**Warning: This is a picture heavy post...but entertaining all the same!**
I feel like summer vacation zoomed past me at light speed! But when I stop to think about where I was when I went home on that last day of the school year back in May, I realize...I did get to enjoy a nice two months off. By that I actually mean this...
No really! When everyone else was going home and truly celebrating on May 24th, I was freaking out knowing I had one more week before my National Boards portfolio entries were due. For that first week out of school, I worked like a dog to finish up final edits, do major reflections on myself as a teacher, scanned documents, pictures, letters, and more like a mad woman, and sat at my pretty little iMac uploading and watching a status bar move across the screen. Many deep breaths and hesitations (pressing that "Submit" button was trickier than an outsider would think) I submitted two days earlier than I told myself I would!
Proof and memorialization of me submitting |
Then, I got to enjoy my life for a few days before I had to go back in to the classroom for a special math lab school (AKA summer school). Meanwhile, I was stressing out about having to take my 4-hour assessment at the Assessment Center in 3 weeks on June 21st. There was no time for rest as I read up on some math techniques and how to interpret and diagnose reading errors (since it had been awhile since I'd delved in to that). You see, I was working towards a Middle Childhood Generalist certificate, which means all subjects (including fine arts and health and wellness) ranging from 3rd to 6th grade. There were quite a few things that I needed to get back on the bike and practice riding for. So those 3 weeks looked a little something like this...
A little bit of light reading, highlighting, and going post-it flag crazy!...it's honestly a really amazing textbook, really. |
I was even boring my furbaby, who nicely held down my papers for me so they wouldn't blow away. |
I even went old skool and used flash cards to help me nail down all the accomplished teaching standards I would have to use in my essays. |
To keep myself focused on the day and how I'd live through it, I...okay, before you read this next part, I ask you not to laugh at me...I scheduled my DVR to record the Jodi Arias movie on Lifetime. It kept advertising to premiere on June 22nd, and I knew that would be the day after my tests. So to me, that was like my target, to live to see June 22nd. Okay, stop laughing now. I enjoyed sitting on my couch that night with no responsibility but to watch this made for TV movie!
When June 21st came around, I was a ball of nerves and didn't think I'd make it through the test alive. I was afraid more than anything that I would get in there and forget everything I knew as a teacher or I, especially, would not be able to find the right words to answer the mutli-step questions. All of them. But, thankfully, I got through it and survived to tell...
Did anyone else get excited about this debuting like I did? |
I proceeded to celebrate in a HUGE way by going out to Buffalo Wild Wings with my supportive husband and friends at my favorite place to unwind. I CANNOT describe in words how amazing it felt to be able to actually take a breath and enjoy my summer and my free time for the first time in 2 years!
Honestly, when people asked me if I was going to travel or do anything once I was finally finished, my answer to that was honestly...no. I wanted to just be able to sit on my couch, read a book or watch T.V. without having to worry about what I should have been writing, typing, or reflecting on. And you know what? It felt fantastic!!! Hence the meme I posted at the top of this blog. Sure, I won't find out my results until the end of November, but I couldn't be happier to have several months not to think about it anymore...until maybe October when it creeps up on me.
But being the ridiculous Type-A person and teacher that I am, several days later, I was back to my kitchen table working on school items for the upcoming school year. I couldn't help it! There were all sorts of ideas I had because of completing National Boards, and frankly, a lot of things needed to be changed in my classroom to improve the impact on learning for my students.
I did get to enjoy more time with my friends though and it felt really good to join them and not worry about what I should have been doing back at home. Bunco. Book Club. Day trips. Yelp Elite pool parties. Ceramics painting.
A few more shots of my "boring" summer vacation, just so I can remember I wasn't a total vampire!
In fact, I did lots of shopping and movie-going as well...two of my favorite pastimes!! Who is with me when I say this was one of the BEST movies this summer?!
Anyone who lives in Arizona knows, its better to just hide inside like a vampire until the weather cools off again. So, to some my summer probably seems like a total bore...but sweet freedom was all I tasted!
Heh. So true when you live in the desert. |