Oh hi... This is the time of year where I disappear for a little while. Summer was short, and after I got back from vacation in August it was pretty much go time for back to school. I was so crazed in August that, and I am so embarrassed and saddened to admit this, I missed the submission deadline for World Childless Week. I will participate in the goodies, September 15-21, but I am so bummed that I forgot to get a piece in.
But now, my classroom is all set up (minus the things we co-create as a class), the first week is under my belt, Open House has come and gone, and this is the first FULL week. (Oh man, Open House -- where now I know some of the parents because I knew them when they had their kids...which is weird on SO many levels. Strange to think I could have had a middle schooler had things gone differently.)
I am enjoying my new schedule of 7th grade in the morning and 8th grade in the afternoon. I am getting to know my new kids and they are certainly realizing that I am a wackadoodle. Case in point, today in co-taught social studies a student was writing her own definition of "state of nature," and wanted to add more than "people do whatever they want." I asked her what it feels like to be in a state of nature, and she said "chaos" which is awesome, and I said "oh yeah, it's downright bananapants." She wrote that in her packet and insisted on sharing with the whole class, so I had to explain "bananapants" to everyone. "You know, bonkers, wackadoodle, kookoobananas..." Tee hee.
I have some challenging kiddos, but I am enjoying getting to know them and figuring out ways to connect and push (but warmly) and make the growth happen.
Before school starts, I panic. Every. Single. Year. Do I know what I'm doing? What if I forgot? How will I ever possibly get everything done? And then this week gets going and I remember -- I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. AND I LOOOOOOOVE IT. Everything eventually gets done.
I set up some systems since my schedule is a bit...bananapants:
1st period I teach 12:1+1 (self-contained) Social Studies 7.
3rd period I teach 12:1+1 English 7.
5th period I teach Integrated Co-Taught Social Studies 8 on the Red team.
7th period I teach Integrated Co-Taught Social Studies 8 on the Blue team.
9th period I teach Resource Room 8 with my caseload of kids, which is half the 8th grade 12:1+1.
The day goes by SUPER fast. I have to be super disciplined to get things done in those even periods, and figure out how to manage co-planning, coordinating with other case managers, coordinating with a zillion service providers, setting up systems to manage goals and progress monitoring, team meetings, meetings with mental health staff... No wonder I'm tired.
I am eternally grateful that I can come home to a quiet house and take a nap on the couch if I need to. I am super grateful that Bryce tends to pitch in the first month and do most dinner/dishes during the week. I don't have to take young humans to sports or lessons or help with homework. When I leave, the evening is mine.
Well, once I get the September exhaustion under control. But I have space to be an exhausted puddle on the floor or couch. Eventually I will either conquer the exhaustion or learn to live with it. :)
Cheers to a new school year!