March is hell. It's long, it's still snowy up here, and the kids have been with me long enough that we know each other and have gotten into patterns of behavior...most positive, but some that I need to work actively to change. I am so worn out by the end of the day that I'm considering changing our schedule because math isn't getting the attention it deserves right now. With progress reports, report cards and IEP season upon us, I'm so overwhelmed in paperwork that my planning is lacking. It's not making it easier for me at all.
On top of that, I'm having personal issues that are affecting my ability to complete work on my time away from school. I need to get over that fast, because it's making my days hell at work.
Everyone is dying for spring, state testing begins next week...we're doing PARCC for the first time and I really don't know how to prepare the kids. I truly don't know what to expect. I'm trying not to stress them out, and hoping they perform at least comparably to how they did last year...I would hate to think I've held them back in any way due to my inexperience with the curriculum.
But ultimately, I'm working in a great place with a staff that I love. My principal is helpful and fun and knowledgeable. I have coworkers to lean on, and I'm helping other coworkers with their behavioral issues in the classroom...I like that people are willing to ask a first year teacher questions. My students are making progress behaviorally AND academically, and I hear from their parents that they're very happy with how they're doing...the ones who are communicative anyway.
Once it warms up a bit and the mountains of snow melt, it will all be downhill towards the end of the year. After our April break, the time is just going to fly.
