Uumm - what day is it?

I’m feeling a bit discombobulated.
I was thinking about all those big words we had to learn how to spell in high school with A Beka and thought I should throw one out.
Then started second guessing myself and had to look up what it meant and if I spelled it right…
Yup, usage and spelling correct. Whew.

It’s been a long day. Another 13 hours at school kind of day. Just the thing to put you in the Christmas spirit. But after tomorrow morning’s performance and four of my least favourite classes to fill up the afternoon, I’ll officially be able to stop and take a breath. My tutee told me tonight he has to cancel for tomorrow night, and I was more than happy to hear that I will finally be able to stop and think about the fact that Christmas is in three days!

The long day began with getting to school early (7:30) to be at the last grade 5 christmas practice. Then the rest of the morning was classes, ending with what I am now beginning to think is the Grade 2 class that belongs in a teacher horror film. An hour for lunch, back for the afternoon full of classes (Wednesday is my heaviest teaching load) followed by a 90 minute Grade 5 after-school class, subbing for another teacher who lost their voice. Then 15 minutes to run over to the other building, scarf down the leftovers from lunch (cold) and then tutor for two hours.
There was one good story from today. At lunch, I had free refills on my Diet Coke, and did my usual three. After lunch, I made sure to go to the washroom before my class. When it was time for my third class, I sort of had to go to the washroom, but I didn’t really have time. Started teaching my Grade 7 boys. Half way through – really had to go. At five minutes to the bell I was in agony. I was so distressed, I couldn’t even put my thoughts together. So I figured it was better to have the embarrassment of excusing myself than the embarrassment of peeing my pants! So I asked them what they could do for five minutes until the bell, and one of them suggested sleep. So I had them put their heads down, and told them I would be right back. As soon as I left the room, there was a general roar of laughter – but I didn’t care. I came back a minute later, rather sheepish, and was honest with them. They thought it was hilarious – and I was just glad it was them – my grade 7’s who are my favourites.

Oh – and me telling the Christmas story has been going over really well – of course tomorrow are my hardest classes and they are the test. But overall I’ve been amazed at how interested and engaged they are. Of course, there only knowledge of the story comes from the Christmas songs they are made to practice for ridiculous amounts of time in preparation for the Christmas performance.

Below are some pictures - of lunch today, and of some of my kids opening their letters from their penpals in Indiana.