With the ringing of the bell yesterday afternoon, Spring Break #31 began! Nice...and needed.
It's that time of the year where much emphasis is placed on preparing for the state-mandated tests, knowing there's still so much to cover yet so not enough time (or energy on the part of too many of my students) to cover or review all that is needed. That time when you wish you could back up that date...or have scheduled earlier so that The Test would just be over.
Year 31, and I still cannot determine how to cover all that needs to be taught AND conquer the many variables of student apathy (partly leftover from COVID and grace over grades and AMI days and...) and the attendance issues of so many, while rewarding the faithful and not allowing oneself to be caught up in the vortex of it all.
The answer to this dilemma? Just keep on keeping on. AND plan more (and again) this summer for Year 32, for I am not ready to retire on this note. I really want to go out like I came in: high energy, high content, high test scores. BUT...are those days gone? Times are achanging. No doubt. BUT...I have always said kids are kids. Yes. BUT...are parents still the same? Is society still the same? Am I still the same? No.
I can compare little from Year 1 to Year 31. Not sure that is all bad or wrong. Just different. Just changed.
Last week, I put my desks back into tables for the first time since March 16, 2020. Felt right. Exciting.
This past week, I did not assign seats and permitted the kids to choose where to sit; some switched with every class.
This past week, I felt again some of that prior excitement.
But first...a week off to think and renew...and then back to Quarter 4...with tables and projects and no state test looming. Good times. They are 'coming!
