First (half) snow day of the year!

So I didn't think I'd ever get a snowday as a teacher, but here I am! We were the only school in Metro Denver in session today, but we got let out early at 12:30. I was just really scared to drive home. It only took me an hour to drive home, and the roads were ok.
I'm bummed because now all my classes are messed up. Blah. Half of me hopes we have school tomorrow so things aren't more messed up and the other half of me hopes that we do not, so I can take a mental health day w/o taking one :) We'll see, I guess I'll be happy with either one!
The snow just keeps on coming though. It's NUTS!
I can't wait for the ski areas to start opening. I'm getting antsy!
Well, I should get down to work so that I wont have anything to do when Gus gets home...

disillusionment

That's what they call the stage of teaching that I've just sunk further into. I'm trying to straighten things out with my fourth period class which has gone haywire, and not be so tough on myself at the same time. I just need to remember that I will not let down those students who come each day to class to learn.
It's been a tough couple weeks. I'm expecting it to follow suit in the next few weeks. It's just that time of year: we've been teaching for three months straight and I swear if anyone tells me "it's not that bad, you get summer's off" they'll find themselves in a very uncomfortable position: bent over with my foot up their...
Anyway, I've done some grading tonight and I have a good feel about tomorrow. I just need to make up an exam and review for Spanish I and figure out what we're doing for Día de los muertos. ¡Uy!
Well off to bed, so I can not feel like I've been hit by a train.

What a difference...

A three-day weekend makes in the morale of a first year teacher. Maybe it was the fact that a colleague approached me because they were concerned that I may be burning myself out, but I've really felt like I've got a different take on things now.
I am so thankful that someone saw what I was doing to myself and decided to speak up. All I've heard since I started was good things, but the best thing so far has been the criticism of working too much. And they're right. I was burning myself out. I didn't look forward to going home, or to the weekend (except that it offered the "escape" from being at school... but that didn't mean that I stopped thinking about school). So I relaxed this weekend. I did nothing school related. And I feel wonderful.
I really feel like I'm starting to have fun again in class. I'm starting to enjoy the students. I have patients. I have creative ideas. I want to make progress again, not just survive. But the best thing of all is that I've realized that I owe it to myself not to burn out. I love my job. I can't love it to death because then I stop enjoying, evolving, inventing and creating.
Yep. Today was a good day. More to come.

9 weeks and counting...

Well, it's been a screaming fast, crazy ride so far. I've made it through 9 weeks with some compliments and some challenging situations. But I think I've handled it well.
I'm really looking forward to the beginning of next semester so I can structure my classes a bit differently than they are now. I'm going to have the kids make up their own rules and punishments. I had my fourth period do that today, and I hope it makes a difference. They're my little guinea pig group. woo.
But it's the weekend. Time to relax and forget about all that I do during the week. Which is tough when I wake up during the night fretting about what I messed up or didn't do. I'll learn to cope though. It's a tough job. A lot tougher than anyone that hasn't done it before knows or can appreciate. But I'm greatful for my internship which I feel prepared me pretty well and as well for my long-term sub position which gave me a taste of what it is to have my own classroom.
I'm excited to start knitting more as it gets colder out and spending more time outside. I just don't really like the hot like I do the cold. It's something about how it feels when you breathe in the air.
Well I've gotta go hit up the gym a bit today and open a savings account... so off I go.