Finishing semester classes and grading final assessments while starting new courses at the same time can be a real challenge. Add to it trying to get students in each course going, establishing a rapport with them and getting them to buy into my classroom rules and expectations before I am out for my surgery adds stress to the mixture. Having two snow days (and perhaps three if school is closed tomorrow) makes it even more challenging.
The original plan was for me to be out from February 10 to March 2; however, this past week I learned from the surgeon that he doesn't plan on releasing me to return to school until March 20 making it so I can't bring my FBLA chapter to compete at their annual conference along with now having to make six weeks of long term sub plans. The sub emailed me on Friday to share that she doesn't know how to use Photoshop or web design software and at that point I didn't even dare to ask if she knows anything about Accounting. I am feeling very overwhelmed for the time being.
On a positive note, she is a very good sub and is willing to try to learn the software to try staying ahead of my students. Reflecting back, this is how it was for many of us when we started our first teaching job ... As my methods teacher said way back in 1986, "Sink or swim!" I wonder if there is an app for that!!!
... Stay tuned.
