More From My Teacher's Diary

The week after spring break proved to be something of an anomaly for me...New Kid was out for three days in a row!

On the first day both Highlights and he were gone. What a difference those two make!!! During math time I had all my kids on task, working quietly in pairs, spread out around the room, with soothing, classical music playing in the background. It was so picture perfect I had to run across the hallway and get one of my coworkers. She took one look around the room and nodded her head in approval.

When I filled her in on who was absent, her own eyes lit up with understanding...her naughty boy, who has behaviors and academic problems similar to New Kid, had just gone home sick.

We smiled, high-fived, and went on to enjoy a calm and productive afternoon with our kids.

Even though I did enjoy my time without New Kid immensely, it did make me a little depressed. As I wrote in my teacher's diary, "(It's) sad that they make such a negative difference. I gave the class an extra 15 minute recess and they were so happy." I can't normally do that sort of thing when New Kid is around and most of my class does deserve fun, little surprise like that.

Oh well, only nine weeks left...let the countdown begin!

Crabby, Crabby Teacher

Yup, this week I've been a crabby, crabby teacher. I'm chocking it up to a combination of stress, random parent meetings, rowdy kids, PMS, an old cat who wants to play at five in the morning, loads of papers to correct, more stress, starting to feel slightly under the weather, stupid (before school!) staff meetings, etc...the normal sort of teacher crap. And even though I knew I had been snapping at the kids a little more than usual, I thought I had been pretty good about hiding my bad mood from my third graders.

I guess I was wrong. :)

My co-worker came in right after school and asked if there was a specific reason why two of my boys left the room singing, "Highway to Hell."

I guess I'm not the only one feeling the stress. :)

Spring Break

For the past nine days I've completely enjoyed not being a teacher. I've thoroughly devoted myself to sleeping in, going to the movies, reading for pleasure, going to happy hours, writing letters, watching mindless tv, napping with the cat, hanging out with friends and family, and getting things done around the house. Not teaching even makes things like doctor visits, trips to Costco, and vet check-ups not so bad.

Now, at 8 o'clock on Sunday night, I'm pulling out my "bag of good intentions" to make sure I at least have a rough idea of what I'm teaching tomorrow.

Sigh.

At least I only have ten more weeks until summer vacation...unless I decide to teach summer school, that is.

Oy vay.