Well it is time to forge ahead.

I realize my last post was a bit sad, and I’m sorry about that.  It was a theme I kept running over and over in my head, and had to put words to what it was.  It would be interesting to hear what other teachers think and feel about the issue of loss, and what they do to cope with it. Anybody?

So now on to the impending school year: 2015-2016.  Rapidly approaching, I should think, for many of you.  There’s a lot to do – and for me, pondering what I need to do and how little time I have left to actually do it can be daunting.  Thinking about it though, and taking the time to ponder, needs to happen in order to create impetus.  Summer Me slowly needs to be shaken away, as if we’ve come in from the snow and need to shed all these layers just to get back to equilibrium. I’m a big advocate of being who you are as a teacher, but you do need to gear up, and there are some subtle differences in the School You and the Summer You.

For instance, let it be said that Summer Me is not always the cleanest.  Summer Me might be wearing shorts and the same t-shirt for days on end.  The dri-fit shirt that does a great job of making the pit stains negligible begins to smell like my Grandpa smelled back in the day.  Summer me has perhaps declined in general physical upkeep, most notably in the Facial Hair Department.  The Ear Hair Department has also increased business during the reign of Summer Me.  The dawn of Summer Me has created a list of tasks for Summer Me to complete in its zeal to do stuff, yet paradoxically be free from doing stuff – however the twilight of Summer Me realizes wistfully that most items will be placed on next summer’s list to be similarly ignored.  I could go on and on.  These habits must be put in order, sometimes rapidly, in order for School Me to function properly.

Thinking about how you are going to start thinking helps.  Don’t think about it, just think about how you might begin.  I tend to think that the rust starts to fall away a little at this point, and then perhaps some planning can occur.  I need to prepare for how I’m going to possibly wear pants again, stick to a consistent showering routine, and follow-through on my commitments. I need to start thinking about how I’m going to deal with my students, because they are coming.  They are coming and they will expect me to be ready

So get ready Summer Me, and all the Summer You’s.  Time for the School You’s to emerge.  In the meantime, cultivate that ear hair for a few more blissful weeks.  I know I will…