Today was the last day of preschool for the kids. The summer has officially begun. I have to admit that I was one of those corny moms who actually cried watching the Rabbi and Cantor bless all the Pre-K kids who are "graduating" while they stood on the bimah under the Chuppah (the special canopy) the names of everyone in the class on a new ribbon hanging from it. So sweet.
Anyway, now I'm thinking about summer and our plans. We are sending all three kids to a local JCC (Jewish Community Center) from 9-1 five mornings a week for the whole summer beginning June 25. DH will be home for the summer as well since he is a teacher. I will be teaching at a writing camp (PA Writing and Literature Writing Project Camp) for the afternoons in July, but DH and I will have lots of time every morning this summer to do lots of stuff together. I am SO looking forward to this time!!!
Now that I have my upcoming teaching job at the kids' preschool beginning in September, I'm trying to decide if I can continue the other teaching jobs as well (Religious School for Kindergarten on Sundays, Hebrew School, and our Preschool Shabbat Program for parents and kids). It sounds like a lot, but it really only comes to 25.5 hours a week. I'm trying to figure out if I can do it all (since I REALLY LOVE doing them all) and not get overwhelmed, plus continue marketing, planning, and doing my new business.
Here's my idea: if I can use some, even half of my time this summer planning out my school years, I can do it. It's the planning that gets me, the prep work, but not the teaching.
Now some of you reading this might be thinking why would I want to spend so much of my free time WITHOUT kids planning my school year. Before DH and I had kids, when we were both teaching full-time, we used to spend our Saturday mornings hanging out at Borders doing our school work. I know, we're dorks. But at least we got out of the house, spent time together, and got our work done. This summer, DH is in charge or rewriting his district's 12-3 English curriculum (for the seniors who are not on the college track, that are struggling). He has some exciting ideas, but will need a lot of time to plan it out and do all the reading of young adult literature he needs to do to prepare. I can picture the two of us hanging out at different coffee shops/book stores, doing our planning and hanging out. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!! And if I'm able to plan out all the units that I plan on teaching in preschool, Hebrew school, religious school, AND plan out all projects for the Shabbat program, I will feel so great and ahead of the game.
I'm hoping we can do some house projects this summer, some really fun ones like cleaning out the basement and the attic. But I'll think more about that later, after I get a chance to go over my ideas above with DH. For now, I have to watch my imaginative children act out their version of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman.
3 comments:
Rachel,
I think that planning ahead of time will enable you to do everything that you love. It does not seem like too much, provided you are prepared. This summer is the PERFECT time for you to get planned, focused and replanned. You can get the school year planned and get your routines planned at the same time. That will be just as important as the school planning. You are officially becoming a payroll SHE! WOOHOO!
Good luck in all of these ventures. Don't be afraid to stop doing one of them if it gets overwhelming (which it might). You have tons on your plate but I think you are a great person for doing it all!
Congrats to the boys! Big Kindergarteners now!
It sounds like you have a good plan down. I must be a dork too because I thought the idea of you and Chas sitting at a coffee shop both doing your work was really cute.
I don't think you'll have a problem at all, Rachel. (After all, you are the same mom who managed 2-year old twins with a newborn, did you not?) I think it's wonderful you'll have all that time in the summer. You'll have time to get into your groove before the school year!
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