What are you going to do?

Yesterday was the last day of the winter holidays, which means that as of today I am officially on leave from my teaching job. I have a wonderful replacement teacher who I have the utmost faith in to carry on with my classes during my leave, so I don't even have to worry about that aspect of my life at all. It is very liberating. These were the first school holidays where I haven't had to think about planning, reflecting on what went well the previous term/year, and assessment reviews. I loved every minute of them. We whiled away the hours playing Banagrams, cooking, gardening, reading and whatever else took our fancy. 

With the current COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cases across Victoria and NSW I am anticipating that we may go back into a lockdown where school is via remote learning. I am so glad that I am at home if my own children need to learn from home, without the added stress of planning my own classes and working with students who are completing year 11 and 12 this year.

                                                                     

I have been asked the question "What are you going to do?" many times since I announced my plans to take leave earlier this year (actually before we went into the first lockdown). Some of these question have been asked in an incredulous tone, which to my ears sounds like "How are you going to survive?" Some have been followed up with suggestions - "Travel? Renovate? Study?" Those who know me very well probably know that I already do a lot of study anyway - I am constantly learning, reading and researching things that take my fancy. Not in a formal 'institution' way, but just a "I want to learn about [insert random topic here ] today" way. I love studying new things, new perspectives on history and historical events, and I especially love taking notes. I have notebooks full of notes (both in paper and in numerous folders on my computer) which I love to read over and add to. I missed my calling as a research assistant, I think.

However, the real reason for my leave isn't one that I have shared very often. It's not very "modern" I suppose, to want to take leave so that I can stay at home. That's all. Just to be at home. To cook, clean, bake and potter around the garden as much as I like.

I have always loved reading Homemaking books and blogs, but for a long time I had to stop because I would get so sad about going to work. Teaching isn't a job that one can commit to "half-heartedly". It is a vocation, and for the last twelve years (since the children were born), my vocation has called me to be at home. So I have gone to work and been committed to my students but my heart has yearned to be at home, 'feathering my nest,' so to speak. 

Not many people like to hear this reason when I answer that question - "What are you going to do?" They are quick to tell me how dull they would find it, or how they could never do something like this. That's okay - I'm not asking them to :)

My sister, a lovely, sympathetic colleague at work (who has become a close friend in the last year) and another close friend are the few people, I think, who have understood my reason to stay at home, just to stay at home. I have no regrets about taking this leave, and refuse to dwell on the fact that next year I will probably have to return to my job. I am looking forward to this time just to do what I need to do to bless my home and my family. 

her tree

Friday was my last day of work. The people I work with areso sweet and kind; they gave me a very generous gift card and a beautiful bunch of flowers which are now spread around the house! - I'm not a fan of one big bunch - I prefer to pull them apart and spread the love around!!

Glorious.

Beautiful to wake up to. 


It is a terrific group of people that I work with and in a way it was a bittersweet moment of departure. Many of them are moving on to other schools (not so much a by-product of mobility in ACT schools, as the direct purpose!!) and won't be either in my program next year or even at the school :( So it was a rather sad day knowing that I wouldn't see them there again when I return from maternity leave late next year. I wish them all the very best, wherever they end up. I know I've said it before, but our 'alternative' program is not an easy one. The kids can be hard, as most teenagers can be :)

Their issues, however, go deeper and sometimes more painfully than your average year 10 student. And it takes a pretty special teacher to be able to cope with these issues, as they continually permeate their way into your lessons, your understanding of the student, their behaviour, their outcomes and their attitudes. In a nutshell, it can be pretty full on.

Little did I realise that I was one of those 'special teachers.' My students bought me a tree as their farewell present. A beautiful crabapple. So, on the weekend we planted it. Everyone got involved. (Even me - the foreman!!)

A very muddy hole was dug, which the kids thought was just about the best thing ever!! (Sadly no photos of those - poor foreman skills I know!) There was mud everywhere!! But little hands got in there with plastic shovels and did their bit. As all of our garden beds are pretty much full (thanks to a rather rigorous autumn/winter planting program!!) this baby got pride of place on the lawn. In front of the daggy privacy screen :)

I think of it as her tree, my baby's tree and it really is a pleasant thought. I only wish we had owned our house when the other two were born so that we could have planted something for them. It will be for me, a loving reminder of those students at school.That even when you think you aren't making a difference, when their constant complaining, arguing and whinging is driving you crazy, when they don't work, when they won't work, when they refuse to engage in anything, even then you are still making a difference and who knows, maybe something is even getting through. Some little message of hope. Something that makes them stop and say, hey how can we honour her leaving us and this precious time in her life?

Teenagers - you never know what they're thinking!! One boy, a particularly troubled boy who struggled with suicidal tendencies even wrote on the card that he thought my classes "were the best." Talk about a good recommendation!! I feel sad leaving them before the school year is over, but at the same time I don't think I have the emotional strength to carry them through (and some days that is really what it feels like!!) anymore. Now is the time to focus on her. And I'll alwaly have her tree to remind me of them and the impact we had on each other's lives.

I guess that's why we become teachers :)

Term one is done!

Term one - one of the hardest and longest terms I've had to do in a long time - is finally over!!

It's been hard what with all the vomiting, low blood pressure and simple tiredness. As you can imagine my classes may have been lacking their usual punch in the delivery!! (read: lots of textbook and copying down work!!)

But we made it. I was pretty pleased with the work we got through, although the kids really did drop off in attendance (perhaps it had something to do with my awesome lesson plans!)
Anyway, I thought I'd make a little record of everything I did with my year 10 students this year. I only have them two days a week which makes it hard to have continuity (read: 15 year olds have a lot of trouble remembering what happened in class a week ago!! not that I blame them!)

So first up was a foray into archaeology which led into a look at Ancient Egypt, in particular King Tut.
Verdict: they did most of the work but mostly under duress.

Then we did a quick unit on World War I which was meant to culminate in the watching of Gallipoli, an awesome 80s moving starring Mel Gibson. If you haven't seen it you should. We didn't make it to the movie but the kids seemed more responsive to the WWI topic.

Then on Friday, the last day of school we had an excursion to see The Hunger Games, which the kids had been reading in the English lessons. The movie was good, fairly true to form to the book but you still have to get past that fairly disturbing premise of kids killing kids. But the two kids we had on the excursion both really liked it! Big turn out I know, but what can you expect for the last day of term??

So after the excursion I headed back to school to work on the World Issues unit I'm doing with them next term and got my desk cleaned up. Check it out:

Bye Ridge! Bye Brooke! Have a great holiday!!

Hope everyone else who has kids or is a teacher or is simply on holidays at the moment enjoys them! I know we sure will!!