NO Child Left Behind topped with a Bad Case of the Mondays

It's almost midnight...I realize that I must wake up in approximately 6 hours, yet here I am.  After a long Monday, I left school today discouraged and feeling under the weather with a bad case of the Mondays.  This weekend I had granted myself the luxury of pretending not to be a teacher for a few days.  The students had Thursday and Friday off, as most of the teachers has a 2-day conference for the Association of Christian Schools International.  One of the blessings of being a state-employee, is that I am not required to go to all WCHS events; though many are beneficial regardless.  Of course I went to some of it, as I felt some things applied to me as well as fed my curiosity and spirituality alike. 

Long story short though, I have not been in student mode for nearly 5 days, so this morning hit me like a ton of bricks.  I felt unprepared as I drove to school this morning, thinking of all that I could and probably should have accomplished but did not.  I calmed myself though by reminding myself that grades are due tomorrow and at least I have all of those in and set to go!  My feeling of unpreparedness turned in to pure frustration as I realized that I left not one, both both folders for my math classes at home on the kitchen table...after specifically making a mental note last night not to do so.  Some good that did; some day I am convinced I'm just like my kids.  "Well guys, you'll never guess what Ms. Phillips did this morning...she left her home work on the kitchen table..."  Needless to say those plans were "shot to hell in a hand basket" as my lovely side-kick says.  Somehow I managed to pull some things together, though not as effectively and orderly as I'd like of course...my perfectionist self was forced to get over it rather quickly. 

Despite the day's blunders, I left an hour and a half after the bell rang dismissing the students this afternoon; not bad for me!  Sadly, I left in full knowledge that I must take a short run/ dinner break before hitting the lesson plans again.

.....And here I am.  Having just finished the week's lesson plan for my 5th and final class.  I am continually haunted by the daunting task of meeting the needs of every child.  On the eve of election day, I am reminded of the famous NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND and can only laugh.  The regulations, restrictions, accountability testing, and numbers, and all other requirements were created with many flaws.  Those things are so limited and I find myself constantly asking how in the world I am challenge the top student while not trampling on those still on the bottom rung.  If only...

Anyways, I will step down from my soap box to tell you the good news.  I am THRILLED because after completing Beowulf with my seniors, which was rough at times for the boys, I have been racking my brain for a REALISTIC way to assess the students' knowledge.  I have come up with what I consider to be an exciting solution.   The kids will be given a "menu" of options ranging from creating a comic, song lyrics, a powerpoint, a gameboard, and more in order to display what they have learned about the various characters, setting, events, and themes of Beowulf.  Now God only knows if the students will be as excited as I am; most likely not, but there is always hope!  However, I have to believe they will approve of this better than the original  paragraph essay rubric I had drafted.  There may be light at the end of the tunnel!

Ps...I now know why every one's first piece of advice to me as a first-year teacher was to get a hobby.  Thank the Lord for running...it has become my outlet at the end of the days.  I am going to attempt to train for a 1/2 marathon, so hopefully that will provide enough challenge and distraction outside of the classroom that somehow I can maintain my sanity.  How ironic...running a 1/2 marathon to maintain rather than lose sanity...who would have guessed?!

Here's to shaking a bad case of the Mondays!
Ms. Phillips