Wednesday, August 14, 2024
This may be interesting to absolutely no one! Ha!
So, I made a big deal/whined/was super annoying last year about our change in start and end times at my school. It had been 7:40-2:20 until last year. Heck, I was on that schedule for 23 years! I could run errands, meet a friend, and feel like I had a substantial amount of day left before dinner prep rolled around.
Last year we started at 8:40 and ended at 3:20. It continued to be shocking to me how only a simple (right?) one hour difference could actually feel so different. I think a lot of it had to do with traffic not only at my school but in the community. I couldn’t get anywhere until 4:00 and it feels like 4 o’clock traffic is like what 5 o’clock traffic used to be! Do you feel that way in your community?
But, I will say that I did love the slower mornings last year. In the past I usually left for work around 6:45 which is crazy early and dark but last year I could leave at 7:45 or even 8:00 (or even later!) and still have plenty of time to ease into my day.
So, I think I have a better attitude about the schedule continuing to be 8:40-3:20 this year. Teachers do have to be there by 8:30 and have to stay until 3:30, by the way.
Here is my schedule for this year:
All of our classes are 50 minutes long. Teachers have one 50 minute planning period and a 20ish minute lunch. We have a seven period day so we teach six classes.
8:40-9:31 – Planning period
9:35-10:25 – Spanish 3
10:30-11:19 – AP Spanish
11:23-12:38- Spanish 3 (We go to lunch from 11:45-12:13 so class is divided in two parts. The kids leave their stuff on their desks while they are gone)
12:42-1:32 – Study Hall (The students just have to sit quietly and work on things)
1:36-2:26-Spanish 3
2:30-3:20 Spanish 3
So, this year I teach four of the same class – four Spanish 3 classes and then I have one AP. I asked to have a study hall rather than a third lesson to prepare. I hope I don’t regret that because sometimes kids can’t handle the privilege of a study hall.
And, now for Joyce’s Hodgepodge…
1.What was the best (or one of the best) summers of your life? Tell us why.
I really loved being a young 20 something out of college. I had a group of friends and we thought we were like “Friends”. We went to weddings together, King’s Island amusement park, out every weekend, and just had a really great time. This was from age 22-26. I also really loved the first summer I was married and cooking for Tom. I also really loved all the summers with my kids. Elementary age was a really sweet spot, but I loved it all. I planned activities and took them to the library, various parks, and arranged playdates.
2. When you have a trip coming up do you make a list and check it twice to ensure you don’t forget anything? Or are you a ‘throw whatever you can think of into the suitcase at the last minute’ kind of packer? When returning from a trip do you unpack immediately or leave the suitcase right where it lands?
Yes! Lists on lists! I also make a Google doc to print and take with. I spend about a week laying things out to make sure I have what I need and I try to take a few things out because I am a natural over-packer. I unpack immediately!
3. What’s your favorite food or beverage made with lemons? Is that a flavor you enjoy?
I love a lemondrop martini or my new spritz. I really don’t like lemon in my cold drinking water or in my iced tea. I do, however, like lemon in my Coke or Diet Coke and that is what they did in Spain. Hmmmm, I should try that but I rarely drink Coke or Diet Coke. I like lemon in hot tea. This makes me realize I need to use more lemon! I love the smell of lemon and my Dad loved it, too.
4. When was the last time you had to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking I mean?
I don’t know. I would say as a teacher I have to make lemonade out of lemons almost daily. Things don’t go as planned. You can’t get the supplies you would like to have because of money or logistics. You are constantly having to pivot. Tom had a great attitude about his Montana trip being cancelled and I tried to do some fun things with him while he was off.
5. Did you like school growing up? Why or why not?
No, I LOVED school! I came home and taught my dolls and stuffed animals and little sisters what I had learned. I played school all the time. I hated to miss. I loved riding the bus, taking my lunch, playing Chinese jump rope at recess, and as I got older I loved junior high and high school, too.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I feel lucky to have enjoyed school. I guess you could say I loved it enough to stay in school all this time. For as much bad press as teaching gets, I don’t think I have any regrets. It’s been a career well suited to my talents and personality and it’s provided me the gift of time with my children in the summers and during holiday breaks. It’s so much like parenting. It’s such a hard job, but it’s rewarding, too.
I can’t believe I have lived my life on a school calendar for 47 years now, though, and I would love to have a fall to enjoy! I have romanticized this for years!
That was fun! Thank you, Joyce!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I loved reading your answers to this week’s questions! It doesn’t surprise me that you loved school; I can tell that by how much you love teaching, and I know you still love your job or you’d have retired by now. I’ve said it before, but your students are so fortunate to have you!
You remind me of my French teacher that I loved; we called her Madame. I took four years of French in high school, did I ever mention that? I can read really well in French, and I remember a lot of what I learned over those years, and though I can still speak it well, I have problems with translating from French to English. The year I took French III, I almost failed because I had to read a book and translate it from French to English; it was Le Petite Prince.
I think it was brilliant to ask for a study hall. I hope that it will give you a little break in your day to do some grading or have a little bit of down time. Happy day to you, my friend. I hope it’s a great one!
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Thank you! I guess I was born to be a teacher. It’s in the blood.
That is such a nice compliment. School has gotten watered down and we don’t read full books in the target language anymore. The skills just aren’t where they used to be even when I started teaching.
I hope I made a good decision. So far it has been great to catch my breath before my last two classes of the day.
Same to you!
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I loved seeing your schedule. I might “steal” your idea and share mine tomorrow or Friday.
I agree – we make lemonade out of lemons often as teachers.
Your study hall sounds interesting. do all teachers have a study hall ? We have an advisory period for 25 min – where we tackle financial literacy, SEL, study hall, etc
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Please do! I love to see others’ schedules, too. I also thought about doing a “Teacher Tuesday” where I get specific about things we do in class?
No – there are only a handful that have a study hall. I had one two years ago, though. Kids do want them and they are in high demand. We don’t have a daily advisory – we have a different schedule 6 times a year where we stay in 2nd period and do those state mandated things.
I asked for study hall again instead of teaching a third prep of Spanish 1.
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Good call on study hall!
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So far, it’s a nice break.
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I didn’t get a chance to comment on your post yesterday – had an appointment but of course I read it! I am so excited about your trip and can’t wait to see what you do, where you go, all the things! Spain is a place we’d love to visit.
I try not to leave my house after 3pm, traffic gets bad. Having the same schedule for 23 years and then having that change would have completely upended my world! It’s a huge adjustment!
xo,
Kellyann
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Thank you! It’s a pretty crazy thing for us to do and I’m nervous – also nervous about leaving puppy.
Yes, if you don’t have to be out in the school traffic, don’t!
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I loved school too and it does not surprise me at all that you did- that is probably what helps you be a wonderful teacher now!
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Aww, you’re too sweet to say that!
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I just read your fall trip post too. Exciting!! And it will help that you all speak the language : ) I also worked in school settings for a number of years, as a speech path, and then later taught kindergarten. I loved that too. I think it’s good to have a teacher who enjoyed her own school years, because you go in wanting students to love theirs too. I remember study hall as a a bit of a free for all so hope yours goes well!
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Thank you! Well, Tom does not, but he has picked lots up from his years of Latin. So true! I made a study hall syllabus and they had to sign it. I hope they continue to be sweet and respectful and let me get work done. Otherwise, it will be a long year.
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I definitely think teachers make lemonade out of lemons every day there is so much thinking on your feet involved even if you do get the right supplies the lesson doesn’t always go quite as you thought it would in your head. I hope study hall goes well for you. I always loved study halls and carried a few extra books to read “for fun” whenever I could. I think my girlfriends and I read ever single Danielle Steel book published (up until that date) in our study halls and we often passed them around to one another when we finished.
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Yes! Thank you! So far, the kids seem nice in my study hall. It’s nice for me to have this break, so I hope it stays that way. Ha – that’s so cute about passing around books!
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I enjoyed this post: it is interesting to see how you schedule is and for sure that one hour would make a difference. The boys school times are all different so I try to plan things for those 30 min increments whether it is relaxing, getting a chore done or playing with whichever kid is home. It will be nice though next year when the one with the 6:45 bus goes to middle school. We will all get an extra 30 min of sleep or time to get up.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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Thank you! Yes! Oh goodness – that’s hard. That will be nice to have it more streamlined for you.
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Yes!! The traffic in our area seems to start around 4:00 on weekdays or even as early as 3:00 on Fridays. There’s lots of major highway construction by us so that doesn’t help.
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It’s awful! We have lots of projects going on by me, too!
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I’m adjusting to a new schedule as well, since I am working from home again. But I run mine by my kids so, I have two who leave at 7 for high school and one whose bus doesn’t come until 8:45 for middle! Florida passed a new law that goes into effect in 3 years that says no school can begin prior to 8 am so that will be interesting when it happens!
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Ah, adjusting is always hard. Hope it’s a positive change. Wow – that is an interesting law.
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Most teachers probably did enjoy school. I enjoyed learning – I didn’t like the extracurricular activities and social crap that went on in high school. I taught early childhood education – not because I loved school but because I loved infants, toddlers and twos.
I would imagine getting back to school, getting it all organized and such is a lot of work, but obviously, it is work you enjoy. God bless you for that!
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Very true! Yes, I didn’t like the girl drama. I love infants, too. I don’t like excessive crying, but I love a snuggly baby.
It is a lot of work, but so are other types of work!
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You reminded me of how I played school all the time in my younger years. I loved school, too. I’m glad you have adjusted to the new hours. I taught school for a few years, until our first son was born. When our kids were older I subbed for a few years. I don’t think I was the most gifted teacher and it is nice that you enjoy teaching and have continued teaching. I do enjoy a lemon drop on occasion!
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Aww, so sweet. Thank you. I’m sure you were great! We are all too hard on ourselves.
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It seems you are definitely in the job you were created to do! Just wondering, is Spanish 3 mostly for juniors? I love that you have a google doc for your trips printed!
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Aww thank you! Yea, mostly juniors but a few advanced sophomores that went to a middle school with Spanish and a few seniors that started later in Spanish 1. I like the mixture.
I am kinda nerdy.
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I was very interested in your school timetable! I think I would prefer to start early and be home earlier too. But I’m not a morning person so I would struggle. Our day starts at 8.10 and ends at 3.46. Weird hours but it’s all got to do with funding.I will have to try coke with lemons, it sounds delicious and a bit fancy!
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Oh great! Yes! Yours is very similar to mine, but a bit longer. I guess it’s for the working parents, too. Yes, I hope you like it!
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I can totally understand how that hour change messed up your whole year! We had to go from teaching 8:15 to 3:45 to 8:00 to 4:00. It was only half an hour, but it felt like forever! And, even though I got there by 7:45 anyway and almost always stayed later than 4:00, it was the idea of forcing that extra half hour on us that bothered me most.
Is it difficult to get them back when lunch interrupts the class? My grands have had classes like that, and I always thought it would be hard to do.
I hope you have an amazing year, Amy!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Right? I get your change really being hard, too.
No, they come right back or we mark them tardy. Right now they are struggling a bit because they sell parking passes and beginning of school year things during lunch.
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I hope you have a fantastic school year! There are so many good teachers like you that we should all appreciate and encourage, because it’s not an easy job! Have a wonderful week!
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Thank you so much! Awww, that is really true that teachers should be appreciated more.
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