Monday was a terrible shock to the system-I went home and started checking out retirement options. I thought this job is too much WORK! What sane person chooses in the last couple of years of teaching after four years as a consultant to take on a grade six seven split in a new school? One new student and 27 others not quite ready to settle down to work greeted me. By the afternoon I had a headache and a desire for a nap. The final straw was when I found gum on the rug (that had been cleaned over the holidays). Thank goodness I had to go home at 3:15 to deal with my furnace.
Eventually I calmed myself down and realized that it would be difficult to retire before June. Then I started thinking about grade seven Social Studies and reassured myself that I really do like building units and after several hours of marking, started researching life in Mesopotamia...
Tuesday was a much better day. The fact that two of my colleagues took me out for lunch (the first time in four months I have gone out) probably helped, and the kids and I were all readjusting more positively to life back in the classroom. Today, the troops have really settled, it was a half day (though I was there until after three and that included a basketball practice) and life is kind of sweet. I think I can make it until June at least and I found myself talking today about next year. And I just e-mailed a former student, now a teacher, that she can come observe
I think it is so important to feel a sense of community in a school. Imagine if I feel overwhelmed after all my years of teaching! My heart really goes out to young teachers. I again feel lucky to have people who listen and laugh and understand and hope I remember to do that for others when they need it. Happy New Year!
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