Last night I was reading the Sebastian Faulks book A Week in December . A character was described as someone who was not "waking with pleasureable anticipation and desire to get things done". I pondered if I was such a person. With a week left before Christmas holiday begins I'm waking with the pleasureable anticipation that at the end of the school day I can check off that I am a day closer to hopping on the flight to Miami. I have a list on my whiteboard of the things to get done before I leave. I have a keen desire to get them done and erased.
I don't think this is the type of pleasureable anticipation Faulks was suggesting. He was describing the somewhat sad case of a man without passion for his daily work and I am dreaming of the anticipation of escaping from my daily work for a holiday. I believe I am like most who as a vacation approaches summon delightful expectations of the days and daze of holiday freedom to do nothing more than lie in a hammock and read a book -even if you never get close to a hammock.
When I return will I have a pleasant anticipation to return to the classroom and get some teaching and learning done? I'm enjoying putting together January plans for lessons and experiments on matter and density for 6th grade, preparing 7th grade for a star-gazing activity at their annual sleep-over, and expanding 8th grade thinking on the fundamental forces and particles that make up the universe. My return plans are even influencing what type of book I might take to the hammock.
It sounds like your kids are pretty lucky to have a teacher like you.
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