Weird, Wild, Winter

Well, I'm writing in bed this morning before 8:00. Am I crazy? Possibly, but I am forced to do so by yet another ice storm. I got my "school's out" phone call around 5:50 this morning and was already awake, so I've been watching terrible morning news programming and thinking about how productive I'm going to be today. By the 8th (?) day off of school this winter, the thrill has kind of worn off.

So why are we getting such a bad winter? Well, I'm NOT going to say it's Global Warming with capitals. Maybe global warming in lowercase....but if so, so what? Climates change, and we deal with it. But I must say it's quite unusual. My first two years of teaching we had no snow days at all. Last year was a week off for a big ice storm, and this year was tornado, snow, ice, and ice. And it's still only February! I have plenty to do today...but I also have plenty to do in MAY. Like go on vacation. Which was already planned. And is already messed up. As of today I guess we're in school until May 28, which was several days into our planned West Virginia trip. Adam is really bummed by that and so am I, but what can you do? He headed off to work already since the roads aren't that bad yet, but it's supposed to go on all day.

All in all, it's probably a good thing I'm not at school today. I haven't been a very good teacher this week. I've just been irritable and grumpy, despite my best efforts not to be. It doesn't help when, like Tuesday, you have unexpected observations ( yes, in my FOURTH year of teaching, the "new teacher" specialist still visits me. Not that I don't have anything to learn--I DO!-- but the timing was not great. I was irritated.)---or like yesterday, when I had NO break whatsoever due to both of my special classes being cancelled. I mean really, that's just not right. It's a hazard of elementary teaching, but still. I'm sure it's against several laws, and should be. So let's just say I've been a bit on edge with the kiddos. I'll give them credit, most of them can sense that All is not Well and give extra hugs, etc. But weeks of indoor recess and messed up schedules do not help. Oh...and MAP practice. Yeah, I'm stressed. We've GOT to practice, but holy moly, when I see a three sentence paragraph for the "long write" I'm bound to feel frustrated. Ya know?

Ok, enough ranting. I could go on and on, but it's just been a weird winter and the worst thing you can do to young students is mess with their routine. 'nuff said.

Oh--side note--I realized during my first several months of teaching that one never really knows the meaning or full impact of PMS until confronted with mass quantities of young children. Any irritibility effects are increased tenfold. No exaggeration. Poor kids! (wry grin)

So, here's my to-do list for today: work on class (last Master's class, HOORAY!!!), clean house, maybe scrapbook from honeymoon (yeah that was 8 months ago). I'm going to cut the list off there, because I just might get all of that stuff done. Any more and I'll just be frustrated because I didn't do it after all. Oh, and grade some papers. I at least thought ahead this time!