Sometimes things at work go really well. Sometimes things at work go really poorly. I've found a comfortable roller-coaster (like the oxymoron??) of emotions in my job. Being a first year teacher is quite the challenge.
So one of these days when work hadn't been going well I thought of one of my teacher friends. His advice to me was that when things were spinning down the drain in class, just repeat this one phrase over and over and over, "3:00 will come." I struggled through each period. 3:00 will come. 3:00 will come. 3:00 will come. In actuality, I only had to make it to 1:15 when lunch started. After lunch I would stake my claim as a survivor of the day. Guess what, I made it! The bell rang for lunch and I sank into my chair for a few minutes before heading to lunch. Here we go Leanne, you've made it!
Lunchtime is always nice and I savor the adult conversation. I'm uncertain my co-workers realize the oasis they are on a teaching day in the desert. Well this day I didn't quite make it to the oasis in time. As I cruised through the line with my tray I heard the voice of my principal, "Leanne, when you set do your tray can you come talk to me?" Oh great. How did he sense my awful day. Did he figure it out when he stopped by my room earlier? My mind was racing. What could James need to tell me or ask me. The majority of time, things like this don't make me nervous. That's probably because the majority of the time when this happens a bad teaching day isn't lingering. Think Leanne. Think. What was he going to tell me.
After setting down my lunch I strolled over to where James was camped. Here goes nothing. The following coversation ensued.
"Leanne, do you know how the 10th grade takes a trip to the Amazon every year?'
"Yeah, I've heard a bit about it through the grapevine. The kids seem pretty excited."
"Well, we are looking for a female chaperone and I'm wondering if you would like to go. The school pays for everything."
My eyebrows shot up, my eyes got real big, and I did what any logical person would do: Say yes to your boss, "Yeah, sure! I'd love to go."
The remaining conversation was just small talk and I don't remember much.I was consumed with thoughts of the amazon.
Consumed: Rainforest. Rivers. Swimming. Pink dolphins. Manatees. Peru. Brazil. Amazon river. Hiking. Yellow fever. Culture. Indigenous villages. Mosquitoes. Galoshes. Canoeing. Crocodiles. Hammocks. Dancing. Huts. Fishing. Cooking over fires. Bonding with students. Speaking Spanish. Adventure.
...I think I'll have a little fun...
So one of these days when work hadn't been going well I thought of one of my teacher friends. His advice to me was that when things were spinning down the drain in class, just repeat this one phrase over and over and over, "3:00 will come." I struggled through each period. 3:00 will come. 3:00 will come. 3:00 will come. In actuality, I only had to make it to 1:15 when lunch started. After lunch I would stake my claim as a survivor of the day. Guess what, I made it! The bell rang for lunch and I sank into my chair for a few minutes before heading to lunch. Here we go Leanne, you've made it!
Lunchtime is always nice and I savor the adult conversation. I'm uncertain my co-workers realize the oasis they are on a teaching day in the desert. Well this day I didn't quite make it to the oasis in time. As I cruised through the line with my tray I heard the voice of my principal, "Leanne, when you set do your tray can you come talk to me?" Oh great. How did he sense my awful day. Did he figure it out when he stopped by my room earlier? My mind was racing. What could James need to tell me or ask me. The majority of time, things like this don't make me nervous. That's probably because the majority of the time when this happens a bad teaching day isn't lingering. Think Leanne. Think. What was he going to tell me.
After setting down my lunch I strolled over to where James was camped. Here goes nothing. The following coversation ensued.
"Leanne, do you know how the 10th grade takes a trip to the Amazon every year?'
"Yeah, I've heard a bit about it through the grapevine. The kids seem pretty excited."
"Well, we are looking for a female chaperone and I'm wondering if you would like to go. The school pays for everything."
My eyebrows shot up, my eyes got real big, and I did what any logical person would do: Say yes to your boss, "Yeah, sure! I'd love to go."
The remaining conversation was just small talk and I don't remember much.I was consumed with thoughts of the amazon.
Consumed: Rainforest. Rivers. Swimming. Pink dolphins. Manatees. Peru. Brazil. Amazon river. Hiking. Yellow fever. Culture. Indigenous villages. Mosquitoes. Galoshes. Canoeing. Crocodiles. Hammocks. Dancing. Huts. Fishing. Cooking over fires. Bonding with students. Speaking Spanish. Adventure.
...I think I'll have a little fun...
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