Life’s been interesting. Not a bad interesting. Not necessarily great. But interesting. Challenging. I am learning a lot and growing as an educator and as a person.
This morning, my alarm went off at 5AM and I was going to roll out of bed, get ready for work, and head out by 6AM. This has been my ritual since I started work in August. We aren’t required to be there until 7:30, but there’s something nice about having nobody around. Less distractions – although it’s kind of creepy to get there while it’s still dark outside.
But instead of rushing off to work to finish an IEP and prep for the day, I decided to go for a run to downtown Campbell. Not sure what came over me. Usually the idea of putting on my running shoes – especially THAT early in the morning – doesn’t really sound appealing. But I did it. Without music. Without entertainment. I just went. And it was really helpful. I think there’s a lot of jumbled up shit in my mind – so many IEPs to think about, weeks of lesson plans to be developed, numerous assessments to create and analyze. It was nice to just disconnect from everything, even if only for 45 minutes.
Dark and blurry. But #proof that it was done 🙂
Thursdays are generally my easier days because we have block periods and I have IEP time and Prep after 11AM. Today I had an IEP meeting scheduled for 1PM. I don’t really like using this blog to talk about work stuff (aside from the few successful lesson plans I’ve created 😉 !). But let’s just say that today’s meeting is one of the examples of how I’m becoming stronger. Emotionally and professionally. I think sometimes, with this profession, you’ve gotta be. Otherwise you won’t last. You can’t last.
There’s already so much instability in middle school – kids are still developing, figuring themselves out. And then to throw in a processing issue, or an emotional disturbance, or severe depression — it just makes it that much harder to get through the school year. So I have to continue developing myself. I have to keep getting better – as an educator and as a person. Because they need people to advocate for them. They need someone who has their shit together. Someone who can make them feel comfortable in opening themselves up, challenge them in a supportive way, and love them unconditionally.
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How do you disconnect yourself from work?
What was middle school like for you?
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