Summer break is officially five weeks away and just like the students, the teachers are also counting down to vacation.
While I love teaching and I love my students, we have reached the part of the school year where the students become well, ridiculous and the teachers start to go 'round the bend.
Accordingly, I will not miss the following:
1) children jumping in the hallway to smack the door frame, and then sighing in disgust when you tell them NOT to jump and slap the wall.
2) the sound of gum smacking in a teenage mouth, and then sighing in disgust when you tell them to spit it out.
3) the distinct smell of a boy who has been running outside in the heat.
4) being asked "what did you just say?"
5) for that matter, being asked "Wait, how many points is this worth?"
6) the question: "wait, Europe ISN'T a country?"
7) chanting (in chorus) all the continents from west to East, after a student asks if Europe is a country.
8) handing out progress reports to those with missing work, only to have them come up to me the next day and ask if they are missing any work.
9) saying "what should you be doing right now?" and/or "thank you to those of you who are following directions."
10) grading essays
What will I miss?
1) Seeing a student's eyes light up when they finally "get it."
2) watching a student finally start working and seeing the fruits of their labor
3) my students cheering every morning as I walk to the classroom to unlock the door
4) the sound of 28 tweens laughing in the middle of a lesson, not because they're messing around, but because they are having fun while learning, despite their best efforts to the contrary.
5) teaching
