Exhaustion Code Red

By October 30 the last 5 or so years of teaching I have hit exhaustion code red.  What is this you ask?  Well, it is hard to explain to a non-teacher type.  I will give it a try…

Let's just say it is like you have a job where you have to give not just one presentation a week but at least 4 or 5 and day and sometimes in an hour, and the presentation(s) have to be delivered 3 or even 4 different ways for the many grade levels you are teaching to even though you only teach one….  Oh, and you have to orchestrate what the others are doing while you teach your small group and you have to be sure that they are behaving and not messing around while you aren't watching….. Exhausted just trying to understand what I am trying to communicate?  Then, well…. see, that is why I can't explain it to someone who has no clue.  Add in that the lower level students don't pay any attention the first or even second time presented with curriculum unless it is practically one on one while the higher level ones got it before you even said it.  The pressure feels intense at times and so unnecessary.  There is only so much one person can do.  Needless to say, by October 30 most  teachers are exhausted.  Emotionally, physically, and personally exhausted.

Then, November comes.  The days get shorter so you don't feel safe being at school past 6 PM when everyone else has gone home, so you go home.  You have figured out the ones who you need to target and the ones who can fly free and far beyond on their own without much input from you at all.  Conferences come and you get to sit down with parents and tell them all their children have learned and you realize that… wow… I guess I did do something good! Thanksgiving comes and Christmas vacation.  With that is rest and refuel time that gets you through until spring break which helps you make it to summer.  Blink and it is done.

Yes, October is a hard month.  Halloween is an explosion of child fun and excitement.  And then… it is over.