Locura, te digo.

Today I choose not to write about instruction or children themselves, but all the crazy routines and rituals surrounding the children and the instruction. I know I'm a bit of an odd bird--- I often walk around my (very large) classroom aimlessly, forgetting what I set out to do, and randomly adjusting other things in the meantime. My intent MIGHT be to turn off my tiny coffeepot, but instead I'll see that there's a tack on the floor and realize the calendar is hanging haphazardly off the wall, so I'll go fix that. That will remind me I haven't yet changed my sight word OR jobs for the week, and I'll get halfway through that and see I haven't finished my morning message for tomorrow (or today) yet, and begin to write it, only to be distracted by the fact that my projector is roaring loudly even though I meant to turn it off five minutes ago. I'm SURE this is not the reality for many teachers, but here is what my day typically looks like:
Arrive at school. Wander around classroom aimlessly, randomly putting materials in centers bins as I remember them, setting morning work papers out at student desks, remembering I should check for hoarded acorns because they have maggots inside of them (yes, really) and literally throw them out the window. Remember I need to have my walkie talkie on, remind myself I really should listen to music this morning, turn on computer to listen to said music, realize I left coffee in pot from yesterday and need to clean that out, get distracted by askew books in classroom library, and twenty minutes later remember I could really use some music, but oh woops it's time to go meet my students outside to take to breakfast. Then, remember I forgot my attendance folder, but luckily my teaching partner takes care of me and makes sure I have it.
Then there's recess. Oh, dear. Half the time I remember I need to prep snack, but most times I'm just grabbing manipulatives for Math and mentally preparing my lesson. Forget it if it's a day I have recess duty--then I'm just running madly around the room, grabbing a tiny yellow chair with my (third) cup of coffee for the day, dragging it outside, and pretending I'm having a beer in the sun as I watch the bathroom-goers, intermittently reminding them to "please walk" which then turns into "PLEASE WALK" and then "WALKING FEET IN THE HALLWAY" to "come back and try that again. all the way back here. nope, further here."
Lunchtime. Filling water bottles, eating random leftover snacks I leave around the classroom as I'm dropping them off at student desks. Find a fun read-aloud for after lunch, turn on air conditioning (yep, even now, in November...) turn off lights and on Pandora (sometimes mistakenly on Aloe Blacc or Rihanna radio when really I meant classical) for quiet time, either lay my head in my arms or head to the Staff Room for more coffee, more water, some copies, and a quick-heated food-shoveling feast.
After school. Wander aimlessly, randomly put things away, curse myself for not having a "go-back" bin like all the retail stores, run to my computer when I remember I have an e-mail I need to write, get distracted by another incoming e-mail, remember I want to listen to music, can't decide what I want, check facebook instead. Inform the wonderful custodian unfortunately my barely-functioning toilet DID overflow again and yep someone did pee on the floor, so so sorry...show her twelve cute photos of my students reading, sit and stare for 3 minutes...curse myself for the fourth time for forgetting my cell phone charger, and half-filling out 4 IS forms, resolving to finish them tomorrow. Said custodian teases me for drinking my fifth cup of coffee of the day. Quickly write morning message, glance at plans for tomorrow, pile student work, school computer, and teacher editions in my bag, search for 7.5 mins for my car keys since they're not attached to my school lanyard (why not? you ask...no reason), text 3 people how much I love them, and head out.
But it's not over. On the ride home, Vox Michelle about my day, using colorful imagery, and at stop lights try really hard to resist the urge to add to my "Notes" for things to do in the morning. Call David via speakerphone to see if he needs me to pick up some beer or food or equally vital commodity, arrive home, drink a beer and look at teacher blogs, adding thirty seven ideas to my week.
And then I sleep, wake up, and go back to Kindergarten. Maybe next time it'll be worth writing about the weekend. ;) Locura, te digo.