Perspective

I've been sick. Oy vey. Head cold. Congestion. Kleenex. No bueno. No fun.

...and with that, this past week is the last week of the first 6-weeks of school.  This translates into progress reports going out next week...therefore grades are due. And I'm SO behind on grading...

Within the past couple of weeks, I've felt my teaching job turn into a "to-do list" rather than a "shape the future, impact kids" sort of job.

So while I tried so hard this week to remind myself that it's ok to take care of you...you need rest...just make it through the week... A student I had last year visited me and asked me to wear his football jersey for Teacher Appreciation Day. I really wasn't expecting anyone to come ask me to wear there jersey, especially because I really didn't get a good chance to know the students last year (only having them for 2 months limits you, ya know?). How cool though, volleyball appreciation night AND Varsity Football Appreciation!

To know that I made an impact...in just one kid's life...it's worth it. For him to tell me that he enjoyed my class and appreciated me...it changed my perspective. THIS is what it's all about!

I need to make an active effort weekly and daily to remind myself that teaching is not a to-do list. When piles of paper get high (believe me, they are high this weekend!) and the emails keep coming...will I hold on to the thought that I just can't make it anymore with these things to do, or will I remind myself that I am blessed to teach? Blessed to make an impact on the 140 students I see on a daily basis?

What glass lens do you hold in front of you?

Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships.  -Charles Simic 

...perspective

...perspective

The grass is greener where you water it.

...perspective

...perspective

 

And now the ball really begins to roll...

Tomorrow I'll wake up early, get my car into rush hour traffic, and begin new teacher orientation.  It still doesn't feel quite like I'm a teacher. I wonder when that will set in...tomorrow? When my room is set up? Probably on the 1st day of school when I meet my 120-ish students.

I'm quite nervous. I've had a few breakdowns where my husband has had to look me in the eyes and say, "Everything is going to be ok. It's all going to work out." I know it will all be fine, but it's overwhelming to think of all the things that need to get done (especially for 1st year teachers starting from scratch!).  There is A LOT of multitasking when you are a teacher, lemme tell you!

I lose my daytime...so any more lesson planning will have to be done in the evenings. Eek.

But on the bright side, I plan to take 1 bag/box of stuff to my classroom a day...and maybe I'll get some spare time to swing to my room and begin to unpack and get things rockin.'

So bare with me as I transition into these weeks. If I sound unrealistic in what I'm trying to do,  tell me. If I'm cranky, knock some sense into me! You won't hurt my feelings. :)

Have you seen "Waiting for Superman"? Well, you should!

My husband and I rented the documentary "Waiting for Superman" last night. It's about the American public education system and how it is failing our nation's children.  It's about how our students our not meeting the science and math scores of other students in other countries.  

But beyond that, it's about how we as teachers can inspire students to succeed.

Even if you aren't a teacher, it's a great documentary to see! 

If you are a teacher, this is perfect to watch right before the school year begins! 

By the end of it, I was crying, and my husband was giving me the best pep talk I've had in preparation for this school year. I love having him right next to me to encourage me!

Last night I realized that all this time I'm putting in to prep for school is totally worth it. 

The little DIY projects I do to make my classroom more welcome is worth it.  

The effort of going beyond just a worksheet to engage my students is worth it.  

Spending time trying to make that 1st day of school run as smooth as possible is completely worth it.  

When something doesn't go right, and I spend half a day trying to fix a problem...it's worth it.

20 more days til the 1st day of school.  I may be chaotically organized at the moment, but I'm totally pumped to get this thing started!

Teacher friends that have read my blog---thank you so much for cheering me on. Your advice and encouragement has helped me to keep truckin' along!

You all just rock, period! Let's do this :)