Writing With Abandon

Reflections and ramblings about life as an educator, writer, reader, knitter, and over-thinker. Trying to do the writing only I can do.

One More Month

One more month until I take my final look around a ready-for-summer-kind-of-clean classroom.

Four more weeks until I gather my books to bring home.

Three weeks and one day until I say goodbye to our students, wishing them the best of luck in middle school.

Two weeks and three days until our fifth graders graduate. We’ve got to get cracking on their speech.

One week and one day before our school’s celebration of learning, the evening where we’ll be presenting our findings after the 21-day digital detox. I’m about halfway through editing the video.

Three more days until report card grades and comments are due. Grades are mostly in. Comments? 🙃

One more hour until we head to the car and drive to work.

Each day has been a trudge lately.

Some glimmers, but mostly a trudge.

I find myself watching the clock until 3:10 when I can take them downstairs for dismissal. Checking the calendar to see how many more days.

I wish it were different, but this is my reality lately:

One foot in.

One foot out.

Impatiently waiting one more month until both feet can be together, and take me somewhere new.

Comments

13 responses to “One More Month”

  1. sallydonnelly11 Avatar

    You capture your inner feelings so well through the use of time. I ended this powerful slide hoping your feet have great summer plans. The word “comments” I realize is a trigger for me. I hated the year I was at a school where teachers were required to write personal comments. Looking back, it was a main reason for leaving that school after just a year. I realize you capture the end of year from a teachers POV so well. It is a hellish nonestop time. Keep watching that clock and moving those feet….soon it will be summer.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      The summer plans are still materializing… once they crystallize, I’m sure I’ll feel better! Thank you for your encouragement!

      Like

  2. margaretsmn Avatar
    margaretsmn

    I hear you. My hardest students right now are the 6th graders. (Our district places them in elementary school.) You will make it. I have only 2 weeks and I’m sort of wishing for more because this one is my last year of teaching. Retirement is bittersweet.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      Oof yes, my 5th graders feel like 6th graders just about! I am sure once it’s over I’ll wish for more moments with the kids. I’m not retiring, but I am leaving the classroom. Bittersweet is the perfect word to describe how it feels.

      Like

  3. Fran McCrackin Avatar

    So honest and well-expressed, and every teacher reading is feeling you, no judgement. I especially love your last lines, about one foot in and one foot out, and longing to be walking somewhere new. It’s a fresh metaphor, and perfect.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      We teachers are literally “all in this together”!! Survival mode. Thank you for your kind words! ❤️

      Like

  4. kiropa1 Avatar

    Ooof this is one of THE MOST HEART FULL countdowns I’ve ever read. What you are able to communicate with relatively few words is both magical and kinda haunting. You know how I feel — let’s just say the cliche sometimes we need the rain to get the rainbows. So much amazingness awaits! I, for one, cannot wait to watch it unfold!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      I need some of your confidence to rub off on me. Maybe through your magical hugs!! I weirdly hadn’t heard the rain for rainbows cliche before. There better be tons waiting for me!!

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  5. mbhmaine Avatar

    You crafted the perfect ending lines and a spot-on description of end-of-the-year teaching. There are so many things to accomplish in so little time. It’s a whirling dervish time of year! I’d love to know more about your what “new” looks like for you, once you get your feet firmly planted. Good luck finishing out the year! 23 1/2 days and counting here 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      Good luck to you as well! The countdowns with their half days always make me smile 😊 I hope to report back with exciting news of the new! Trying to hold onto faith, even as it wriggles from my grasp!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. bullets and blanks Avatar

    feeling that burnout, so many meetings and things to do! But I’m right with you, I love the final lines about where to take your two feet together. I am excited for rest. But this year has treated me better than others. Best of luck in the countdown! Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      We will make it through! (I hope!) Best of luck to you as well!

      Like

  7. Ana Valentina Patton Avatar

    Love the structure of this slice and the ending, so I so much! I mostly appreciate your vulnerability in expressing so much in every single sentence. The future holds BIG stuff for you, I know it.

    Liked by 2 people

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