It’s 4:35 p.m. on Monday afternoon. I have T-10 minutes till dropping my oldest off at cross-country, T-20 minutes till picking up my youngest from soccer, and T-60 minutes from my beloved and much needed crossfit class. I’ve been up since 4:09 a.m., done 2 loads of laundry, made 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, done 35 minutes of yoga, and worked 8-1/2 hours (an hour over my actual contract time). As usual, like clockwork, the Florida summer showers are starting–lightening crackling, black clouds amassing, and my little Shetland sheep dog barking at the “thunder gods” in the backyard. It is real time. Always real time.
This year in school is so intense. I’m so exhausted and excited all at once. I have this amazing group of students and Common Core actually invigorates me, challenges me. I’m so inspired, but yet so forgetful. Why can I keep a tight schedule at home, not keep time in the classroom? How do I translate real time to my classroom, or is it real time and my home time is really not real time? Two magical worlds. 24 hours in a day.
Slice of Irresistible Circumstances 
As as written in http://jarhartz.wordpress.com/author/jarhartz/ – “Curiosity drives independent work and thinking. And second, close reading could be authentically pursued when it is a possible source for answers we are driven to find. Thinking is hard but thinking about something we are interested in is, well interesting.”
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We had a discussion in class the other day about how i minuet can feel long or short, depending on what you are doing. I also shared with the kids how I am struggling with the new schedule. They are helping me remember when lunch and recess happen because they are 10 min. earlier than last year. Old habits die hard.
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Yes. Old habits die hard. I have to keep reminding myself that I have to give up something in order to make other things happen, and I have to be willing to do that. It will be okay.
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In the beginning of the year things feel so unpredictable! The weather really sets the mood of your piece, unpredictable and almost explosive, in an exciting way. I love how common core has set you on this path. Sounds like you are in for a great year! Keeping it real and holding on tight for clear weather.
Julieanne
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And now (7:30 pm), it is raining again. A long, sad, evening rain with faraway thunder and premature darkness drawing in. I’m thinking how that SOL seemed so long ago and yet, it wasn’t, and I’m loving this extra time on my hands before I go to bed and read a bit.
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The start of the year is always so intense, right? It’s exciting and exhausting all at once.
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The best and worst time of the year. LOL!
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