I sit quietly in my chair, breathing in and out in an attempt to calm myself after the argument. I focus on the rhythmic whooshing in my ears and veins and the trembling of my arm muscles. I realize I'm gripping the arms of the chair and move to relax my hands, breathing in while I stretch the fingers out. The fuzzy feeling in my head must be a post-adrenaline chemical reaction, the down after such an intense up. Drained, I stay where I am.
and yet, there was joy in the chaos:
-sixth grade English writers mastered problem/solution paragraphs - awesome
-Nic Stone, author and activist, entertained and enraptured our students - amazing
-walking field trip with the eighth grade, inspired by Leb Tav - delicious
-multiple meetings with thoughtful and dedicated staff - reassuring
-one day closer to the weekend - #thankful!
I've had a hard time getting into Spirit Week this week - not sure why (although I'm guessing Daylight Savings Time is a key factor!) Today was "The Future Looks Bright" day - and all week I have been uncertain what I might wear for this day - was I going neon? Was I going to go futuristic? Or, some sort of career?
I forgot (conveniently) Wacky Tacky day yesterday, to the chagrin of my admin colleagues who rocked the mismatched clothes. Pawing through my clothes closet this morning, I hemmed and hawed, not wanting to disappoint - but not feeling inspired.
And then...I got it. I greeted students this morning wearing my green graduation gown from George Mason University and that terrible hat (mortarboard?) that gives us all bad hair! I perfected my line..."I'm dressed as you... in the future - a graduate!" I love wearing my college graduation garb - and feel especially impressive when I add the Master's hood. So, I was feeling pretty good about my clothing choice until an adorable sixth grader earnestly asked, "Ms E. Smith, are you dressed as a leprechaun today? Isn't that Friday?"
I love middle schoolers!
Today was a little pokey - I'm not complaining. In middle school, a pokey day means that the climate was calm and relatively relaxed. I will admit, the dark morning accompanied by a light rain, ensured that we all were acting a little glum. But, I do believe that the time change - springing forward and losing an hour of sleep - was the main culprit. Students and staff alike were wiping the sleep out of their eyes as they arrived to school.
New day tomorrow - and we know that the energy of our middle schoolers will return to Spring Forward!
No one really ever wants to go to the lab to get bloodwork - and I'm the same. I have put off and put off reaching out to my doctor to schedule my annual tests...and now I'm down to my last pill, and I have no choice.
This morning found me barreling around the beltway to my doctors office, throwing on a mask, and dashing into Kaiser. While I was moving right along, I was making a list in my head of the things I would do while waiting to get called in to the phlebotomist.
As I entered the lab, I noted optimistically that there was no line. Checking in at the kiosk, I pulled a number - and immediately my number was called to go in to the lab. Amazing! I walked right in, took a seat, rolled up my sleeve, and I was back out and on the road again within 4 minutes.
Two lessons for me to remember...first, the blood draw is never as bad as I expected; the lab techs are really skilled at doing their job. Second, Sunday morning is the best time to go to the lab. I've noted this in my calendar for next year!
The hood-ied bodies swarmed to the corner of the field, antennae arms thrust into the air, cell phones waving like fans at a rock concert. The focus of this attention, a scuffle after lunch on Wednesday, resulted in no injuries, but I wanted both young people involved to understand how quickly a wrestle can turn into a physical altercation. Saturday School it was.
I opened the front door for the two seventh graders who were joining me this morning. Both sheepishly followed me into the building - subdued greetings and polite "holding of the doors", they were gracious in their guilt-ridden state.
As we walked through the darkened hallways, their heads swiveled and their affect changed. All of the sudden I was peppered with questions: are we the only ones here? Do you have all the keys? Can we take a secret tour? It was kind of cool to be in the building with no other students. And, finally, the comment "this is going to be fun!"
This is no Breakfast Club, though. We are going to be here for three long hours, fully supervised with no down time, and engaged in reflective activities, homework, and some community service. No fun to be had here.
But, it's a great opportunity for me to catch up on some blog posts!
Rainy, messy roads this afternoon, and getting my grown kids off at the airport for their trip to Portland, was a test of my driving patience. But, I finished my errands and eagerly turned towards home.
My hubby and I are dog-sitting for our son and his girlfriend this weekend - and it's been a while since there was anyone else in the house but us two. It was lovely to walk in and have this beautiful dog, Luna, greet me like I was the most exciting person in the world.
A few minutes playing "retrieve the kong" and she's outside to explore the backyard. The sound of a wet-dog-shake lets me know that she's back inside.
I forgot how affirming life with a pet is. Looking forward to the weekend.
Middle Schoolers! Need I say anymore?
The radio crackled to life first thing this morning, "An Admin is needed to meet bus 617. The bus will arrive at the front in three minutes."
My heart sank right into my shoes; how could there be a problem already?
But there was; and, the rest of the day went just like that.
Three more Mondays until Spring Break, but who's counting?
Sunday is the day that I do my regular weekly things...laundry, the week's meal prep, and often a trip to the library.
Today, instead of going to the smaller library nearby, I went to Central Library which is larger and has more books. It's a little further away, but the glass recycling center drew me that direction anyway. After appreciating the impressive central staircase and the busy teen and children's section, I wandered into the fiction section, selecting titles, covers, and descriptions that interested me. I could have stayed there, with that task, all afternoon.
After returning home and finishing some chores, I gave myself permission to sit out in the sunshine, pull a book at random from my bag, and hunker down to escape into another world. I reveled in the warmth beaming down and escaped into an idealized time long gone.
Nothing could ruin my relaxed mood, not even the ominous splat that landed disturbingly close to my arm or the splash that landed on the page I was reading.
They say being pooped on by a bird is good luck, right? I'm ready to start the week, then.
The Community Learning catalog arrived in the mailbox this afternoon, and I eagerly flipped through its thin newsprint pages to see if there was anything that seemed intriguing enough for a commitment.
In an effort to do more than work, eat, and sleep - I've promised my family to explore different ways to take care of myself. I think I need the accountability of a class and teacher, with expectations of attendance and engagement to help me do this, and the draw of learning something new helps.
I could take another language: the German that I took in high school came in handy when we lived in Deutschland for three years, but it hasn't been especially useful since then. I've always kicked myself that I didn't take Spanish when I first began teaching - surely after 30 years I'd be fluent by now, right?
Music perhaps? I'm intrigued by the Beginner Cello classes. I love the sound of the cello - soothing, rich, and hypnotizing. But, am I ready to purchase, or even rent, a cello? Maybe the chorus, I'd love to sing - I'm a great car singer (slipping easily between melody and harmony) although no one ever hears me. Hmm, auditions required, I'm not ready to sing by myself.
There are writing options...learn how to blog, write your novel, explore poetry...but I'm committed to my writing here. There are fixing options...cabinetry, furniture repair, plumbing, organizing your email, starting a new business. There are art options, and I focus in on the "Bob Ross Painting Workshop," taught by a Bob Ross Certified Instructor! I've always envisioned myself drawing and painting mountains and trees, eagles soaring over it all. Alas that class happens during the school day. I'll bookmark it for some time in the future.
Perhaps this is my best option: "Sensory Tea Tasting and Meditative Study Workshop." This sounds like the perfect class to help me slow down and focus on what's important.
It's nice to have so many choices!
Continuing the theme of optimism -
This evening I met with my writing group - a group of passionate English teachers who write to understand, explore, reflect, and communicate in the same way that we ask our students to, and it was brilliant. As the evening ends, I'm feeling cared for, motivated, and reinvigorated for the work we do as educators.
We started writing regularly for and with each other almost 15 years ago - and the month of March, with its Slice of Life Challenge, has become an annual touchpoint for our lives. Looking back over our posts we celebrate teaching successes and failures, major and minor life events, and the joy of collaborating with thoughtful, honest friends and colleagues.
Here's to another month of slicing, sharing, and supporting each other.
Thank you, Friends.
Whew - it's March already? I really cannot believe it - and I'm delighted...the school year seems to be whizzing by, except for every single really slow day, week, and month.
Today I took a jaunt down to one of my favorite local colleges to recruit new teachers - and it was a wonderful, uplifting experience.
Young person after young person met with me to share their passion for their content area, or for working with a certain age student, or the power of equity and inclusivity to make a difference in a life. The future middle school teachers, especially, were joyful when speaking of their experience student teaching in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade! Each gave a bashful grin, almost surprised by their enthusiasm for our oft maligned middle children.
On the long ride home I found myself in The Zone - you know that good feeling when you find an open road lined on either side by blue-tinged mountains, your favorite song on the radio, and the freedom to sing just as loud as you want...
And the song was..."Don't Stop Believin'" by the group I saw live last night...Journey. This day, with this wrap up, gave me the optimistic boost that I have been needing to keep going!
