Teaching with kids, living on coffee

      As I sit here typing this I have just inhaled a cheese stick (first thing I have eaten today) and I am waiting on the PBJ that my little one has asked for repeatedly while her nails are drying.  Since its Winter Break, things should be relaxed right?! Wrong, I feel more pressured then ever to get everything done and organized before I go back to work.  There are presents to wrap and send out, plus I have to finish wrapping the presents for under our tree.  And all of the other things that are waiting daily to be taken care of ... WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF BEING A TEACHER MOM.     So my body has started to quietly tell me that I need to balance.  Balance is hard for everyone right? I mean there wouldnt be so many people screaming about balance if it were easy right?! I have kind of ignored all that screaming and relaxed every once in a while, except now my body is no longer quietly demanding it is SCREAMING from the tops of the mountains o...

 There are few things that truly drag out time, any sort of painful experience such as labor halts the actual slow passes of time as the minutes, hours, and breaths before teachers and students go on a break.  I am convinced that it is an actual level of Hell, and teachers are doing penance for some grievance in a past life.  I am showing movies this week while allowing my students to work on a short story assignment and even with the laid back attitude in class, I am struggling to hold my temper and counting down til break.  I honestly enjoy these kids and what I teach but maybe its that we all want to get out of here just as badly as the other does but ugh! We are all on edge.  I ordered Christmas presents for my nieces and nephews to arrive before Christmas but the rest of my family will need to wait because I honestly dont know when I will be able to get to the Post Office, and I still need the time to make several of the gifts to send to my family. ...

       As I am typing this dealing with a loooooonngggg week  in December, I am still happy and like where I am. Teaching 7th grade English at a charter school that focuses on Classical education approach, I am happy and enjoy my students even when dealing with the frustrations typical of teaching.  This year has still been hard thanks in part to Covid and also there has been restructuring with administration and teachers.  That part of it has been the most stressful and yet I find myself considering things I would do with certain changes,  any one who know me knows I am a planner.  The best part is I have shared some of my ideas and others think my ideas are a good as well.  This is once again inspiring my to plan and get ideas ... I am now thinking of trying to help work on curriculum  for the school.  Going around to the teachers and sort of set up a curriculum guide slash pacing plan.  Also look for other solutions to ...