes overnight oats in small jars Sunday night, so easy grab-and-go breakfasts help on hectic Monday mornings.
Another teacher preps fruit into individual servings (she recommends one banana, sliced, plus 1/2 cup of berries of your choice) in bags that are then placed in her freezer. She defrosts overnight in the refrigerator or on the counter in the morning for 5-10 minutes. Throw in the blender with 1/2 to 3/4 cup yogurt, 1/2 to 1 cup milk of choice (she prefers almond milk, and in my house, it’s oat milk), and a bit of honey. Blend and go.
6. . Buy toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and cleaning items in bulk to last for a semester. This suggestion makes shopping trips shorter, and you save money. Win-Win.
7. Grocery shop online and have it delivered. Instacart and other online shopping programs aren’t just for pandemics (although the pandemic indeed prompted many of us to try these services and become more comfortable with the option).
8. I recommend, and many teachers agree, to invest in a crockpot, Instantpot, or pressure cooker—you can make many quick and easy meals in one. When you can come home to a crockpot simmering and know dinner is almost done, it’s the best feeling ever. I loved my pressure cooker because if I didn’t do it ahead, I could cheat and use it to create stews that tasted as if they had simmered all day long. I think Instapots are versatile kitchen appliances that do the work of both a crock pot and a pressure cooker, all in one.
9. Make dinners with leftovers that you portion out into lunches.
10. Lots of teachers are prepping meals on Sundays. One teacher grills her meat and stores it in the fridge or freezer, so all one needs to do is reheat and make a side dish. Other teachers cut their fruits and vegetables up to make prep easier during the week.
11. One teacher/parent created a snack station where snacks were made and ready for children. Her children came home, and part of their responsibility was to grab and pack a snack for the next day.
12. I don’t know about you, but I brought my kids to school to help prep during summer lulls. You would be surprised how excited they were to help sort materials. I had my tween even organize all my glazes and make test tiles.
13. Take advantage of back-to-school sales. There are some things I just refused to purchase through art catalogs. I was thrilled shopping the back-to-school sales for things like markers, rulers, and scissors. Also consider sanitizers and wipes. *On the topic of purchasing materials from your budget, I set a limit on what I was willing to do for my sanity. To each their own on this topic.
At home, I developed a system that kept my children out of the stores. I often purchased staples at a super low price (paper, notebooks, flashcards, pencils, etc.) and kept the supplies in a bin that my kids could then “shop” from for what they needed. This plan effectively reduced impulse buys.
14. Invest in an apron to wear. It will save your clothes. You want one with pockets, like this apron (available with one-day shipping through Amazon Prime).
15. Choose back-to-school activities for all your classes that are low in supplies and high in fun. Kids will be transferring in and out of your courses for a stretch. In one school I taught at, they were still waxing the floors a week before school would start, and I couldn’t even get into my classroom. So, instead of fighting the system, I enjoyed my vacation and developed strategies that worked with the limited access to my room, allowing me to stay sane.
