Three Words

In August there are three words that I really dislike. Do they really have to remind me that summer is coming to an end? Vacation over? Nope. All of those sales, pushing pens, pencils, notebooks, new clothes, backpacks, calculators, etc. signal that the end is coming.

The good thing is that by August I’m pretty well recovered from the last school year and am ready to go back. It may sound strange, but I don’t feel like a normal human until about the 4th of July. It’s hard to explain, but it takes me awhile to “come down” from the school year. I don’t really feel like I have the energy to be productive until I’ve had about 3-4 weeks off. My massage therapist can tell when I’ve been away from school because the knots in my shoulders (Ernie and Bert) have significantly released and are almost manageable.

There’s something that happens when I flip the calendar to August. I don’t think I’m consciously doing it. But I’m starting to mentally gear up for school. I try to push it off as long as possible. I’m lucky in the fact that I work in a district that still has the students start the day after Labor Day. I just got back from Colorado and they are starting this week and next. Yikes!

This year will be an interesting year. It’s our first year being a title 1 school. My class sizes look pretty nice so far. I’ll be able to focus more on individuals and what they need. I’m also taking part in a technology initiative where I get a MacBook and training. I’m quite excited about it. I need to spruce up my teaching. It’s definitely easier with several years of experience, but we all need to change it up as we go.

So as the summer comes to an end and we go back to school, it is a good thing. I need a schedule and need to get back to being creative and trying to witness those light bulb moments. I do miss the kids. That’s what it’s all about. But I certainly need the big chunk of vacation to gear up to do it all again!