It's Been a While (and a long time too)

So, I haven't posted on here since my boring summer office job. Sorry!

I've been so busy with teaching, performing, and getting my students to perform. It's been a really, really rough first year for me so far. I've been exposed to some major let-downs in the public school system (big surprise there). I'm surprised at how high the expectations are for an elementary school music teacher. I must admit that I was really exhausted right before Christmas break, but I'm feeling well-rested, and I actually miss my students!

I am looking forward to January and to not having to perform four times a week for parents and administrators. Still jumping through hoops, even after college- who knew?

I hope that I won't be too long. Until next time...

I'm kinda dumb...

I was on my lunch break today when I noticed that I had a new voicemail message. I listened in horror as an administrator from the Oconomowoc Area School District told me that "New Teacher Orientation" had started at 9:00 am that morning.

Here's the thing... I thought that the New Teacher Orientation was on August 23rd- which is actually the first meeting that I will have with my mentor. I knew before today that August 15th had some significance. But, I thought that I only noted August 15th as an important day in my mind because my husband wanted me to come with him to Minneapolis for a show, and I would need to request off of work for the 15th (I didn't go). I had even mentioned to my supervisor that I needed the 15th off, but I told her that I was mistaken about the date and that I needed the 23rd off instead.

The administrator from OASD seemed to understand and noted that two other people were unable to make it today. So, I will get caught up with the others at a later date.

I still feel sooooooo embarrassed. I can tell that this is going to be a great year.

Ugghhhh...

I feel depressed today, and I haven't felt this way in a long time.

I have been reading "The First Days of School"- a how-to book for teaching. I am on the Classroom Management unit, and I realize that I haven't been doing a very good job managing my classroom. I blamed the students' ill-manners on the teacher who had abandoned them a couple of months before I arrived at Greenland Elementary. BUT, now I see that I didn't do everything right. I won't go into details...

I know that I shouldn't feel like I need to be the world's greatest teacher right now- only eight months out of college, but I do. I guess it's part of the perfectionist's way of thinking. It doesn't matter what I do; I have to be the best flute player, receptionist, student, wife, friend. The list goes on and on. I'm starting to think I therapy again...

I don't mean to scare anybody; I just wanted to share. Anyone share these sentiments?