...if it makes you feel any better, parents, we teachers are saying the same thing in June!
"School days, school days, good ol' fashioned rule days...reading and writing and 'rithmatic..." If I don't stop now I'm gonna be sick!
Ha ha...no really. I do enjoy my job as a school teacher, but like anyone at the end of their vacation, I dread going back.
I know that there are non-teachers who don't understand how I feel. Many often express that teachers are spoiled with having 10 weeks off. I'm not going to address that debate, because it's a never ending battle. One that after getting totally perturbed, I end with "Well, then I guess you should have become a teacher." 'Nuff said. All I know is that for the next 10 months, I will have assignments and essays forever hanging over my head, knowing that "I need to get at those soon". I'm not complaining, but I don't think people realize that some teachers spend all weekend, seriously, Friday through Sunday, grading work.
I became the best teacher after I had gave birth to my son, and realized that the 130 some students I teach daily are their mom & dad's pride and joy. For years, when I was single, I'd have parents ask me during conferences, "What do you think I should do?" My gosh, I was a 23 year old, living with my parents and raising a black lab. Although shock collars generally work on the latter, I doubt it would encourage sophomores to do their homework! Not until I became a parent did I truly understand the impact I have on those kids.
Now, I begin the year looking at each of those students, and picture them as my own child. What would I want for that child? Am I really challenging them or am I letting them just go through the motions? I know I can't keep up that kind of energy all year, but I'm reminded of that more often than when I was a newbie teacher.
So here it is, my last night of freedom, but it is the start of my 21st year educating young minds and a brand new beginning with
energetic young minds and
friendly faces...(at least till I announce when the first test is)
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