#SOL 2019 Day 7: When Thursday Becomes Your Friday . . .

Spring break returns a day early this year. A week after accepting a role as a literacy coach in a nearby district, a colleague pulled up the school calendar and noted a bad-weather day had been set for March 8, 2019. Unlike the rest of the country, North Texas has had zero snow this winter, which means Thursday has become my Friday.

I imagine every teacher is the district woke up this morning with a little pep in their step. After a grueling month of collecting TELPAS samples, administering STAAR benchmarks, and prepping for Open House events, my guess is these folks are desperate for a break. February and March are long months in schools, and when you live your life at full-throttle, a week of reprieve is just what you need to recharge your batteries and gear up for the final stretch of the marathon. 

To all the teachers out there counting down the minutes until you can temporarily flip the school -switch to the off position, this sad attempt at a poem is for you!

Wisdom For Your Week Off

Self-care matters. 

Take a moment to step away. 

Leave the bag of ungraded papers at school.

Read something—just for fun. 

Let go of all the worry you carry. Even if it's just for a minute. 

Hug that sweet kiddo one last time. Who knows what the week ahead holds for him?

Breathe deeply.

Sleep late.

Learn something that makes you excited about teaching again.

Visit a park. 

Take time to reflect. 

Count your wins.

Revisit your "why".

Pause, ponder and pursue perspective. 

Work can wait. 

Monday will be here before you know it.