The Third Quarter Slump

I'm at school right now. It's my prep period. This is my time to catch up on grading papers, make phone calls, and finish lesson plans.

Today I'm using it to eat chocolate, blast Broadway music, and unwind a little bit.

We've hit my least favorite part of the school year. I call it the third quarter slump.  The school year is no longer new and exciting: our pencils are dull, our brains are dull, the weather is dull, the world in general is in a slump. Last summer has become a distant memory, and this upcoming summer is painfully out of reach.

Don't get me wrong. I purposefully teach my favorite part of the curriculum during this quarter. I still look forward to coming to school most mornings (I like it better once I'm here. It never seems appealing while I'm at home, cozy in bed).

But I would feel more intelligent talking to an empty room than I do these kiddos. I LITERALLY did jumping jacks in front of the class today. I asked them to pay attention to what I was pointing at. I demanded that they pay attention to what I was pointing at. I instructed them to put down their pencils, close their binders, and give me their full attention, and finally, when I was at my wits end I began jumping up and down waving my arms frantically like I was putting out a fire yelling at the top of my voice, "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me."  Finally, I had their attention. Until I said, "Now that you're paying attention, what are the two parts of a paragraph?" (topic sentence and supporting sentences). Immediately eyes glazed over and drool formed on their lips.

Oh Sunshine, Sunshine. Wherefore art thou sunshine? Forsake thy clouds and deny the cold. For if thou wilt not, I will never be able to reach these kids. (Forgive me, Mr. Shakespeare).

My Voice

Phew! My voice did return, although even my students were a bit skeptical that it would ever happen. I think they were looking forward to a bit of a repreive from my constant nagging. Jake probably was too. : )

It did some funny changes though. There was a point where one student actually said, "Hey, at least you got your voice back, even if you do sound like a man." Thanks buddy. I wish I had recorded the many different stages of recovery. Today I sounded like a teenage boy in puberty. I'd be doing just fine and all of a sudden -- squeak!

Oh well, I'd rather have a funny voice than no voice at all. I never appreciate the telephone as much as I do the day after my voice returns.

Haha.

Thank goodness for modern conveniences.

And for the experiences in life that help us appreciate them.