Sisyphus

Overwhelmed.

I thrive on organization, structure, and routine. I used to be ashamed to say that, but I'm finally comfortable with that part of who I am. Right now, I don't have any of those things in place. For the past two weeks, I have felt like the Greek figure, Sisyphus, the guy whose eternal punishment was to roll a ginormous boulder up a hill over and over and over. It's been a rough two weeks, not just for me, but for the fam, too. Longer days, new routines, less time together. I just have to keep reminding myself that this feeling is temporary. Soon enough, I will uncover my classroom groove, and my family will adjust to our new routine. Deep breaths. Lots of patience. It will pass. Soon enough, my whole head will be above water instead of just my eyes and one nostril. Soon enough.

Here it is again: My Ideal Reality (getting a teaching job) suddenly became my Real Reality. Like many things in life, real reality rarely matches up with our ideal reality. That's ok. It keeps life interesting. I'm still enjoying being back in the classroom and teaching in a school where I think I can make a real difference.

Onward and upward!

Whatever you are up to these days (and I would LOVE to know. Hint: Comment, please!), keep it real.

Real Reality Thursday

I'm about to wrap up my first week of teaching. I am soooooooooo tired! Apparently, I have been living the life of luxury for the past year (sure didn't feel like it) because this week has kicked my hiney. But it's been good. My students are cute and fun and smart. I'm really looking forward to spending the year with them.

The school is slowly coming together. The lockers and student desks arrived today. Those items will eliminate two major headaches for teachers. I'm loving how things pop up every day. It's like Christmas. Yesterday it was our clocks; any day we'll get our phones. The lounge has a fridge, coffee pot (with all the accoutrements supplied!), and a copier. All a teacher really needs.

My biggest challenge to date - and it's not just my challenge  - is our eighth grade class. It's the first year that the school has an eighth grade (7th, too, for that matter). The grade consists of seven students: 6 Hispanic students (one male; five females) and one African-American (female) student. It's a long story, but the dynamics are not ideal. The road is paved for an uphill battle in so many ways. We're committed to making it work, though. It's a great group of kiddos, and I really want to see them succeed at this school.

I'm really looking forward to the weekend! I'm already thinking about what beer or other alkie bev I'm going to drink.

Hope you had a great Thursday. Whatever you did, I hope you kept it real.

Real Reality Thursday

Wow! It's already Thursday! I almost forgot to post!

Today's Real Reality Thursday consisted of Emergency Response Training at the school level. Interesting stuff and information that I hope never factors into my real reality, I hung out wth some Comm Arts colleagues and brainstormed ideas of how to make our subject a little more cohesive from grade to grade. The new middle school (one floor of an old office building) is still under construction. They are getting close, and I am really really really hoping the school gets its occupancy permit tomorrow so I can start setting up my room. Keep your fingers crossed. School starts Monday, and I'm getting a little nervous! All the rooms have SMART Boards in them. I am SO excited. Learning my way around this technology has been on my To Do list for a few years now. Trial by fire, baby. Tomorrow night is Meet and Greet. I get to meet my students!

What have you been up to today? Whatever is was, I hope you kept it real!

Real Reality Thursday

Happy Thursday, folks! I am writing this before I scoot out the door for Day 4 of my new teaching adventure. So far, things are going well. We are using this week to do some long-term planning. It's an opportunity I haven't had before in previous teaching jobs, and I am enjoying it. I love that we have time to pull together a big picture. Gives me peace of mind. I've met lots of creative, dedicated, and enthusiastic teachers this week. At this point, it's all good. Next week is some professional development, and the kiddos show up on August 15. That's when the true adventure begins. Deep Breath.

One of the many things I'm looking forward to with this job is the reinstatement of the concept of the weekend. When I'm not working, one day seems to blend into the next. Kind of like that movie Groundhog Day. Know what I mean? Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays arejust more days. Starting this week, weekends will begin to hold some meaning and importance for me again. A strange thing to be excited about, huh?

What do you have on tap for today? Whatever it is, remember to keep it real!