Today started with a trip to my "real" job. For an hour this morning, our school district opened the schools for teachers to retrieve needed materials to teach from home the next 3 weeks. I started at the high school. I grabbed everything from lesson method books, valve oil, secondary instruments to my personal printer. Nothing really felt different until I got to the middle school. Walking into the band room was surreal. My colleague had already started pulling instruments out of the storage rooms for students that didn't listen to us the day prior to spring break. 4 cart loads of instruments will hopefully be picked up next week by eager to learn students...
Leaving the building was strange. A group (though spaced 6 feet apart) of teachers had gathered around the front entrance to talk. It was nice to have some adult interaction, but made me a bit depressed. I, like most of you, just want to go back to teaching. My life is my students and the music that I get to teach every day. A part of my heart is empty right now. As much as I complain about my crazy 8th grade class, the wrong notes, the kids that skip their lessons, or students that won't shut up during class, those things fill space in my heart that is empty right now. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the time with my daughter. I wouldn't trade this time with her for anything. I just need the other part of my heart to be filled. The noisy chaos at the start of 8th grade band, the watching and listening to kids file into the HS band room talking of their mornings or activities the day prior, and the creation of music is something that I look forward to, whenever that time will be.
10:30 am - School starts for Sophie. A delayed cup of coffee is on the agenda first and some Bell Work.
10:50 am - Math - Reviewed today counting from 100 to 300 by 10's, 5's and today 2's. We filled out number charts, and counted aloud. Doubles + 1 review today as well. She really enjoys this, and thanks to a colleague, I have many worksheets for Sophie to complete!
11:30 am - Reading - More review of textual evidence and we finished the Wyoming Alphabet book. We re-read our Bible readings from Genesis and Matthew and continued our conversations about Forgiveness, Resurrection and Blessings. We continue to add to our Resurrection Bags when we think of something that reminds us of the Easter season or blessings in our lives. We also reviewed nouns, verbs and adjectives and wrote an Easter Mad Lib.
I also think Sophie is REALLY wanting to have dinner or lunch somewhere other than our house. I asked her to give me examples of nouns and 80% of her examples were of restaurants or fast food places. Ugh. I might have to have one night a week be a take-out night. Poor bug.
12:15 - Lunch
12:45 - Lunch Doodles with Mo - Today we made a board game.
1:30 - Piano lessons - This lasted only 15 minutes, she was getting pretty antsy. I think the "delayed start" time at grandmas and grandpas house was too much fun. While she wanted to "school" today, she was ready to be done.
1:45 - School Wrap Up - We accomplished a lot today and this week. She wanted to write out the wrap-up today. Spelling is for sure on the agenda for next week.
Thinking about the future, I'm not sure I am ready to homeschool my daughter for the next month. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the time, I just don't know if I am built for this. Maybe a few hours playing trombone will knock me out of this funk, or a sunny, warm-ish day outside. We will see.
Tomorrow is Saturday and it's supposed to be sunny and around 40 degrees. I plan to spend as much time outside as possible. Rain next week...
Keep socially distancing, friends. I want to teach band again this school year. If I have to do this all the way to November, I may explode.
Much love.
Steph Williamson
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