The Consequence of Vacation

I have been out of the classroom for 16 days. I have gotten out of bed after 7 am for the past week. I have "worked" a few hours here and there, spent a couple of days in the classroom arranging desks, installing computers, sharpening pencils, contemplating curricula and puttering. But I have not been teaching. Many days have gone by when I have not even thought about my students. I have been a mother, a friend, a sister, a daughter, drinking more than is wise, watching movies, cursing when my children are out of earshot. I have not felt like a teacher. Undoubtedly most of my students are in the same boat. They have been children, siblings, friends, sleeping in, rough housing, watching TV ten hours a day, playing video games to all hours of the night. They have not thought about school for over two weeks. If I am lucky, they have spent a fair amount of the time bored and missing their friends. But I can assure you that not a single one of them has thought, "Boy, I can't wait to do word sorts again." Or, "If only I had some math boxes to complete, I'd be happy."

And tomorrow we meet. At 7:45 I will find them huddled in a line on the playground. I will escort them to the building, shake their hands as they pass through the doorway, and hope for the best. Then I must someone gracefully acknowledge the different lives we have been leading, and firmly set the tone that we are indeed getting back to work. I have to make our first day back appealing and purposeful. We are getting back to work.