My Twitter Timeline on Sunday has lots of mentions of the Sunday Scaries. The feelings of teachers right now as the new week approaches. Enter a three day weekend and they disappear. Why?

I rarely hear anything about the Monday scaries. A three day weekend provides two days of rest. Then, the extra day offers time where lesson preparation is completed in a rested and relaxed state.

Many years ago, I came to terms that the teacher’s job is never complete. There is always more to do and more to be done to meet the expectations that we set upon ourselves. The added stresses and responsibilities as a result of the pandemic have only exacerbated this feeling. However, enter a three day weekend and things suddenly feel manageable again.

What if instead of three day weekends there were four day work weeks? On the surface these are the same but I believe they are fundamentally different. Three day weekends are celebrated because they are infrequent and we look forward them. They offer a brief reprieve.

A four day work week with students would be a constant. The fifth day could be devoted to preparation and collaboration which are limited during contract time. It would affirm the amount of preparation and planning required of teaching. Additionally, it would prioritize collegial collaboration to benefit students. Both would help make teaching more sustainable.

Three day weekends are great. I would prefer a four day work week with students and an additional day for preparation and collaboration free from distractions.