I am writing this on the eve of returning to school, kids not in till Monday but I have been worrying about going back. I didn't end up writing an end of term post, which I often do. One because I haven't really wanted to get on my computer very much all Summer, Two, because last year was incredibly hard for me at school. As you remember, I spent the entire last academic year without my music room, operating as an itinerant, moving from classroom to classroom every lesson. It didn't get easier. I got used to it in the way you get used to any routine but there were always new difficulties and things to contend with. Forgotten items, lost items, lost work, mislaid paperwork, mislaid instruments (and beaters! AHGJGHGHGHGHG, I spent my life telling them to put the beaters back into the container only for me to go round and find them randomly), instruments in the wrong building, broken instruments, horrid quick changes of instruments and classes and buildings and year groups. Feeling like I was constantly annoying my colleagues and feeling like I was wasting SO much time in logistics and not having the energy for the things that really needed my time. And the feeling that I was just moaning and miserable all the time. When I went to music camp this Summer, when people asked how school was and my year of work, I just couldn't muster up the energy to get enthusiastic like I usually do.
Am I to get my classroom back, you might be wondering? Alas not! Due to wrangling over cost responsibility and the suchlike, it means that nothing has happened to remedy the 'broken' building so I have another year of it, or perhaps more? Who knows.
As I think on having to do this all again, having no music room, no hall, no extra spaces, no orchestra, no recorder clubs, choir in a corridor, drumming club in a borrowed classroom, as well as having to start a whole new assessment procedure for all the Foundation subjects, as well as moving room 4-6 times a day (if I have clubs and assemblies), I confess that I feel pretty fed up.
However, despite some lovely musical moments last year and some wonderful interactions with classes and children (who would've thought that I would miss the awful class that made me cry when they were in Year 3?), I did feel pretty dour about school in general and I felt like I moaned all the time. I couldn't bear doing school work at home, and this year, despite the difficulties, I want to be more positive about it all. Or at least stop moaning. I don't want to be that whingy teacher.
So, for me, a few things I want to try and achieve:
- No moaning, even though I might really want to.
- Try to stay calm.
- Try to get my work done right away and don't let it build up.
- Drink lots of water
- Eat healthy, prepared lunches more if I can.
- Go to bed early, when possible. Sleep-deprivation helps no one.
- Say yes to musical and other opportunities outside school (this was wonderful last year!) but not to the detriment of my health.
- Try to prepare and eat dinner right away when we get home from school.
- Count my blessings daily- 5 positive things written down each day.