Bittersweet

I realized I haven't posted anything for awhile. Normally during the day I am writing things such as letters of recommendation or lesson plans, talking about writing so I am usually out of creative things to say.

This past week was back to the grind; back from Spring Break. It was bittersweet as I pulled into the parking lot because I knew I only have about 10 weeks left of teaching. Over the course of the week it was interesting as I was talking to my classes because conversations about graduation (for the seniors) and next year (for the juniors) continually sprung up during conversations.

Most of the seniors have been mentally checking out. I remember being checked out for a long period of time, so now I am in the position of trying to motivate them to stay in the academic game until graduation. One of the biggest factors of them being checked out was due to the fact that their portfolios were due on Tuesday. After that day, they were long gone. As the seniors were trying to convince me to do nothing in-class on Tuesday, I explained that their requirements and expectations of the portfolio weren't that crazy. When I was going through the Culminating Project there were many more requirements and expectations, so I brought in my portfolio for them to look at. Needless to say, it still didn't help their complaining :)

As the seniors are starting to mentally check-out, the juniors have questions about next year, and they mostly are including: can we request you for next year. The answer is no. I have had the conversation with all of my junior classes about not being offered a contract for next year. All of the classes have been very supportive by either wanting to write letters (using persuasive techniques I have taught them), talking to the principal, protesting, etc... All very sweet, but I had to explain how the system works with seniority-- they all dislike the system. At first with my juniors it was a struggle with them because I didn't know if I was going to be there all year, so having them take me seriously was difficult. In the end, however, I am truly going to miss them all. They all have grown on me so much.

As everybody is talking about summer and waiting for summer to arrive with anticipation, I too am excited, but at the same time if I could hold onto the next 10 weeks or so, I would. Although the first year of teaching has been difficult, with many ups and downs, I love what I do-- I don't want it to end. There is another opportunity for me out there, and I am not sure where, but it is there.