Actress/Teacher

Who knew that taking a couple of drama classes in high school and developing a severe case of stage fright in front of my peers would lead me to being a teacher... or really, just an actress with a perpetual audience of eight- and nine-year-olds? So often that's what being a teacher seems to signify. Sure, I attend conferences, staff meetings, and other meetings with vague purposes; I spend too much time grading and entering grades, creating rubrics; I read more children's literature than a children's book editor; I plan lessons during every waking (and sometimes slumbering) moment; but when it comes to opening the door in the morning to a class of expectant third graders, the actress kicks in and takes over. I am replaced by a character called "Miss Sells" who has all the answers, a bottomless pit of energy and enthusiasm about everything from fire drills to fractions, and a great skill of improvisation. Through it all she has a smile on her face, except when the teacher-look is necessary.

I was inspired to create this blog because of my wonderfully eloquent elder sister's influence. Plus, I would like to have a place dedicated to thought and experiences dealing with my professional life (which, let's face it, is my life).

Of course, now it's the summer: that supposed "vacation time" that makes the occupation of teacher enviable to everyone with normal 9-to-5 jobs. Right now, however, I am in my classroom, trying to sort out all of the files, articles, magazines, both inconsequential and overbearing tasks that I decided to put off so I could check out early. I just sigh and look around thinking about everything that needs to be done: schedules to be made, lesson plans to be created, desks to be arranged, re-organizing and pre-organizing, phone calls and e-mails and letters to write- all of a sudden I seem very tired. Aren't I still on vacation?