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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The Futility of Planning

I have planning right now at school. I have 60+ essays to grade, SOL prep work to do for tomorrow, close-reading journals from my 12 AP students to grade, and the list goes on. Basically, we've hit 'the wall.' Between now and spring break, there are no breaks. Between now and June 12th, there is no reprieve. We have tests, exams, more tests, more exams, SOLs, more SOLs, and then the final exam.

This is the time of year when everyone looks back at the snow days and wonders if it was worth it. On a personal level, yes. Sydney was ill about half the time I was home, so it worked out that I was there to comfort him, take him to the doctor, etc. However, on a professional level, I could have used a few days where he goes to the sitter and I have at least a few hours where I can catch up on grading and planning.

In the meantime, my lack of volition, motivation, drive to do anything other than sit back and read a good book with a hot cup of tea starts to eat at me. I don't really care to grade essays right now. We're at midpoint, and I don't have grades updated. I have the SOL next week, and figuring out who is failing after only 2-3 assignments (snow days, remember?) is, to me, ludicrous. But if I don't buckle down and do it soon...when will it get done? It will just keep piling up.

My goal is to finish the essays by this weekend. That way, I can relax, enter in to the novel unit that we started with a fresh mindset, and focus on clearing up loose ends...for now. Truth be told, Steve asks me on a regular basis if I want to (fill in the blank - watch a movie, go for a walk, run to the store with him, etc.) and I say 'Yes!' Then, he asks me if I have work to do. I respond that, until graduation, I will ALWAYS have work to do. There is no such thing as catching up in the teaching profession. Either you are in the midst of summer break, or you are in the midst of a headache.

2 comments:

  1. That's how I feel right now, like crying and doing nothing all at the same time, hoping all of the stress goes away.

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  2. Denial is a beautiful thing...for awhile. Still working on the whole 'balance' thing, and failing miserably. Hope practice afforded you some entertainment and distraction this evening!! :-)

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