One more day

One more day of summer. One more day to attempt to sleep in. One more day to soak up a quiet morning. One more day to hang out and chill with David, watching movies and playing games. One more day to visit my favorite coffee shop.

One more day.

To be honest, though, I wish I could soak up the silence of the morning tomorrow in my classroom. Every year I make it a point to head in to school a few days to a week before everyone else comes back because I can think so much better when it's quiet and I don't have to talk to a single soul. For this introvert, it's really the perfect way to start out a school year. I get most of my things organized, special copies made, posters put up, and desks/furniture arranged before all the other teachers fill the halls with their extroverted energy, enthusiasm, and NOISE.

Not that I don't enjoy seeing everyone again, catching up, and meeting the new teachers. Just not all at once, and definitely not when I need to focus and think clearly enough to start off a new year.

But, alas, I will not have that privilege of starting the year quietly. The building remains under construction and we're told we can't get into our classrooms until the last two days of staff development, still a week from Thursday.  Leaving two short days to get things set up, plus that Saturday and Sunday before school starts if we so choose. (Normally, I am adamant about NOT working over the weekend, but this year may be different.)

So, for now I'm trying to think backwards and get the things done now that I would normally do those last two days, like taking a good look at all the lessons I'll be teaching the first week, as well as how I will present all of the procedures and routines. The fact that I'm returning to a grade I taught for many years makes it much easier than if I were having to learn a whole new grade level, and the fact that I already know and have taught many of the students coming up into second grade takes that whole level of first-day-of-school stress away.

Since Juan was gone for the entire summer, I stored ALL of my classroom stuff (that I had to bring home due to the construction at school) in his room. I figured I'd have it all out and back to school by this week, just in time for him to come home this weekend to reoccupy his room. No such luck. So I spent today picking out the essential things that I'll need to take back to school at least for the first week (since we won't have much time) and moved all that into David's room (lol), clearing out enough space in Juan's room so he can sleep, unpack from a summer at Pine Cove, and repack for the next semester at DBU.

(In another few days, he'll be home for a whirlwind of a weekend, and then we'll take him straight to DBU to settle in a few days early before classes. This summer with him gone so long made me realize just how different our role in his life is now and how different his role is in our lives, too. Makes me super thankful for all of our travels together last summer and our big family vacation over Christmas. Not sure how many more of those opportunities we will see with him. Very bittersweet, bringing lots of mixed emotions.)

The following weekend will be spent scrambling to make sure everything is ready for the first day of school. Not the way I would have liked to start a new school year, but, it is what it is. I'm just glad I've had a restful and quiet summer to prepare for the whirlwind of the next two weekends.

And, just like the kids, I am definitely craving that sense of structure and routine again that the school year brings. It brings comfort and security and just makes you feel safe and productive.

One more day, and then I'm off to start my 16th year of teaching in the same school where I started my career. Back to my home away from home with a bunch of kids and families that I've grown to love more with each year. Classroom ready or not, I'm looking forward to a great year ahead.