To Do List

Today was a day off from teaching so our middle school teachers could hold parent-teacher conferences. To help families, we offered times Thursday evening and then more time slots Friday morning. I had a limited number of conferences because it was billed for struggling students and my current students are thriving. This allowed me to make a To Do List (which is making my friend, Erika, smile!). As Friday ends, I feel torn. Do I celbrate all I accomplished or do I feel defleted because one task hasn’t even been started? I ask myself, Why ???

Here’s what I did do:

I took pictures of all my notebook pages that might help our 8th graders as they begin a Dystopean Unit and made this slideshow. I did this because I like sharing possible mentor text which may help students. I did this because this was fun!

I made this anchor chart for a 7th grade teacher who is starting a unit on speech writing. I like making anchor charts and as a new coach, I was thrilled this teacher asked me. I did this because it was fun!

I shared this resource with 6th grade ELA teachers as a possible way to culminate their nonfiction research unit. I like this idea of creating a picture book that students could share with the elementary schools that feed our middle school. I love it when students write for an authenitic audience. I did this because it is a fun idea to share!

I created my February Literacy Log. This year, as a month ends, I started mapping all I read, viewed, wrote, listened to and spoke about (Inspired by @Tenille Shade) and I hung it on my classroom door for all to see. My hope is it will inspire others. I did this because it was fun!

I emailed the teachers who are a part of my Teacher Research Weekend Cohort about our Saturday breakfast meeting. I did this because I love facilitating this dedicated teachers who meet monthly and grapple with an aspect of their practice. Together we hold each other accountable and offer support. I did this because it is fun!

I did NOT look at the spreadsheet of 800+ students and their midyear Reading Inventory scores. By VA State law, I am to notifiy the parents of the students from the Fall, who at the midYear, now scored in the Basic or more range and let them know the good news that we are exiting them from an intervention. In addition, I am to notify the parents of students who, in the midyear assessment, scored below basic and therefore require an intervention. I did not do this because I do not find this task fun. I find the spreadsheet overwhelming. I find the county process for creating the parent letters unfriendly. However, I feel badly that it is STILL on my To Do List.

So now, it is the end of Friday. I just poured myself an adult beverage (Four Roses Bourbon w/ lemonade). I completed all my Parent/Teacher Conferences. I sent useful resources to teachers. My classroom door has the up-to-date log hanging. I’m looking forward to my Saturday morning breakfast meeting. And I am just going to be OK with the fact that a task is still on my TO DO LIst. Instead, I’ll do what Scarlett would do. (However, for me, I’m waiting until Monday!) Cheers!