Summer days spin leisurely with plenty of time for a second cup of coffee, reading in the sunshine, and lots of daydreaming with no particular attention paid to the clock. The school year, conversely, is all about watching the clock. Four minutes between classes, twenty two minutes to eat lunch, and six class periods each fifty six minutes long. The bells ring at oddly precise times…7:39, 8:34, and so forth until 2:28 when the students rush to the busses, shouting “Bye, Mrs. Laaksonen” and “See you tomorrow.” They leave, and I head to another after school meeting that will end at 4. It’s hurried and busy all the time. The very opposite of my summer days. And, surprisingly, in many ways, I prefer it.
All of the busy activity of a teaching day, both physical and mental, leaves me utterly exhausted. On a typical school day, I meander around the classroom, lean in to see what the students are writing, and crouch down to quietly ask what they are currently reading. It’s a low impact exercise regime that tires me out by the end of each and every day. These days also include continual mental stimulation involving constant decision-making. I’m required to make on-the-spot decisions throughout. “Should that student be allowed to take a bathroom break, or is this just another case of work avoidance?” “Do I continue with the lesson or let more students, their hands enthusiastically waving in the air, share?” “What action should I take when that girl, the one who looks tired everyday, has her head down again?” I’m making these snap decisions all day long. In addition, I contemplate bigger, higher stakes choices related to curriculum and school culture while planning with my teaching partners or attending school meetings. By the time I get home, I sometimes resign myself to eating microwave popcorn for dinner as I simply cannot make another decision. The question, “What should I have for dinner?” is always the last straw. The physical and cognitive demands of teaching are so all encompassing that I come home truly tired at the end of a day.
The school year months, unlike those lazy summer days, also have a rigid routine that I’ve come to crave. I know exactly what I will be doing at any given moment of any given day. No planning or pondering required–I just report for duty. Furthermore, I have a very clear sense of purpose during the school year. My mission involves engaging students in their own cognitive growth through reading and writing activities that stretch their thinking and enrich their understanding of our world. I also work to create a sense of community in our classroom and a stronger sense of self in students. Each day I leave our school building feeling accomplished, knowing I’ve worked hard for a higher purpose, something bigger than I may ever realize.
Summer has its allure, of course. However, I can’t deny the intoxicating appeal of a school day and true exhaustion.
It’s a good tired.
moreteachingmoments 