Writing Between Bells and Bedtime
I had a student a few days ago ask me how I could possibly do everything I do in a day. He was genuinely concerned about my state of mind and incredulous that I would even attempt everything. It got me to thinking about what my days actually look like and if I’m really being successful at everything. So, first, my days start EARLY, which is unfortunate. I am not a morning person, which may surprise you if you’ve read any of my posts about sunrises or seen any of my TikToks; but I don’t like mornings. They come way too early for my taste; however, I have stuff to do and, therefore, I am up early (by 4:45, if you must know). I have the normal routine of teeth brushing, morning meds, taking dogs out to pee and walk (you may have seen a walk post on Instagram or TikTok), and then doing my own run/walk and strength workout. (Nothing major. I’m not much of a fitness fanatic.) I try to get done before the sunrise for my morning coffee, journaling, and dog snuggling; but that is often one of the morning things that gets cut during the week if I’m running late for some reason. On weekdays, I am heading to school and then I teach from 8am through 2pm with a short 20 minute break for lunch. (Well, let’s be honest. The bell for lunch rings at 12pm. I can’t head for the faculty lounge for my lunch until all students have left; so, I usually sit down to eat around 12:10-12:15. I also have to be back to my room before the students arrive after their lunch, which means I am usually heading back towards my room a little before 12:30.) My planning period is from 2-3pm at the end of the day and that is when I grade papers, get ready for the next school day, answer and send emails, possibly attend IEP or 504 meetings—the usual teacher stuff outside of physically teaching students. I am usually home a little after 4pm, which leaves me about an hour and a half to two hours to continue grading papers or preparing for lessons, ride, write, clean, or read—really whatever I think I can fit into the time I have—before I need to begin getting dinner ready. After dinner with the family, we clean up, put leftovers away, talk, watch a little television, and then I head for bed to start the process all over again the next day. I always end my day with nonelectronic activity (ie. read, journal, work on puzzles, grade more papers. You get the idea.)
Looking at my schedule, I began to wonder how I ever got anything done, especially my trilogy; and I have to be honest—some days nothing gets done. Some days, the writing is my priority to the detriment of my teaching responsibilities like grading and planning. Sometimes I don’t get much writing done for several days in a row because of the essays, papers, tests, projects, whatever, that need to be graded or the lessons/units that need to be created and planned. I guess, though, that I give off a persona of accomplishing everything—at least, to that particular student. Disclosure alert: I don’t now, nor have I ever, accomplished everything I set out to do in a day, a week, a month, etc. I’d love to think I could, but it’s not possible. I’d love to write more during my day, read more as well, and make sure everything for my teaching is done; but that’s impossible. I mean, right now, this writing is getting done before I head home for the day and instead of going to the barn and riding. While writing this, I have fielded three phone calls—one from my mother, one about house repairs, and one from a parent. I have also had two intercom interruptions, five different students stop by for help, ask a question, or simply chat. It’s taken a lot longer to get through this than I had planned, so no ride, unfortunately.
After I get done with this, I have to finish planning for Monday, run of copies, and complete creating a test because instead of my planning period today, I got to escort my 6th period class to the gym for a pep rally and returned to my class in time for my afternoon duty. So, I will have my planning period after this, on my time, technically after working hours are over. Story of a teacher’s life, though, right?