I’ve been MIA from blog land because…sheesh…

What a week…

I feel like I’m drowning at work.

AND! I did not work on Monday; I only worked from Tuesday to Friday.

Major things that happened:

1. I met all my students on Tuesday. The first day and the first week is super important. That’s when you break them in (or they break you).

2. T was traveling Sunday-Wednesday

3. I have three preps. In teacher jargon: I have to prepare lessons for three different levels.

4. My own kids were in summer camp at their gymnastics place. I’m just glad they had openings.

5. Poor planning on my part: needed groceries mid week. Instacart to the rescue but that’s very unlike me.

@ I like all my students but many are still in the so-called “honeymoon” period. I was so happy to see some students who I recommended for honors last year. Those are the kids that I absolutely adore and, truly, any teacher is lucky to have them. And this year, it’s ME. Again! Usually, I have a very cordial relationship with all students but, you know there are those few that just are special. And I have four of them this year.

@ My classes seem unbalanced: ten people in one, twenty-three students in another. Fifteen. Eighteen. Twenty-five. That means that each class will be going at a different speed. Some classes will cover more material and have more individualized attention from me, and others – less, because of the class size.

@ The mental load at work is what is most overwhelming. I have the materials and resources but it’s constant thinking about work that bothers me. In spite of the fact that our contract negotiations are at an impasse, I still want my students to have engaging lessons. Because it’s not really their fault that some adults in their lives cannot agree.

So.

We have this long weekend coming up. I want to sit down and spend an hour or two on sketching things out for this year. Get all the ideas I have bumping around in my head out on paper.

This may only apply to teachers but I gave a diagnostic assessment this year. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while: to see for myself what gaps students have and how to best help them fill those gaps. I still put the grade into the system but it’s for informational purposes only so it doesn’t impact their final grade. I did a grammar and syntax assessment as well as a verbal assessment. It is a good reality check.

Regardless of overwhelm, I am happy to be back at work. The summer felt long and hot. I am ready for fall.

My own kids…

don’t start school till next Tuesday so this week they are at their gymnastics camp. There is an imbalance where I am in work mode and they are still in summer mode.

They had an ice cream social at their new school yesterday where they had a chance to meet their teachers and school peers.

This Labor Day long weekend I want to:

1 lift at the ymca: Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

2 do some work – planning, mainly

3 read my book

4 get groceries/meal plan

5 catch up on life: admin stuff, plan out next week, read blogs

How was your week?