How to teach when you're ill

I'm typing this from home during the day, as I'm off work ill.  I'm feeling very frustrated, because the illness that kept me off work for about 7 weeks last year is back with a vengeance - it's called 'sarcoidosis' - and if anyone has heard of it or had experience of it feels like getting in touch, it would be good to know I'm not alone - as it seems the doctors don't really know much about it and certainly don't know how to cure it.  I'm hoping to get back to work and on Thursday (Wed is my day off anyway) and try and struggle through, because a) I get VERY fed-up at home after more than a day or two and b) I worry about the students and their lack of learning during these absences. 

 

One of the things that always strikes me when I'm off ill, is how if you are a teacher you still have to struggle off your sick bed and organise cover lessons for the day - so for example at 6.30 this morning I had to drag myself to my computer and put together lessons that a non-specialist could facilitate for that day - i.e. that the kids could work on pretty much unaided.  I'm sure you realise that with languages this is particularlyy hard - there is only so much copying/ poster making that a class can do!

 

When I was off for the 7 weeks, I had to provide work for over 3 weeks, before they hired a supply teacher who could take over - and I can tell you now that providing more than a day or 2 of cover work is pretty difficult (that's if you have the text books at home to refer to!) so 3 weeks is nigh on impossible - even then it is unusual to be able to find a suitable qualified supply teacher who can teach more than one of the languages I teach (I teach French, Spanish & German) - so most groups will still not have access to a specialist to help them.

 

Ah well - there's not much I can do about it - just rest up and take a deep breath before I dive back into the fray on Thursday - wish me luck!