Holidays - A Time to Recharge Our Batteries

I can finally breathe. Yes, teachers may get more vacation than other professions, but it is during vacation time that we can actually see friends and spend time with family. It is also often to used to grade papers, read up on current pedagogy, and clean out our emails (mine keeps claiming it is "full"; a teacher's email size should be unlimited!!).

Part of the need for downtime is because it seems that everything happens before a holiday. Last week I was scheduled to be out of the classroom three of the five days... Before a holiday! Two of the days were for necessary trainings, the third was a pathway planning day. I opted out of the third, feeling the need to be in my classroom and rescheduling the meeting for a day after school the week we come back for break. These meetings/trainings are important, but my students are more important. 

My students also need a break - tensions are high and sleep is needed by all. I know this is the case when I have to intervene in two near physical fights amongst students that would never do that in my class, purely out of respect for me.

I always have high hopes for breaks. Books to read, people to see, exercise to be done. I usually disappoint myself somehow, but in the end what matters is the time I get to recharge my batteries with loved ones. I will read that book someday, and I will, no doubt, exercise plenty when I get back in town.