I am the Queen of Procrastination. My friend Lisa – another first-year teacher who does not blog and is therefore not linked here – claimed this title on Facebook but I dispute her claim. I have had two weeks off from school and have successfully avoided almost all contact with my job since before the Solstice. I did go to work one day last week to grade notebooks, update my bulletin boards, and otherwise get ready for the return in this new year. However, I have not accomplished any of the other projects on my list and have even skipped checking my calendar (this practice caused me to miss a reunion with old friends – big disappointment for me).
The break has been good. I reacquainted myself with my good friend Sleep and have discovered and resolved to continue the benefits that come from being well rested. I’ve been reading a book – gasp! – by Barbara Kingsolver; this endeavour has been proceeding at a snail’s pace due to the number of other activities with which I have filled my vacation. It started with Christmas preparation, included a trip to visit family in New England, and incorporated various other celebrations including Solstice and New Year – the former much preferred to the latter but sometimes you have to go with the flow.
Anyway, my time of procrastination is over and today, I dove right back in – knowing full well that my wonderful, exciting responsibility to teach my students would again consume every waking moment. Have I mentioned that I do my best thinking in the shower? We will dive back in to reproduction/genetics/differentiation/selection/evolution/human body systems…. I love it! My “To Do” lists however are stretching from here to way over there.
Bracing for blast off!
Oh Kathryn…it sounds like you had a wonderful break. I too procrastinated until the last second. But I have you beat! I didn’t go into school at all! (I feel very bad about it…I know I’ll be kicking myself this week.) I enjoyed reading this, I’ll check back again soon. Good luck this week!! 🙂
It’s okay Kathryn we all procrastinate! Especially over vacation. I, like Lisa, have not stepped foot in school since the break. But I dont have bulletin boards or a classroom to go to anyway so it would have been pointless. In fact I dont even grade (not allowed to) so I officially did not have a reason to go to school! 🙂
I hope you are doing well and LOVING your job! I’m glad someone blogs! I definitely should… I have a VERY interesting job.
Kathryn… teaching and preparing for teaching are wonderful things however… “consume every waking moment” Be careful my friend. My students will know me as much for what I teach as also one who loves jazz and does stained glass. And as far as what they carry forth… last year’s students remember the day they leaped about on a boulder field and the goofy moments as much as the important concepts… and that is OK. enjoy.
@ Lisa – Thanks for stopping by! I’m not relinquishing the crown though.
@ Tamara – you should blog about it. I’d love to know more about what you are doing.
@ Wayne – it’s a dangerous career for a workaholic. I think it takes so much time because I’m so new at it. I also have to spend significant amounts of time foraging for supplies and equipment. Hopefully, I’ll get better at it all of it. I still manage a variety of other pursuits – mostly involving the adolescents with whom I live.
it’s not procrastination: it’s meditation.
@ Bean – perhaps I’ll call it that from now on.