Time for school

Unfortunately my summer of George(Seinfeld reference) is over. Bummer. I played a lot, traveled, hiked, gardened, learned a new sport, and relaxed. I would have to say my batteries are officially recharged. Yea I wish I could play everyday, but I don't think that is what life is all about. I may get preachy with this post, I can feel it coming. Some teachers work in the summer, which I think can be good at least financially, some teach though. Which I am not sure is a wise thing to do. Burnout is a very real thing and even really good teachers can become victims of this deadly disease. Teaching all summer long can add to burnout. Like I mentioned I understand the need to get more cash, but I think it would be better to do work other than teaching. Okay this post is going in places I didn't consider. There was a teacher I worked with who taught night school as a second job. In other words she did her class and then grabbed dinner and did night school. Needless to say she was unhappy. She didn't like her job.

This is the first summer I have really taken off. At Benchmark we worked in the summer. At Matheson I did History Academy twice (5 weeks), ESL(whole summer), and other trainings. Last year I painted lines. There was really nothing for me this year because I switched districts. Next year I will be back to doing trainings. In actuality I played a little too much. Mentally I am not quite ready to go. Physically and emotionally I am fine, but I had a hard time planning last week and normally that isn't a problem. So let's get to this year.

West Point is a beautiful school. It was built six years ago and won the best school design, not in the nation but in the world. Matheson was a great facility but it pales in comparison to West Point. Matheson had a goofy desin in that the front doors lead to the commons area, not the office. You have to travel up the hall a ways to get there, that is if you can figure out which way to go.

Today was the first day of school. In a way it was kinda funny to me how things went. Let me explain. Last week it was meeting after meeting. I didn't think it would end. I got my room ready, had my disclosures ready, was ready to go. That is except mentally. I was missing something but I just couldn't figure out what it was. I woke up early, stopped at Glen Eagle golf course to hit some balls. (This decision was a bad one, I got kinda sweaty and the shirt I wore really showed it--next time I am taking a change of clothes). Still something was missing. Then when the bell rang and kids came walking in, I realized that is what was missing. As soon as they came in I roared into action. I asked names, guessed names, and did my spiel.

I have 180 students or so. I memorized each kid's first and last name before the end of each period save 7th, they got out of school early for an activity. The students were impressed that I could do it. I think it is important to show that I really am interested in each student. When I saw them in the halls and at lunch I pointed and called them by name. It was fun. The little investments like that pay off big time. In the moments when kids forget who they are you can call them on it and they know that you aren't doint it to be a jerk, just to remind them who they are. We'll see tomorrow how well I remember. I do enjoy teaching. It's kinda funny that I couldn't put a finger on what I wasn't ready for and it was the students. DUH! I will say the 15 names I used to have to remember is much easier than the 180 now.