Reflect & Revise

After writing my blog post on Wednesday about not doubting yourself as a teacher in the beginning of the year, I put my words into action.  So what happened was this.... I went into school and started off the day telling my students that we were going back to the drawing board- at least behavior wise. I told them that it was going to be a long day of me stopping my lessons when they interrupted me, yelled at me from across the room, got up and came to me for help when I was working with someone else, and generally making too much noise. It was great! I stayed calm and enforced these rules. 

Yesterday was "the next day" and I guess it was similar. I reminded them of the rules. I stayed calm and didn't let them get the best of me. We stopped and regrouped as needed. So, step one of focusing on the positive (or creating an environment in which I was able to feel more positive) was complete. Then there was after school... I had a good meeting with my administrator to review my goals, sent out a few emails and then sat down to review my next day's plans. Then I quickly got myself so overwhelmed with all I have to do as a teacher that I left the building wondering how I was going to get it all done. How in the world will I enjoy my weekend when I know that I could spend the whole weekend working, just so I felt ahead of the game on Monday. 

The answer is that I will not! I will most likely not get ahead for next week, at least not to my standards. But, after reflecting on what is working well, what is not working, and prioritizing my schedule and workload, I realized that sometimes I just need to ask for help. So, I asked my husband to do some work for me. I asked him to do some calculations for a mapping project I am doing. I just couldn't wrap my head around it and needed his assistance. Well folks, it was just what I needed. One little thing off my plate that would have sucked up time and mental energy that I just did not want to expend, but knew it had to be done. Voila! Then I did what I promised myself I would not do this year....I went into my office and started planning for next week. Yep! I worked for an hour and a half so I could feel better. 

Now, as I sit here writing this blog at 6:15a.m., I feel like I can now go into Friday knowing that I have to stay focused and positive. I need to complete tasks in small chunks. I need to ask for help completing some of the stupid little things that are nagging me and keeping me from feeling successful. Then, I can focus on keeping it light in the classroom, focus on the students and taking time to check in with them on a personal level, and then be able to walk back out the door prepared to have fun this weekend and go apple picking with my granddaughter and husband. 

I hope this post helps you to consider reflecting and revising your perspective and actions when you get overwhelmed. Ask for help. (I know....easy to say.)  TGIF- ENJOY!