Posting here the last few months has been spotty(er) than ever. In many ways I feel like a first year teacher again, what with changing grade levels to Sixth. Trying not to be whiny, apologies in advance if it comes off that way. I’m working overtime to review, modify, and organize curriculum materials that I’m not familiar with. Since my last stretch as a sixth-grade teacher, there’s been new Math and Social Studies curricula that I have to be on top of. I’ve got help with Science, Math, and English, but those people need some direction, too. Of course, there’s the paperwork….grading and maintaining the books, the dirtiest job in the house. But…I remind myself, that’s the price of admission.

In return, besides the paycheck and other tangibles, I get to work with a fantastic professional staff, and a truly difficult age group that runs hot and cold all day long. A few are steady, but the rest are delightfully unpredictable and amazingly resistant to teacher interventions. My wife, who taught sixth grade 15 years ago before we had kids, listens to my stories and comments, “Times seem to have changed.” I won’t/can’t elaborate here, but every day is an adventure. And still I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than teach, because this is a problem-solving environment where we are LIVE all the time doing stuff that matters. Somehow. Even when it’s hard to see. Lots of times, it’s like climbing a mountain chasing a false summit.

I think that kindergarten and sixth-grade are special duty assignments that only a few are cut out for. You gotta be part lion tamer and part snake charmer, and part clown, with a magician’s bag of tricks always at the ready. I knew this going in, and I haven’t been disappointed.

Today, though, was that special kind of misery that only comes along when the planets line up just so. It was the last week of the quarter, with the car in the shop (other car) all week so the family was on car-pool mode (again), with spring break as the light at the end of the tunnel. But we had honors band and orchestra concerts to attend for our kids. I’ve been coughing all week, but last night I woke up feverish at 2:00 AM. Now I’m sitting here in my classroom waiting to head over and pick up my son from his after school thing - with my coat on. Shivering.

And the weather has turned unbelievably warm (above freezing) which is not good in the subarctic this time of years, because the hard pack glazes over and makes even walking to the car treacherous. More importantly, the skiing goes all to hell, and we didn’t get hardly any snow this year.

Still, I managed to drag my way through the day, and made it a decent one for the kids. No lion tamers. Calling a sub would have been a waste of time for all of us. They got out early, and I get to go home and collapse before we leave on a family trip in a couple of days.

Soon. It will all be better. Soon.