Friday, March 1, 2013

Kelly's SUYL: A Day In My Life

First, I feel like I should just say "Hi!" since some of you are probably new.  I'm Katie---a single, 31 year-old teacher in the Midwest.  I feel like everyone probably thinks their own days are pretty boring, and I am no exception.  Right now, I'm in the middle of prepping for state testing next week and the school musical and the beginning of track season at the end of the month.  So, this is what a normal Friday looks like right now:

5:40 AM - Alarm goes off.

6:15 AM - I finally get up hitting snooze a few times!  I've had the worst time getting going this week!

6:15 - 7:25 AM - Shower, find something to wear (depending on my laundry situation, which is typically sort of dismal), eat breakfast and get my hair and makeup finished

7:25 AM - Grab something for lunch and I am out the door off to school.  No early music rehearsals on Friday mornings before school so I have some time to get myself together once I get into the building.

7:35-7:55 AM - Get things ready for today's lessons and take care of anything that still needs attention from yesterday.  (For instance, this morning I reviewed the testing schedule for next week and started making notes of any questions that I needed to ask for clarification on, since I volunteered to post the schedules in the hallway for our students.)

8:00 AM-9:35- Bell rings and we're off!  Today, my two sections of American History students reviewed a section they had done summaries of earlier in the week and we looked at some pictures of World War II propaganda posters online, which we will be discussing in-depth next week.

9:35 AM-10:25 AM - My planning time. Today, I was focused on getting things together for the hallway testing schedules, on ordering paper fans and umbrellas for the musical on Amazon, and getting good news about being able to take a day off next week for a special event!  (YAY!!)

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM - Choir time!  Today, we worked on things for spring concert, including Coldplay's "Fix You", "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles, and Bon Jovi's "Living  On A Prayer."  I like to do a mix of contemporary songs and more traditional choir songs.  All of my students also have Jazz standards or Broadway pieces that they work on as solos.  (This is in addition to anything they are working on for the musical, which more than half of the choir is part of!)

11:10 AM - 11:35 AM - Lunch.  This is usually time I spend in my room reading blog posts and doing anything to just give my brain a break for a few minutes.  I also prep for anything I need for my afternoon classes if I haven't yet.

11:40 AM - 12:30 PM - Music Appreciation.  Currently, we are studying Jazz music, so we are watching a concert featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald.  I love it, the kids tolerate it.  Next week, we are moving back into a musicals segment.  (I'm thinking it's time for Singin' In The Rain for this group!)

12:35 PM-2:10 PM - My two English sections work on some testing prep stuff together.  We've been working on test-taking strategies, and a little last-minute practice on the interactive whiteboard adds a little fun to all the work!

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM - I rule over a study hall this hour.  My subjects are always a little fractious on Fridays.  We are all pretty happy when that bell rings for the weekend!

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Except I don't get to go home yet.  The director and I work with different groups participating in the musical on Friday afternoons.  She takes the K-5 kids to rehearse music.  Today, my group is fitted for costumes while we work on choreography for the three biggest dance numbers.  If everyone is picked up on time, I am finally out the door before 5:00.

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM - Because have the morning duty short straw next week, I decide to finish up the testing schedules and get them posted instead of going straight home.   By the time I get everything finished I'm out the door a little later than I planned, but I'm ahead of the game for next week!

5:30 PM - Phone rings.  Mom wants to know if I want to meet her and Dad for dinner at a local place, their treat.  Free dinner that I didn't have to cook?  I'm all in on that. Brush my hair and I am out the door again!

6:30 PM until I crash for the night:  Recently, my sister and I have been having dinner together on Fridays and just hanging out.  Now that she's working midnights at the hospital, I don't get to see or talk to her much until the weekend.  But this has been a long and somewhat relentless, so I will probably chill solo, watch a little TV or a movie (love hulu and Netflix!) and go to bed early!

Just another day in the life of this not-so wild and crazy single girl!  I look forward to seeing what everyone else is up to!

8 comments:

  1. Such an early time for lunch. I understand that they usually have to get three different groups through but I always hated when my daughter had lunch at 11 but she started school at 9. Always seemed silly to just have two classes then lunch and then have four more.

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    1. I'm used to it now. Since our whole district is in one building and our kitchens are connected, we don't really have a lot of time to vary the schedule. But I know what you mean.

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  2. My only thought on this? You get up too early. I hope you lay in on your weekends off!

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    1. I absolutely do! I have to be at work no later than 7:45, and I try to be there between 7:30-7:35. So, yes, that's one of the reasons that the weekends are so precious to me!

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  3. Hi there, checking in from Kelly's Korner. Your choir is doing some fun songs! I'm also a teacher (kindergarten - so I'm busy in a different way.) Your job sounds interesting. Cheers!

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    1. Hi, Jen! My mom just retired (in May) after teaching kindergarten for 30+ years. So I totally understand your kind of busy. I love my junior high kids, but I can tell you that I don't have what it takes for the little people.

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  4. Your work/school day is pretty fascinating! As I have said before, teachers are wonderful people and make a great impact on children. You are no exception! Way to go!!

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    1. You are always so sweet and such and encouragement! Thanks, Marla!

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