rolling with the punches

It's been a stressful spring! Although this is my 6th year teaching, somehow the spring ALWAYS stresses me out. I think it's a combination of the warmer weather, being burned out, feeling indifferent towards my students, and having ZERO motivation to grade or lesson plan. Needless to say, it's been crazy and I am definitely ready for summer vacation!

One lesson that has stuck with me my last few years of teaching is to just go with the flow, especially when it comes to certain students and classes. For example, I have this crazy 6th period class of mostly boys. In my early years of teaching, I would have done everything in my power to have them do what I wanted and to get my way, no matter what. Typically, some of these kids are troublemakers in other classes, but for me they are pretty good. Why? I think because I give them a bit of freedom and I simply go with the flow. "You want to do a Battle of Bull Run reenactments as a class? Sure!" Or, "you want to do a cheer every time we open up our chrome books? Why not?!" Normally, I wouldn't want to deviate from "the plan" (aka, my plan), but rolling with the punches and being flexible in my lessons has enabled me to develop a good class culture with these students.

Having this realization about teaching has helped to implement the same philosophy in my own life. I am the kind of person the likes to plan and know what's ahead of me. The reality is, I don't quite know. So many things are up in the air. So in the meantime, what am I doing? Rolling with the punches.

10 more days of school…but who's counting?! :)