Just another week.....

The buzz in Texas this week is TAKS! Well, it is more like a roar...We spend hours preparing (to put it lightly), worrying over our own children and our students, dreading it more than anything, or just hating it. Yes, I said it, hating it! Thankfully, I teach 3rd grade so I only had one test to give for the class. That was math on Tuesday. The kids felt like old pros and just went about their business. We all walked on pins and needles that day, so scared of doing something wrong...it was a stressful day but like I said that was it for me. Had to give a make-up test to a poor kid today after being sick for 3 days. He sniffled all the way through but bless his heart he finished!

Facebook is covered with comments about TAKS, none are positive and most relate to being exhausted. It is exhausting just from the pressure, not necessarily the work. There are principals, counselors, test coordinators, test administrators, hall monitors, auditors and I am sure somewhere TAKS watch dogs. It is just plain crazy on how out of control it has gotten! In the mist of all this chaos there is the swine flu mess, so that just added the the hectic atmosphere.

Today, I handed in that poor kids test after several laborious hours (for him...I just sat there) and returned to my classroom. There were my kids working like always, going to the library like always, having their little tiffs like always. Nothing was any different. School let out and our principal so graciously came over the intercom and told us to go home. Guthri and I shuffled out the door and got in the car. My phone rings...

Lonnie "yea, I was just checking on how much longer you are going to be there?"

Me "we're in the car about to head home."

Lonnie "well, I went to Vernon today and got the 'Something Fishy' and 'Wildlife' curriculum so thought I would unload it."

Me "come on..we'll wait for you."

Not so thrilled I hung up and just sat there and in a few minutes there he was. We unloaded the curriculum and then headed for Sonic for a drink (it was still Happy Hour!). Finally got on the road for home and started down our dirt road and realized there was no way the bus would make it down it to bring Garrett home. So I backed 1/2 mile and sat on the side of the road waiting on the bus to get Garrett. Garrett gets in the car...Guthri starts in and Garrett just gets right back in her face. A mile down the road we are screaming. Everything was pretty much the same as usual.

I came in the house and sat down. About a minute sitting there, it hit me. This was just ANOTHER week. Lightning didn't strike my students (even though we have taught them that lightning was a sure thing if they didn't work diligently through the whole test), all teachers are well and accounted for, all admin. is still breathing, nothing was any different than last week! It was just another week. On Monday, this week will just be a fog as we start to wind up the year.

Now, I don't know if all my teammates would agree with me or if my admin. isn't just a little worn out, but when it all comes down to it, it was just another week.