It’s been three weeks since school started and it’s crazy, busy, and exciting. I’m surprised with how easily I’ve adjusted to being with so many kids each day. Between the two schools I see 30 classes a week, ranging from PreK to 5th grade. They are an interesting bunch and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of them and seeing them grow.
Right away I learned that among the essential people to get close to are the secretaries. The secretaries, I’ve learned quickly, know just about everything. For a newbie like me, this is very important. And the teaching staff and principal have been amazingly supportive. As a librarian, I need to be close to the teachers so I know what library skills the students may need for class assignments. Everyone has been very helpful and nice.
Because this is my first official school librarian position, I’m finding that my days are very long. Unlike a more experienced school librarian, I am starting fresh. As I come up with ideas, I quickly jot them down in lesson plan format. The challenge is to come up with lesson plans for each week. Fortunately, the recently retired librarian left behind some of her old lessons, however I do want to incorporate some of my own as well. The long days are also due to my needing to get to know the library collection as well.
Several years ago I remember an acquaintance commenting about how teachers had it so easy, insisting that they had shorter days and got summers and school vacations off. In these past three weeks, between the time I spend at school plus the lesson planning I do on weekends, I am probably putting in close to 50 hours a week.
The drive, which some have continuously implied will become a “drag”, has actually been not that bad. In fact, I’m liking the alone time in the car. On my way to school, I use the hour to plan what needs to get done. The hour drive home is my alone time, and I use this time to wind down. Once I get home I’ll have the dog and cat to deal with, plus whatever else comes up. So that hour alone in the car is actually a good thing.
Knitting has gotten a bit neglected over these last few weeks. I’m sorry to admit how pathetically far behind I am in the Mini Plunge. October’s just a couple weeks away and I’ve only managed to complete two pairs of baby socks. I was able to make two baby hats for a recent baby shower (sorry, I forgot to take pictures) and last night started some cute slippers from a new book we got at the public library – Knitting Mochimochi. I’m planning to make my nephew and niece each a pair of these slippers for Christmas.
I may have a long commute and long workdays, but I am so thrilled with how things are going.
Congrats, Regan…so so so glad to hear everything is going well for you!
Happy to hear that school is going so well!!