And we're off to the races. It is yet another Monday, and I have yet to accomplish anything productive. Well, that isn't totally true. I survived day one of parent conferences, planned a whole week of core math instruction, and a day of writing. I also am thinking about reading and my guided groups for math and reading. I have also contemplated ways to torture, erm, I mean motivate, my intern. But have I completed any of the plans that are due tomorrow morning? Of course not if I am here. Is my concern at this moment where it probably should be? At the moment, not so much. Will it all pan together before the necessary time? Doesn't it always? Is it like me to be so "meh?" Not in the past, but at the rate administration and generally anyone outside of the classroom seems to keep shoving it, it is surprising that I haven't already attempted to leave school at noon with my famous drive out into the sunset to 80's themed synth pop...
And with all that, just know that things are hectic. One, grades are due this week. Parent Conferences are all this week. That by far has been the highlight for me so far. In true form, here is a list of the most special moments on day one of Conferencing:
1. Arriving in my classroom at 7:10, to already have messages from parents calling to cancel their morning appointments, with things ranging from "The landlord is coming today" to "I have to go to work today (didn't we know this when we scheduled in the first place?)" to "Yeah, I just can't make it.." So much for getting them all done today. Excellent.
2. Parents who didn't schedule an appointment just showing up whenever they felt like it, and expecting you to stop a scheduled, on time appointment to meet with them. Great.
3. Asking a parent how her morning was and then from that statement, getting a lecture about how the school system in another state is better than our state (yeah, but no). Again, all I said was good morning. Inspiring.
4. Another parent regaling me with stories of how she was at one point obese, and regaling me with tales of Ben, the homeless man. Moving.
5. Being asked in front of one of my students how old I am (because that is always appropriate). Super.
6. Discovering that a Science Kit has been dropped off in my room when I haven't even packed the first one I got yet. Awesome.
7. The most moving thing in all this is that we are told that the plumbing will be off for the rest of the school day, so I had to go across the street during my lunch and engage the store owners in friendly conversation so that I could use their bathrooms. What is this? Everytime I attempt to be productive, some major utility is out of order. First it was the electricity, then today it was the plumbing. What next, the air conditioning? The internet network? The copiers/laminator (oh wait, that already is everyday). Splendid.
Oh, and this is only Monday. I can't wait to see how the rest of the week pans out. I think I thrive off of the random, general wackiness that is my school. Let the festivities begin!