long term leave By bertie

Also, when a sub is hired for a long term, s/he is paid more than the sub hired for one or two days. That extra pay is taking into consideration that s/he will be doing some planning, evaluation, and marking on her own.

My best advice is to plan her first week very well and give her a really good outline for the next week. Then give her your long range plan for the month or so afterwards. Meet her beforehand, and encourage her to try some of her own themes, art ideas, etc. You need your energy and stamina elsewhere right now, and the two of you (you and your sub) will work as closely to facilitate the transition for your return as you are doing now for her entry into your classroom.

You can plan to do the report cards and interviews together, but please don't take marking with you - take a great book and some of that professional reading you've wanted to do, plan a new theme unit, whatever appeals, but let your sub do the marking. If you want to keep in touch with your kids, visit them weekly as a volunteer, send letters and/or Christmas gifts. And by the way, this will probably end up being the most special five or six weeks of your life with your mom, as it was with my dad (who is in recovery right now) so my best wishes and blessings go with you.