Skip to main content

Back to School [2015]


Source: http://www.kindredmedia.org/2013/07/the-yearly-back-to-school-push-to-vaccinate/

It is no surprise that everyone has a hard time going back to work after a long vacation, and teachers are no different. Vacation means we get to spend uninterrupted quality time with our families and friends doing what we like to do.

In addition to enjoying a lot of unstructured time during the summer, I often participate in professional online book clubs and other self-selected professional learning activities. I know many teachers who do the same. (See this post for a glimpse of what I did this summer.)

Nevertheless, I often find myself having mixed feelings when summer break is finally over. Although I love summer because I'm on my own time and I can do with it as I wish, I love going back to school because I get to start fresh every year. I can reinvent myself and support my students as they reinvent themselves, too.


Source: https://www.pinterest.com/donornation/teacher-quotes-motivational-inspirational-quotes/

So, what follows are five affirmations, of sorts, about why I look forward to going back to school.

(1) I look forward to going back to work because even though I haven't checked off everything on my mental summer to do list, I feel satisfied about what I did do and how it has made me better prepared for the new school year and a new group of students.

(2) I look forward to going back to work because right around this time, I begin to get a little bit bored. I love lazy summer days, but I also love teaching. I miss being in the classroom. Call me a nerd, but it's true!

(3) I look forward to going back to work because I miss the excitement of connecting with students and colleagues. I miss the aha moments in the classroom. I miss the learning.

(4) I look forward to going back to work because I get up early while everyone is still sleeping. I use the extra time to read, write or mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. It's a good way to ease into the day.

(5) I look forward to going back to work because I have learned to enjoy and appreciate summers off with my family. The break allows me to go back to school refreshed. I am particularly grateful for every moment of every day this summer. I have no regrets.

So, here's the truth, guilt free and unapologetic: I wish I could have another week of vacation, or even just a day, and I'm glad to be heading off to school tomorrow.

This week I have the privilege of starting a year-long collaborate relationship with two awesome colleagues. Next week I get to meet my new class and immerse myself in learning. I can't wait!

What are your affirmations for the new school year?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Partner Reading and Content, Too Routine (PRC2)

I'm a hoarder. There, I've said it. I try to deny that I'm a hoarder but it comes back to haunt me every time I move houses, or pack up my classroom at the end of the school year. I have old articles, lesson plans, handouts, folders brimming with teaching ideas, past issues of profesional journals. I hardly throw anything out though I've learned to be more selective over the years. My one rule of thumb, and I really try to stick to this, is that if I haven't used or referred to something in a year, then it's time to toss it into the recycle bin. One exception to this rule (you knew this was coming, didn't you?) is past issues of journals from professional organizations. However, with the ability to locate articles online through my professional memberships, even this exception is becoming less and less useful, which brings me to the topic of this blog post. I am currently reading a copy of The Reading Teacher from 2010. I've clipped a cou...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reading Strategies Book - Chapter 12, Supporting Students’ Conversations – Speaking, Listening, and Deepening Comprehension

The strategy lessons highlighted in Chapter 12, Supporting Students’ Conversations – Speaking, Listening, and Deepening Comprehension, in The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo are critical to students’ engagement and comprehension, as well as their ability to write literary essays, or even book reviews, summaries and reflective pieces about books. If students aren’t able to talk about books in a way that is invigorating and joyful, they will be less likely to develop an interest in growing ideas for writing about books. In her introduction to this chapter, Jennifer Serravallo, reminds us that when conversations go well, children are inspired by what they read and are motivated to keep reading. However, when conversations fall flat, then kids get bored and tune out. How do we avoid this situation and teach kids to  have  focused conversations about books?  The answer is easy: teach kids  strategies to help them develop effective conversa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Are we listening?

A child sits alone with a ripped worksheet packet on his desk. He appears to be singing or subvocalizing something though no one hears him. Or, perhaps they're ignoring him. The teacher stands at the front of the room teaching on the SmartBoard. The children follow along in their worksheets. Except the child sitting alone. He is in his own world. No one engages him and he engages no one. My heart aches for this child. He is physically and emotionally removed from the class. I ask him why his paper is ripped. (It's not an accidental rip.) He says he did that on a different day. When he had been frustrated about the work. He tells me that he sometimes sits by himself because the work is too hard for him. He later tells me that he sits by himself because the teacher thinks he talks too much during the lesson.  He says he does that because he wants to find out about the "lives of the other children". My first impulse is to rescue him from the wrongheade...
10 comments
Read more