Term 3 is coming!

Well it's the final weekend of the holidays and Term 3 is almost upon us! I woke up this morning and felt that familiar mix of dread, guilt, and stress burbling in my stomach. I'm not prepared enough, I haven't done enough, there were so many other things I was going to get ready, why can't we have another week?! But through all those thoughts, excitement bubbles its way to the surface and I think about all the new things I'm going to try with my classes this term, all the lessons I've learned that I can use to make this term even better than the last one, and seeing those smiling faces wanting to tell me excitedly what they did over the holidays. 

As a fairly new teacher, every day, every term, is a learning curve. I'm working out how to juggle everything and still remain sane... how to prepare effective and engaging lessons; how to get all the drafting and marking done in time when for some unfathomable reason almost all the English assessment for all grades is due pretty much AT THE SAME TIME; how to not let all the bureaucratic bullshizzle get you down; how to take time to really get to know my kids and help them grow and love learning; how to fit all the 'required' stuff into lessons and still make them enjoyable and creative; how to not let school take over my life and still spend quality time with my new husband; but most of all, despite all the stress and never-ending demands, how to keep that passion for and enjoyment of teaching and learning alive.  

So while that familiar little ball of dread makes its weight known as the holidays come to a close, the overarching feeling is one of excitement, and I'm content in the knowledge that I've finally found the right profession for me... teaching!