Spring Break Math

Ok, this is not what it sounds like. I'm not doing challenging math over break - though I am planning my fractions unit (how do you cram 2 months worth of learning into two weeks so they can pass the state test?).

Nope, nothing like that. I was just looking at our district calendar, and counting the days until Summer Vacation. Just that kinda math.

Length in weeks: 10.5
Length in school days: 59.5

I am really divided in my emotions about this. Here is the immediate reaction I had when I realized I am only teaching 3rd grade in this particular classroom and school for less than 60 days:

"OMYWORD, ONLY 59.5 DAYS LEFT! YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Not that I don't love my classroom, school, colleagues, and students. I totally do. More than could ever be expressed in words. But I'm really happy to see this year end. Mostly because every time I enter my classroom and interact with my students, I am reminded of all the mistakes I've made, the learning we didn't get accomplished, and the routines I should have established (and didn't) that really have impacted the way our classroom runs. (Just for the record, in case any prospective employer reads this and thinks perhaps you shouldn't hire me - I have done a lot of things the RIGHT way - but those things don't jump out like the mistakes do).

My second reaction to my counting:

"GOOD GRIEF, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS, WHEN WE HAVE OAKS TESTING AND A FIELD TRIP AND THE WAX MUSEUM AND, AND, AND, AND......!"

My third reaction:

"Well, I'll be unemployed again in 10.5 weeks. Guess I should start looking for a job for next year."


My fourth reaction:

"This licorice sitting on my desk leftover from our fraction lesson last week is really tempting."

- Ms. J, soon to be unemployed (and excited, kinda)

PS: Mary, as soon as my KS purse arrives in the mail, I will send you a picture. It's navy blue and white *sigh*

Spring Break

Break out the celebratory exclamations - Spring Break has arrived! Let's hear a cheer- Spring is here (and for a week, students aren't).

Which is amazingly hard.

We need this break so badly. A time to rejuvenate, clean the house, see friends, and sleep in. I personally will be spending a lot of time at school, getting things accomplished for after break. We start OAKS testing after break (our state standardized test), and my kids are so not ready for it. If I spend a lot of time at school over break, I won't have to spend 10+ hours a day at school after break. It's a pretty good system I've worked out.

But the hard part is knowing some of my kids are going to have a rough spring break. Before I started teaching full time, I always knew the week before break was hard, but I always thought it was because kids were so worked up about having no school for a week. With my group, though, in the low SES area our school is in, the kids that had a really rough week this week are the kids whose only stable place is school. They were acting out because a week without school means being at home for a week.

Which makes me feel bad that I was so glad to see them leave today. I should feel bad for rejoicing by going and getting my favorite coffee and shopping at Nordstrom Rack. Oh yeah, and I bought that Kate Spade purse yesterday.