BAD BAD TEACHER

I usually use this expresion with my dog when she`s doing bad stuff like chewing on my kids underwear : " Bad bad doggie "
So why the title ?
Because that`s how I feel about my teaching for the last 2 weeks.
Is it the winter blues ?
I don`t get that.
Is it PMS ?
Probably.
Is it my students ?
They are not better or worse than usual and even if they were worse it`s not an excuse, I am a professional right ?
Well I don`t feel professional lately.
I`ve been putting too many things as priority one and the plate is full.
I promise myself every start of the year not to handle too many things at once and to say " NO "and then forget to say it.
What happens is this teacher tries to juggle and solve too many things at once.
The result is lack of sleep, way too many things to do, lunch on the go, projects to handle and way too many things on the daily to-do list and correction piling up!
Add 2 needy kids at home and a husband and you get one irritated and impatient teacher.
The smile and patience go out the window and little things become out of proportion and you lose it.
Next thing you know you`re raising your voice in class while you`re saying to yourself : Is that me yelling ? "
What do you do when that happens ?
You take a day off to get rid of the migraines you`ve been having all week and sleep it off.
You think and do other stuff that isn`t remotely connected to the teaching profession.
You reorganize your list of priorities.
You remind youself that Rome wasn`t built in one day and trust yourself enough to believe you can do a great job.
You try to forget your bosses who expect solutions and results and keep in mind that they are usually very supportive.
You keep in mind that you have ALWAYS worked on your projects thoroughly and nothing has been overlooked : being thorough is a quality but perfectionism is a death sentence.
You then call your sister in Ottawa , and listen to her sound advice.

I then look at my kids who like me, are irritable, cranky and cry for nothing .
March Break here we come, take us away !

So bear with me people, I bark but I don`t bite.
I`m working hard on getting rid of the cranky teacher and letting the normal one find her way back in the classroom.
How sick was I of my job this week ?
I was seriously considering applying at Wal-Mart !
I`m not kidding.
Then I had a reality check and took a nap.
Besides, I can`t work at Wal-Mart, I`d spend my paycheck there
and then who would pay the bills ?

On that, I`m off doing anything that isn`t connected to school.
This blog is very therapeutic by the way, it takes some of the pressure off and lessens the drama.

Do you hear that ?
Well if it isn`t my personal trainer coming ?
Yep, here she comes, my chocolate Labrador, she`s in the mood for a loooong walk and so am I.

Tata y`all
Annie