Every summer there comes a day in late July or early August when I feel the pull of the new school year. Sometimes it's a cool day that reminds me of fall. Other times it is walking or running the track at the high school football field and remembering fall football nights. Mainly, it is the "Back to School" ads in the paper or all the crayon and glue displays at the local stores. My "Back to School" letter from the school district hasn't even arrived yet, but I'm already feeling the pull this year.
I'm not complaining. It's about time. I've always hated those mugs and T-shirts that say, "The three best reasons to be a teacher: June, July, and August." Don't get me wrong. I always really need the summer vacation. I am usually mentally exhausted at the end of May. I spend several weeks in a junk reading coma before I can accomplish much. BUT... if a teacher really feels that the summer vacation is the best part of teaching, they really need to do the profession and their students a favor and get out.
I love the pull of a new school year. I'm thankful for summer, but I am always ready to start again. When I quit feeling that way, it will be time to retire!
And no, I haven't been back down to school yet. I'm taking the bride for the wedding dress fitting and making mints this week. Without a doubt I will be helping L get her 1st grade room together early next week. I'm squeezing in several appointments before school starts and finishing up all the last minute jobs I want to get done at home.
Still, my guess is that several evenings next week will find me at school getting things ready for another crew of sophomores. I'm starting to feel the need to focus on another school year, even though I still have a full two weeks before I need to report.
I'm feeling the pull. I prefer the pull to feeling pushed!
7 comments:
Great Post. Good teachers and good students are always excited to get back into study. Gerry
Very well said. I am thankful for the teachers I had and my kids had who wanted to be there. And a new school year is kind of like that new box of crayons ... full of colorful possibilities. In the meantime, enjoy the wedding fun.
I do agree with you about teachers that feel the summer is the best thing about teaching. All the pressure, planning and energy that's required of teachers, they deserve their time off just as anyone else. Recharge time!
This post - all of those feelings you describe and the clear love you have for your job - this is how I know you are an AMAZING teacher!
Oh Mrs. E, all teachers should be like you! I was just at the boy's school to get his schedule, AP work, downloaded supporting resources, learner's permit paperwork (eeekk) and sport tryout schedule. Just waiting for him to get back...joy. If you would like to put a photo in my a free canvas, that would be wonderful:)
We've had many teachers throughout the years of my three children being in school and we can usually tell pretty quickly which ones are in teaching just for the summer vacation. It's the others, like you, that we will always remember with smiles!
I'm not feeling it yet. Those two courses I took right after school was out, delayed the start of my summer. Of course my students don't show until Sept. 7th---it's called county fair and losing 1/3 of your kids. So we wait.
Although----you made me feel a teeny bit of excitement! However, first is Texas and being grandma to a darling boy and a short vacation with hubby to celebrate his move back up here.:)
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