If you’ve read me for any amount of time, you know I’m not a fan of Thursdays. That is because on Thursdays I have to teach four 85-minute block periods and I don’t get a break (prep) period. I also teach all three of my classes, so I have to have a lot of different lessons planned and ready. This Thursday is especially bad because I have supervision duty this week, so I have to be out on the black top for one of my precious break times. I really, REALLY hope that one year I will have a prep period that gives me a break on Thursday, but I always get fourth period prep, so I don’t think it will ever happen. SIGH.
I have to book it out of school right after the bell this afternoon to make it to my allergy shot appointment on time. If I don’t get into my car mere minutes after the bell, the traffic will get so bad that I’ll sit in the parking lot for 15-20 minutes. It sucks. It also sucks that I still have to get allergy shots. They definitely help manage my symptoms, but I haven’t gotten to a place where I can stop taking the (I still react to the shot, which means I need to keep getting the shots). I probably will never get to stop, and I’ll have to keep coming once a month if I want my symptoms eased, which I do!
I’ve been grading like crazy this past week. I’ve scored student reflections, Day of the Dead assessments, writing assessments, speaking assessments, reading responses, and now I have the last reading responses (all for two classes each). I am going to be so glad when I don’t have to do anymore thoughtful, time consuming scoring for a little while! My brain feels like oatmeal.
Today I introduced my free reading program, which is going to become a choice comprehensible input program this year, to the 1A classes. I’m really proud of this program, and I’m excited for the changes I hope to make this year. Some students were clearly very excited about it. They had a lot of good questions and started reading their books as soon as they checked them out. It’s fun to see how a new group responds to the program.
To work out or not to work out tonight, that is the question? When I planned my workouts for this week I did not have anything slated for this evening, because I’ll be home pretty late. (I’m going to Costco after the thirty minute wait at the allergy shot office). But I’m realizing that I might not want to work out after the hike with the family on Saturday so I’m wondering if I should do something tonight. I’m going to make a game-time decision later today, and I don’t love that uncertainty, but I also want to give myself space. Sometimes a 5pm Costco run wrecks me and sometimes it’s not that bad. I’ll keep you all updated. I’d only be doing a 30 minute strength class, which isn’t that hard to manage, even after a day as long as this one.
Hey hey! Daria from NJ.
A few thoughts.. we are on a rotate and drop schedule so of certain days (day3 gahhhh) I have five 56 minute classes. Not in a row, thank god. But still. That is bloody hard! Thankfully, per our contract, admins are not allowed to give us a supervision duty on those days. They cannot take your lunch and they cannot take your prep period.
On those hard and long days all the work responsibility lies on the students. I make sure I design the lessons in such way that “here is the work for today, we will be checking in, but it’s on YOU to finish it”. I know I teach high school so they are more “on task” but you’ll be surprised. I lean on EdPuzzle, Padlet and overall work where they have to work efficiently.
I also say no to any student requests for extra help or after school on that day. Not possible. They must find another time slot during the days when I only have three classes (two days in a 4 day rotation).
Anywho don’t come here to give advice but definitely feeling solidarity.
Ha! Fair. There are definitely hikes I would consider a workout. A leisurely hike with my kids is not necessarily that kind of hike. Usually, if I don’t have to take a shower afterward, I don’t really consider it a workout. I’m sweat easily and a lot, so if I didn’t sweat, I don’t consider it a workout. But! I also don’t workout every day, so when I do workout I want them to feel productive as cardio or strength training. And I guess a hike my kids can manage doesn’t seem like either to me.
Oof, I don’t like Thursdays either, but mine aren’t as hard as yours. Your day sounds pretty draining- I’ll be interested to know if you manage that workout! It’s really hard for me to work out that late in the day.
I do not like to workout in the evening. Or late in the day. Good luck with that. I got my allergy shots yesterday, and I’m not sure if it’s just me, but when I get my shots (also once a month) I sleep like the dead. I actually arranged for someone else to drive one of the girls to school today, so I could sleep late. ( I have Fridays off). It was amazing. Highly recommend. I started shots maybe like 6 or 7 years ago, and life changing. It’s a pain, but I do not miss the itchy throat issue I struggled with for my whole life. Your class/program sounds amazing. I thought about being a teacher, and wish I’d gone that route. The paper grading sounds tiring.
thank you for writing. SO much.
Hope Friday was better.
Uff, is every teacher squeezed like this on a weekday or are only a few people affected? It seems kind of unfair. I hope you got through the day ok
It’s only one day a week. On Wednesdays I am done teaching at 11:30! But I can’t leave early because we have staff meetings after school. It totally sucks.
Thursdays definitely sound exhausting! I love the phrase “my brain feels like oatmeal,” but I’m sure it’s less enjoyable to feel that way.