One of my good teacher friends was so upset over something yesterday that she couldn't even talk about it. That's the way it is sometimes at our school. I wonder if it will be the same for me in the states in two or three years. If I am able to get a job in my area, and it ends up being half as stressful as here, I am getting out of the classroom and going to work at a factory. I'm tired of always thinking. Even during vacations, I think about what to do in the classroom. Yikes, it just never stops.
Why do we do it? For the money, of course. (all teachers will get the sarcasm) No, wait, it's not just about the salary. We do it to see the light in kids' eyes every once in awhile when they "get" a new math concept. Or when they get their hands on some Oobleck or dry ice and have a blast with experiments. Or when their writing turns out to be exemplary. Or when a formerly quiet as a mouse student has a breakthrough and starts talking loudly enough to need to be shushed. Or when ESL students soar. Or when confidence blooms. Or when they actually get my witticisms. (Third graders probably won't get my jokes)
So to my friend, I say, "I'm here when and if you are ready to talk about it."
Showing posts with label TAS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TAS. Show all posts
Friday, May 02, 2008
Sleepless in Taipei
Hmph, for the third night this week, I'm wide awake far too early. One night it was 1:00 am, another 1:30, today I woke up at 2:30 am. Wide awake. Not the awake that just gets you to the bathroom and then back to sleep right away. Nope, this is a full-blown attack of stress and worries about upcoming events at school that are keeping me from my beauty sleep.
First it was sleeplessness over who was going to make the 5th grade recognition concert DVD. Once I decided that I would do it, with Greg's and Dan's help, one less stressor was out of the way. Or so I thought. I booked the projector and DVD player, but now am thinking about the actual event night. Who will run the DVD player and projector? Who will make sure the screen is down? Will the DVD run properly? Dan will burn the DVD on Monday, make copies, and I will test it on my computer. I'll ask Greg to work the projector and DVD player. I'll run up backstage and work the screen. OK, problems solved. Go back to bed. Guess not, I'm still wide awake.
This really is a big night. We have all 180 5th graders, as well as their parents, music teachers, and us 5th grade teachers together for the event, so I don't want any glitches. I'm envisioning my photos being grainy, fuzzy, or semi-out of focus on the big screen. Why? I guess because I take after my maternal grandmother, and worry about all kinds of little things. For some reason, I often imagine the worst.
But maybe that's not a bad thing, because it means I do prepare in advance for most really important things. Which is why for the first time in the five years I've been in 5th grade, the DVD will be finished four days early, instead of the day of. Or in last year's case, minutes before. (Thank you Dan and Greg!!!)
Best thing...no more worries after this year for this event, since I'll no longer be in 5th grade. Third grade, here I come!
First it was sleeplessness over who was going to make the 5th grade recognition concert DVD. Once I decided that I would do it, with Greg's and Dan's help, one less stressor was out of the way. Or so I thought. I booked the projector and DVD player, but now am thinking about the actual event night. Who will run the DVD player and projector? Who will make sure the screen is down? Will the DVD run properly? Dan will burn the DVD on Monday, make copies, and I will test it on my computer. I'll ask Greg to work the projector and DVD player. I'll run up backstage and work the screen. OK, problems solved. Go back to bed. Guess not, I'm still wide awake.
This really is a big night. We have all 180 5th graders, as well as their parents, music teachers, and us 5th grade teachers together for the event, so I don't want any glitches. I'm envisioning my photos being grainy, fuzzy, or semi-out of focus on the big screen. Why? I guess because I take after my maternal grandmother, and worry about all kinds of little things. For some reason, I often imagine the worst.
But maybe that's not a bad thing, because it means I do prepare in advance for most really important things. Which is why for the first time in the five years I've been in 5th grade, the DVD will be finished four days early, instead of the day of. Or in last year's case, minutes before. (Thank you Dan and Greg!!!)
Best thing...no more worries after this year for this event, since I'll no longer be in 5th grade. Third grade, here I come!