I always feel this way this time of year...the kids start back to school on Tuesday, and despite my best efforts at preparing for their arrival, I never feel completely comfortable with how fast the teacher work week flies by. While I love teaching, I LOVE summer...I figure the incredible built in vacations somewhat levels the playing field caused by the perpetual budget cuts.
This year, my 8th grade students were BORN the year I was in 8th grade. How's that to make ya feel "seasoned"? They were also those 3- and 4-year-olds whose parents really grappled with what to share with them about the tragedies of 9/11, on 9/11/01, though many of them may have very sobering anecdotes about that day, as we are close to the Pentagon. It is always interesting to think about how growing up around here can be so different, due to the proximity to our nation's capital.
For five years now, in social situations, the typical getting-to-know you questions go like this:
"So, what do you do?"
"I'm a teacher."
"Oh, what do you teach?"
"8th grade Civics"
~pregnant pause~
"Oooh...shsss... [or however you spell the noise of someone sucking air in through their teeth] I'm sorry."
It never fails. It is totally predictable. All I can say is I enjoy the little hormonal monsters (granted, some days more than others)...they keep my job interesting. Truthfully, I think elementary teachers have a tougher job than I do. Unless they're my own kids, no thank you to tying shoes, wiping runny noses, and being informed of irrelevant family birthdays coming up...x25. Plus, my sarcasm would make small children cry. No, no...secondary is definitely for me...and frankly, the awkwardness of middle school is just incredibly awesome. Different strokes for different folks! Needless to say, I enjoy middle school MUCH more now than I did when I was a middle school student.
So, ready or not...here goes Year 5!
 |
| Brooks, scoring points with "Back to School" roses :) |
No comments:
Post a Comment