early morning lesson planning.

I woke up this morning and started unit planning.  My summer thus far has been blissfully work-free.  I've really enjoyed doing absolutely nothing, getting fat, playing with my dog, and drinking in the middle of the afternoons.  I have little over a month left of my summer break and it's frightening how much I enjoy doing nothing.  I have the rumblings of a story coming together in my head, which I'm excited to work on, I'm doing some freelance writing for a lifestyle magazine, and I'm currently in the middle of packing up my little studio for a one bedroom in the Upper West Side.  4 days and counting.  Life's good.  Why pollute it with work?

But I guess after a month of slothfulness my brain is kind of itching to get back to work.  To help pay for the bills I've taken on a part-time position at a summer program teaching test prep to fourth and fifth graders for 4 days.  It's good money and it's giving me the opportunity to see what life is like for the elementary school teachers that I sometimes look at with contempt and jealously I spend hours grading essays or reading/researching topics that I will ultimately only give 10% of to my students.  

This summer has me re-evaluate my situation in a more fair light.  I'm not wrapped up in my own emotions or frustrations.  Teaching is a wonderful career because it gives me options. I can teach pre-school, elementary, middle or high school.  Heck why not even college.  I can teach in public or private schools, rural, suburban, or city...

I woke up this morning lesson planning because it's ultimately what I love to do.  I'm excited for the fall to come so I can meet my new 9th and 10th grade students.  I want to form the relationships with my students that I don't believe being a first year teacher allows for.  I'm looking forward to reading Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart with them.  

There were a couple of times (or more) this summer that I woke up from terrible nightmares.  I kept reliving my horrible first year experience in my dreams and it was late late night tv that helped get me through those nights.  I would eventually pass out at around 4 in the morning with the tv still on, but finally in la la land.  

God, I just hope this next year will be just a little bit better.