But now, I'm feeling just like this Mary Engelbreit poster:
It's summertime! Vacation time! So why can't I just hurry up and relax, already?!?!?
It could be because I have to take some classes online this summer. Yes, I know, you'd think I'd be DONE with school after getting my Master's last year, but I have to fulfill a California requirement for working with "English Language Learners." I have to take 2 courses by October 1st, and then another 2 courses within a year from that. So I am officially a "Phoenix" now as I am signed up through University of Phoenix to take the online classes. Oh joy!
And I only have 35 (weekdays) left of summer before I have to go back to school. UGH! (I'm not counting weekends, just actual "vacation days" that I don't have to spend in the classroom). NOT that I WON'T be spending lots of time in the classroom this summer --- especially since I am moving from teaching a 2nd/3rd grade Multiage class to teaching 5th grade again in the fall. That means I'll have to spend time rearranging my classroom to fit in more desks (at least 10 more students) PLUS spending time planning how I am going to teach the curriculum, some of which is new from when I taught it over 4 years ago. I know people think teachers are so lucky that they "get to have the whole summer off" but the truth is, most teachers spend a lot of their summer preparing for the following year. In fact, the week after school let out, I spent that Monday through Friday in class from 8 AM to 2 PM learning about Responsive Classroom, a type of classroom management. (Teachers never stop learning!) : )
But back to "only 35 days" of vacation . . . I want to be sure I have lots of fun and relaxation this summer. Since I have these on-line classes, it looks like we won't be going anywhere for an official "vacation" this year. (I had been thinking England would be nice . . . oh well.) I'm looking forward to adding to my calendar the days I'll go to the beach, meet friends for lunch, scrapbook, etc. etc. But I do feel like I have almost turned that into a 'job' --- looking much like the woman in the poster, looking at her watch and hoping to relax! So, here's to 'being in the moment' and enjoying my time off!
Hope you're enjoying your summer too!
