Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility

Ok, so what I have learned in the past month since I got hired is that you must always expect the unexpected, especially in a crazy pandemic. After a few weeks, I finally had both curricula in hand and slated an awesome four days of Roman Empire review and fall of the Empire planning. Quite literally as I finished up my unit outline my principal called me. "I know you were hired as a 7th grade social studies and ELA teacher <insert instant panic in my brain, I thought I was being un-hired or something>, but you will be moving to 8th grade all ELA until things are back to normal." Our school district has just moved to an emergency hybrid plan and I guess this was right along with it. New team, new content, new room...I don't know any one to get the content directly... "Ok, no problem."

I write this not as a rant, but telling the story of the Fall 2020 school year as a first year teacher and the numerous lessons I will learn about the profession and myself along the way. See, I have social anxiety pretty badly, and I use preparedness to boost my confidence. The more I know I have planned for, the better I can actually be flexible because it is almost like I have rehearsed the scenarios. For the most part, I think I am quite easy going when it comes to work, especially when dealing with others. Dealing with myself, well that is definitely another story. But that is what works for me. Without getting into a sob story, I didn't grow up with a lot of praise, so as I developed into an adult and now as someone closer to 40 than 30, my over compensation is making sure I'm meeting a personal high standard.

Thankfully, the school is likely giving us an extra week to prepare so major panic averted for me. I think I'll be able to do a pretty great job and we'll just see when they switch me back. That will be another crazy challenge, but not one I want to worry about at the moment. I have been pretty proactive in trying to get my materials so I could start planning so I hope my colleagues don't think I'm psycho. We haven't really met in person because of the Covid situation, and communication of email and text is hard to convey social sensibilities. Alas. Tomorrow is my official Induction day then off to Wednesday full teacher days.

Fall 2020 has officially started. Let's just hope Godzilla isn't right around the corner.

I can't exactly read the artist name here. If you know, please let me know!