Hmmmmmm.....well, I thought I wrote something last week over the Labor Day weekend, but I did not.
Last week - I remember relaxing. I got really into the Gina LaManna Kate Rosetti series and I read alot. But then I also remember feeling very stressed on Tuesday, when I was trying to prep for class, and advisory, and back-to-school night. I had a conversation with a colleague - is it better to use the weekend to relax and recharge? even if it means chaos and late nights during the week. I don't know.....The work will get done. Somehow. But I do like feeling more prepared at work.
This weekend, I feel a little better about things. The cross-country meet wasn't until the afternoon, so I had Saturday morning to relax and clean the house. Last night, I prepped my daily slides. Today was meant for grading - as I have SO MUCH GRADING (note the all caps). I have graded some things, but there is still alot to do. I hope to at least get the quizzes graded tonight. You know, the quizzes that the kids took on the third day of school. Ugh! I should be done already.
On the family call, I got to observe my teenage niece struggle with her Spanish homework. Although I experience 8th grade every day, I am so glad that I am not in middle school. Life is so frustrating when you are a teenager. She and my sister were stuck in Puerto Rico until Wednesday, so 1 missed day of schoolwork (which is alot) turned into 2 missed days. That makes things a little overwhelming. Where adults have strategies to get the work done, I try to remember what I would do if I were 13. How do you learn that it is okay to talk to your teachers about this kind of stuff? I do remember being afraid of alerting the teacher of the overwhelm. Wouldn't they be mad? But I try to be the kind teacher. I try to be approachable to students, especially the shy ones. Anyway, I hope she takes my advice. Email your teacher and go to see them for help.
I also noticed that if Amari had been in my classroom, I probably would have handled it differently. I feel like my default with her is advice mode. Where no teenager wants that. I should listen more and let her come to her own conclusions. She is a smart cookie - she will get it. 7th grade will bring more challenges. Her response was that "everyone" wasn't taking a language and definitely not at the higher level. It would be okay to drop it or even drop down to the lower level. And it might be - I have no idea. She is busy with sports and training. But how do you know if she needs to be more gritty or if it is better to lessen the overwhelm?
