As I hear about my former coworkers and friends finishing up the school year, I have a hint of jealousy. I work at a charter school with more hours and days. I don't finish until June 22nd. The kids, however mentally finished last Friday. Now, I'm going through each day trying to assess, trying to get my students to focus, and not feel like an underpaid babysitter of 16 children (1 who is 7, 13 who are 6, and 2 who are 5).
It is as hot as it can be and my school is campus based, new, and without shade. Recess duty has been torture. It's hot without any escape. The kids are worse. Their play equipment is getting too hot to use. They too don't have any escape from the heat or sun. What should we do, play outside or do the dreaded indoor recess because of heat, which would be a first. One of my students burned himself on the playground. I asked the parent to email the board of directors asking for a canopy for the play equipment. Hopefully we'll get something soon, before we melt.
I'm anxiously waiting for the last day. I've been slowly finishing my online application for a teaching position in Pennsylvania. I'm so nervous about it because I hear it's hard out there to switch to a new district. I have to think positive. I know I can get hired, but what if I don't. I can't go back to my current job. I need to think ahead. I'm getting married in a year and we can't live and work in different states. I also don't want to stay in Delaware, aka the allergy capital of the USA.
The last days are in sight. I know I have to pack up my classroom, my least favorite thing to do. I have so many things in my room that it's unreal. I guess that is what happens when you have to buy everything you need. I will get some things out this weekend and slowly start boxing books and items that I own.
I'm hoping tomorrow that I can post a memory or story again, but this is what I'm focused on now.
I will close with a real kid quote.
Student: Miss Arvay, I know you are getting married, but do you know his name because I don't?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You're almost there. I am able to connect to your post. I feel like once I accomplish one thing, 100 others are added to my to-do-list! Good luck with finding a job and I hope the end of the year stress comes to an end and you are able to relax some this summer. I absolutely love the quote at the end! Kids can always make you smile when you least expect it!
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteI am sweating just reading about your recess and your poor students simmering on the playground equipment.It's been pretty hot here in Virginia too, but nothing compared to when I taught in Texas. There we had the heat, scorpions and tarantulas to deal with at recess. I can also feel your emotions through your writing and your voice really comes through expressing your sense of being overwhelmed with all the plates you have spinning at one time. I can also feel your anxiety over having so many unknowns. I look forward to reading more about how those loose ends tie up for you as you seem to be building to a climax here in the month of June and are due for some resolution soon.
Good luck with everything!
Kathleen
Donna,
ReplyDeleteMy last day is June 21st and I work at a public school. But I can so relate with the kids mentally checking out. The other day one of my students comes up to me and says, "Mrs. Siegel, Annalicia just slapped me." So I said did you do this to her? And when she said yes I said why? She said, "because I felt like it." I'd like to say my kids know better than that, and the only excuse is it being the end of the year. They just don't care!
I also relate to being a "babysitter." One of my coworkers put it that way to me the other day, and I had never thought of that on my own. That's what we are at this point! I am on a second floor of a large building with no air conditioner and smelly 5th graders. By 9:30 a.m. my room is AWFUL, SMELLY, hot, and just, well, every other bad word you can imagine.
I love your student quote! Donna, your situation reminds me A LOT of me.
I have a lot of respect for you living in different states than your fiance. How far is he from you? I had a pretty amazing job in Maryland in an amazing district, and I left it to be with *at the time* my boyfriend in Connecticut, who got a job at ESPN. I LEFT a job and had NO job here. I was a learning tutor for awhile until I got a long term sub job for 5 months. Then the same district hired me for first grade, laid me off mid year, and hired me back this year for 5th grade. I am still looking for jobs because a.) it's about 45 minutes from my house and b.) it sounds like your district! I reorganized my garage to make more room because it's most likely I will get laid off again now, too. Even if I don't get laid off, I want to at this point. I would do anything but work there. I have bought all of my things, as well.
You will be happy when you're with your fiance though. My best friend is going to be a school counselor (she just graduated) and is interviewing in PA this week for it. I know that's not what you do, but maybe I can give you her info if you need any help in applying in PA. Good luck!