I filled up a good chunk of it by signing up to be a substitute teacher for both the elementary school and the high school. I did this as a test to see if I liked teaching enough to want to get certified and work in a grade school or high school. I've subbed a few weeks at both schools, and actually have a long term assignment at the high school, and the answer is yes and no. I do like being in the classroom. I like the kids. I think the kids like me. I am surprised that teaching the high schoolers has been easier than the younger students. The students mostly want to do well and stay on task. As long as they finish their assignments, I don't forbid them from playing video games when they are done. Their regular teacher, who is out having a baby, left videos and powerpoints with all of the information. Their assignments are all created and on timed release in the Google classroom. There is very little for me to do, other than make sure they are on task and in class. The hardest group to teach has been the middle schoolers. There are a few characters in every class that make teaching pre-teens difficult. There's the class clown, the class helper, that class chatterer, the class disrupter. They keep the classroom lively, but also keep me on task.
A great deal of my free time has been spent working on my next project - applying to grad school. I'm only applying to UT, which is going to be a long shot because it is highly competitive. But I've always said I was going to do this. I would love to go to class, read, and discuss the topics I want to study. I would love to continue to teach courses in nature writing/environmental literature. After struggling to write a conference paper this fall to present last weekend, I'm not sure writing is my strong suit anymore, and finding enough time for research and writing will always be a challenge. But we'll be down to two kids next year.
My other poject: teaching adult education. The training has started for this, although classes have not. I'll start as a substitute and teach either ESL courses or High School equivalency classes in preparation for the GED. I am excited about this opporunity to teach in a purpose driven way. At some point, I will likely need to limit the scope of my interests - elementary, high school, college, or adult education?
So I have much to be thankful for: These opportunities to work. My health, heart, and head to be able to work. The support of husband and kids to enable me to step away from domestic chores for a bit. I am also still teaching in the military education program from the computer. And I am thankful for my earnest, hard working students.
I am thankful for my kids, for their willingness to jump into this community, to be outsiders for a bit, to work their way into friend groups. to do well in academics and athletics at the same time. The second grader loves her teacher - a newly professed Dominican. She is very gentle and loving, albeit very young. But she is succeeding in teaching reading and bath to reluctant participants.
I am thankful for my parents, who came to visit at the beginning of the month. We had lunch out at a hipster restaurant coffee shop. We had their friends from New Braunfels up for a nice chatty visit over pizza and seltzer. Then one day we drove out to a bird sanctuary and a little town known for its pie restaurant. The pie was good, but I don't know that I'd drive an hour for it again. The hike - maybe. We didn't do much of it and I think we went the direction that is not more about bird watching that vista seeking.
I am also thankful for our community. We hosted both the cross country team and the football team end of season banquets to make use of our spacious house. The cross country team dinner was about 35-40 people and was a pitch in. Lots of snacky bites left over. The kids laughed and lounged and presented gifts to the seniors and coaches, and the coaches said a few words, but nothing as formal. The football banquet was a 107 people We borrowed tables and chairs from a friend of a friend who had just purchased property with a party barn. I was baffled by how we were going to seat 100 people - I was orginally told 60 - but we found space for everyone, and to spare. Those coaches gave speeches and awards and the team mom gave speeches and awards, and the team captains gave speeches and awards. It was a rewarding evening... bad pun...
What I was grateful for was all of the help. I was never alone in the kitchen. My dishes were washed while I was taking pictures, and leftovers from the caterer were packaged up before I finished. Now we have tentative plans for all the senior moms to get together again for a happy hour with no work involved.
It hasn't been the easiest year, and the stress has manifested in many ways, including my own bad attitude. But although I may grumble and complain, deep down I am grateful. I know this phase will pass eventually. And I will probably miss it. But for now I have captured this little snapshot to remind myself that even our difficult days contain moments that are priceless but brief.
