Near the end of last year I was finally starting to be okay going home at night and only doing a little work, or sometimes, not working at all. As a teacher, long hours are to be expected. And there were plenty of nights that required a few hours of work at home. But it was nice to take the occasional "night off." Same goes for the weekend. I could easily pack those 48 hours with reading and planning and prepping materials and gathering resources... easily. But I am finally learning to limit those times.
This year my goal has been to "do work at work." Meaning, minimal to no work at home. With the exception of weekends, of course. So far this year it's been working well enough. Granted, we are just getting into the all the material and true fourth-grade action.
As much I would love to say all this evening time has meant pursuits of new hobbies or that I have finally mastered something in the kitchen, instead the true motivation for the "work at work" is that I have started a grad program. So after I "work at work," I get to "grad school at home." And my weekends? They have been evenly divided; Saturday is for cleaning, laundry, and grade 4 stuff. Sunday is for grad school and grocery shopping.
So as long as I don't have anything else to do on my weekend, or really busy evenings, or really crazy times at work, this schedule will be perfect! .... hehe
The year really is off to a good start, though. I have 23 students - 14 boys and 9 girls. I haven't had such a boy-heavy, crazy energetic, always chatting bunch since my first year in Morocco. I have consistently been in bed and asleep before 10:15 each night, and believe me, that is as long as I can possibly hold my eyes open. This group is exhausting me in that positive teacher way. A few things about them:
They have big opinions and they are not afraid to share them.
They love to play games and question every rule while also accusing each other of cheating.
They love scary stories and suspenseful mysteries.
They love to dance. The crazier the tune and moves the better.
They are hot messes. Whoa man!
They are sensitive and young and can be sweet.
I am certainly beginning to love these kiddos. There are certainly a few with specific needs that will stretch me, frustrate me, confuse me, and challenge challenge challenge me. But that's also how I will grow. Regardless of how crazy, or frustrating, or silly they may be they are my students, my kiddos, my "friends" as I refer to them in class. And I am excited for all of us to find some balance in the year ahead.
This year my goal has been to "do work at work." Meaning, minimal to no work at home. With the exception of weekends, of course. So far this year it's been working well enough. Granted, we are just getting into the all the material and true fourth-grade action.
As much I would love to say all this evening time has meant pursuits of new hobbies or that I have finally mastered something in the kitchen, instead the true motivation for the "work at work" is that I have started a grad program. So after I "work at work," I get to "grad school at home." And my weekends? They have been evenly divided; Saturday is for cleaning, laundry, and grade 4 stuff. Sunday is for grad school and grocery shopping.
So as long as I don't have anything else to do on my weekend, or really busy evenings, or really crazy times at work, this schedule will be perfect! .... hehe
The year really is off to a good start, though. I have 23 students - 14 boys and 9 girls. I haven't had such a boy-heavy, crazy energetic, always chatting bunch since my first year in Morocco. I have consistently been in bed and asleep before 10:15 each night, and believe me, that is as long as I can possibly hold my eyes open. This group is exhausting me in that positive teacher way. A few things about them:
They have big opinions and they are not afraid to share them.
They love to play games and question every rule while also accusing each other of cheating.
They love scary stories and suspenseful mysteries.
They love to dance. The crazier the tune and moves the better.
They are hot messes. Whoa man!
They are sensitive and young and can be sweet.
I am certainly beginning to love these kiddos. There are certainly a few with specific needs that will stretch me, frustrate me, confuse me, and challenge challenge challenge me. But that's also how I will grow. Regardless of how crazy, or frustrating, or silly they may be they are my students, my kiddos, my "friends" as I refer to them in class. And I am excited for all of us to find some balance in the year ahead.
