Today was my first day back to work!

We are off tomorrow and Monday but will meet our students next Tuesday, September 1st.

A thunder-y and rainy day, it was nice to be back in the classroom. I felt focused and got a lot done. Of course I did- I am just coming down from two months off. Actually a little two months : June 18th till today.

I am happy to report that I will be mentoring a novice teacher. I personally love when people become teachers and love guiding them and passing along any experience or helpful tips.

The disappointing thing is that our contract negotiations have reached an impasse. So now a mediator will be assigned from the state to help us reach some kind of consensus with our board of education.

Needless to say, the mood at the faculty and district meetings was… somber. Especially when the board of ed president was talking.

We all wore our teacher union shirts and will continue doing so as the year progresses. We are in this together.

This week we got haircuts:

Also Amazon to the rescue, snacks for lunches, and uniforms for the new school my kids will be attending. They go back on September 8th. It’s crazy late.

Feelings

I don’t have any particular feelings in regard to going back to work. I am excited to be receiving a paycheck again. I am feeling disappointed that we don’t have a contract. But over all, as I type this after my first day back, I feel okay. I have a good grasp on things as far as teaching and working in a public school goes. I’ve done it for many years. There is in fact this “new year” feeling that comes with new pencils and a new lesson planner/calendar.

My goal for this academic year is pretty much the same as always: give the best lessons I can, support students who need help, challenge those students who already know the material. At the same time, maintain healthy work-life balance by way of boundaries. That means no checking work email at home, no matter what. I work at school from 7:30 till 2:45pm, five days a week.

NJ cell phone ban law starts on Tuesday. I admit I am nervous about how we may approach that as a school. In the years prior I had a sleeve with pockets where all students would place their devices upon entering the class. And I was a total nazi about it. But this year it’s “off and away” from bell to bell. When I see a student with a phone in the hallway I’m supposed to say something. Same with study hall … Our principal reported that a parent asked “so it’s great that the phones are going away but what will you do to help them if they get bored?”

I guess I’ll have to learn how to dance or juggle pins to entertain students who are bored without their phones.

On the cover: my son R rolling the dough for Apple galette.