This has been a very busy few months for me. Since taking over my autism classroom, I have attended countless meetings and trainings, worked hours on lesson plans and have been working on taking specialized graduate classes for the autism student. With my semester winding down and the school year, I was hoping for a quiet, relaxing summer in which I could shop, go to the beach and check out some fun activities with the kids. Just a chance to pause for breath, sleep in and luxuriate in the moment of having summers off. Alas, that is not to be the case.
I started getting an inkling about my summer when I was asked to teach summer school for 4 weeks. Then came the official word from the state: I have to take an assistive technology course and complete my ESOL endorsement. This week, I met with my administration about plans for next school year (yay! I'm getting renewed) and somehow found myself agreeing to take on doing a reading endorsement since I will be teaching reading over the summer and possibly every summer. As well as agreeing with a coworker to attend a conference of mutual interest to us both.
Now, my summer looks like a patch work quilt. A day off here and there, partial days that all have me working early in the mornings...... then, finally it dawns on me. They lure you in with the hint of having summer free and winter break and spring break... but in reality, they are working holidays designed to be used for all the trainings that you can't get a sub for and just take during the year.
Despite having a full calendar, I am going to make the most of it. I love teaching and I love working with autistic children. The lack of sleep, circles under my eyes and the looooong hours are worth it when you see a child make progress or you open their world up to things that others never considered doing with them.
I have my finals this weekend to get through and lesson plans to write. There are times that I feel my weekends are just working weekends. I wonder if I can list "dark circle eye cream" as a teaching supply item on my taxes?
I am happy with where life is leading me overall. I am determined to get out and enjoy some of it!
I started getting an inkling about my summer when I was asked to teach summer school for 4 weeks. Then came the official word from the state: I have to take an assistive technology course and complete my ESOL endorsement. This week, I met with my administration about plans for next school year (yay! I'm getting renewed) and somehow found myself agreeing to take on doing a reading endorsement since I will be teaching reading over the summer and possibly every summer. As well as agreeing with a coworker to attend a conference of mutual interest to us both.
Now, my summer looks like a patch work quilt. A day off here and there, partial days that all have me working early in the mornings...... then, finally it dawns on me. They lure you in with the hint of having summer free and winter break and spring break... but in reality, they are working holidays designed to be used for all the trainings that you can't get a sub for and just take during the year.
Despite having a full calendar, I am going to make the most of it. I love teaching and I love working with autistic children. The lack of sleep, circles under my eyes and the looooong hours are worth it when you see a child make progress or you open their world up to things that others never considered doing with them.
I have my finals this weekend to get through and lesson plans to write. There are times that I feel my weekends are just working weekends. I wonder if I can list "dark circle eye cream" as a teaching supply item on my taxes?
I am happy with where life is leading me overall. I am determined to get out and enjoy some of it!
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