Sep 01, 2007 09:25
Ya know, I'm not sure I am going to EVER get back into a regular groove here, but the mood struck this morning to write about my past week, so here goes:
the signs?
*The mammoth stack of mail on the kitchen table that I haven't even looked at
*The pile of laundry on my bedroom floor (which will be dealt with today)
*The 3-day stack of dishes in the sink (also on today's list)
The best sign?
* After only one week of being on my feet and NOT drinking beer? I've already lost 3 of my "summer pounds". WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!
Man, I tell ya, I forgot JUST how much energy it takes to teach the little ones all day. I haven't been in a primarily elementary setting for about 3 years now. 3 of my 5 afternoons are going to be the general music classes where I have to teach K, 1, and 2 all in a ROW. That first day of doing that, on Tuesday, I came home around 4:30, laid on the couch, and promptly lost the next hour and a half of my life.
I have 48 students in the 6th grade band. I think that's more than I had in 5th and 6th combined last year. I met half of them a few days ago, the "brass and percussion" half - wow, what a live group they are, but it's going to be fun. 6th grade can be such a fun age when they have a task at hand, ya know?
Probably the most helpful thing this week was the man I replaced, who had been there for 40 years, came in to sub Thurs. and Fri. So he took a few general music classes that day, and I got to watch the whole "handbell" thing 1st hand. Wow - I could have read 14 manuals for 3 more months and never have figured it out as quickly as I did watching him teach it for 40 minutes. I then got a chance to take a few clsses through the trial run, and he thought I did pretty well with it. Woohoo - good enough for me! :)
The last thing to note about this week. On the first day, the in-service, the high school director, who I've known since I was in high school myself, and who is also a head judge for the competitive marching circuit around here, found ME~ I had had this plan that after a few weeks I would contact him and talk to him about the high school program and what he needs up there. Well, he found me that first morning, gave me a big hug and said "oh I'm SO glad they hired YOU!" He then went on to tell me the marching band could use a little help, and I might want to "get myself in position" since he's only got 3 years left. Ya know, this was kind of my low key goal/plan to begin with, but I never thought it would be presented to ME on the very first day!!!!!!!!!!!! So it might be possible that I will have my cake and eat it too...........have the nice cush elementary schedule, PLUS be able to "volunteer" with the marching band at my discretion, and wait patiently for Jim to retire........... hmmmmmm? It's not that easy, is it?
I'm still cautious. Last year around this time, I believed that I had exactly the job I wanted forever and ever, and it blew up in my face. Granted, this is NOT a sub position, it's a gig, straight up. But still............I know it's only been a week, but it would appear that the opportunities I wanted have presented themselves to me, and that if I play things right...........well, we shall just wait and see how the next few years play out right?