The Long Strange Trip
It's really hard to believe I've gotten to this point. After 9 months and 12 days I'm within striking distance of the end... June 26th, D-day, the finish line... As you might have guessed from my absence last week I'm already starting to get distracted and caught up in the daydream of summer days spent sleeping in and lazing away.
Back at school though I'm doing my best to focus. What's funny is I'm still looking to figure out solutions to some of my chronic problems. Woman-Child for example continues to frustrate me and foil all my attempts to incorporate her into my classroom community whether it's with tough talk or tons of praise. Unfortunately most people I talk to will offer a response along the lines of, "What are you worrying about? It's almost summer." This has been the case for the past few weeks now.
It's not like I don't get giddy every time I think about 11:30 am on the 26th. But at the same time I'm trying to keep my kids focused. I keep hammering them with the idea that these final days are all preparation for 5th grade. And if I expect them to keep learning, why shouldn't I hold myself to the same standard?
It's funny, I actually messed up this plan today. I've been doing everything I can to keep the kids focused on learning. I deliberately did not put "Last Day of School" on the calendar. Then today, when trying to get the kids focused I started my lecture by saying, "We have 9 days left..." The kids didn't even realize it! "We have 9 days left!" And the class erupted with chatter and excitement. I've said from the beginning this job is a psychological warfare. I guess I hadn't realized I was succeeding at this battle. Hopefully I haven't damaged my position too badly and can keep them focused for these final 8 (8! Sweet God almighty 8!) days.
Back at school though I'm doing my best to focus. What's funny is I'm still looking to figure out solutions to some of my chronic problems. Woman-Child for example continues to frustrate me and foil all my attempts to incorporate her into my classroom community whether it's with tough talk or tons of praise. Unfortunately most people I talk to will offer a response along the lines of, "What are you worrying about? It's almost summer." This has been the case for the past few weeks now.
It's not like I don't get giddy every time I think about 11:30 am on the 26th. But at the same time I'm trying to keep my kids focused. I keep hammering them with the idea that these final days are all preparation for 5th grade. And if I expect them to keep learning, why shouldn't I hold myself to the same standard?
It's funny, I actually messed up this plan today. I've been doing everything I can to keep the kids focused on learning. I deliberately did not put "Last Day of School" on the calendar. Then today, when trying to get the kids focused I started my lecture by saying, "We have 9 days left..." The kids didn't even realize it! "We have 9 days left!" And the class erupted with chatter and excitement. I've said from the beginning this job is a psychological warfare. I guess I hadn't realized I was succeeding at this battle. Hopefully I haven't damaged my position too badly and can keep them focused for these final 8 (8! Sweet God almighty 8!) days.
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