Learning never ends...

It's interesting how we never stop learning about ourselves.  I have been complaining talking about this summer camp that I'm participating in this year.  It's a technology camp... I had lots of fun activities planned.  A podcast interview, creating a website, programming in scratch, creating a magazine cover, etc etc.  These kids however - have other plans. 

I walked into school on Monday feeling good about my plans.  I had over planned for the day, so I knew I would have lots to do.  SO WRONG.  I am waiting with my attendance list and looking over it I realized one very awful thing.  It's all middle school boys. This problem is really a significant problem because I struggle as it is to relate to this age of student, even though my license does go down to 4th grade. I specifically didn't even look at middle school positions for this reason when I was looking for a job. Not to mention they are boys, I am not (I know, stating the obvious much?), I never had brothers or male cousins around or close enough in age that I would relate,so this is a struggle.

Here's what I've learned so far:

• Boys don't care what something looks like, especially when it's not for a grade.  The magazine cover, girls would have spend much more time making it pretty - boys did the mechanics and learned the software methods. That's it.
• Boys stink. While I've never been a fan of the overuse of body spray that girls use or the layer upon layer of lotion,  I miss the vanilla bean aroma that has been replaced with sweat and BO. And they are totally OK with it!
• Middleschool-aged students don't clean up after themselves all that great (read: they are messy!!).  I had no idea how messy my classroom would be.  Sheesh! And Phew, allowing food into the lab, HUGE mistake.  HUGE.
• Middleschool-aged students do not understand sarcasm. I realize that plenty of adults don't as well - but it just never dawned on me that they don't get it.
• These kids have ENERGY.  I am exhausted after 3 hours with them.  And the talking, they just talk and talk and talk and talk.  I have no idea how anyone can talk so much.
• Legos are cool.  I knew this (point for me!).  But I didn't know that Legos had web episodes, did you?  I've been completely informed on how to register for an account and set up my own Lego world. 
• Baseball is the only sport that matters.  I'm a football fan personally, but not with this group. It's all baseball, all the time.  And frankly I know nothing about baseball.  It's offensive to them (previous point earned, now lost).
• 'A Thousand Ways to Die' is hilarious.  I'm not sure that's ever the adjective I would use to describe that show. Ask my campers, it's the "funniest show EVER".
• No topic I come up with is good enough. Even if it's sports and video game related.  So I won't waste time coming up with ideas and just let them pick next year from the start ;)

I have no desire to ever teach this general level of students on a full time basis, and before I proceed with holding camp again next year, I need to seriously do some learning how to work with this age better!

Back to the basics...

Being a teacher and having the summer off really is a blessing.  I know a lot of teachers who work during the summer, and every year I say I'm going to find a part-time job, but in reality, I really use this time to find 'me' again. I get 10 weeks to not be "Mrs. M", not the teacher who can come fix your computer or realign your smartboard, I don't have to worry about homecoming and prom, Friday football games (though I do love a good football game!), it's just me.

With the first two weeks of my break were wasted recovering, then a trip to the ER, and then back to recovering, I'm tired of recovering and want to really use this summer for what I can to get into the workout grind.  I do have to monitor my HR and BP closely, but that's reasonable enough.

I decided last night while hubs and I were walking that I am going to start fresh on the Couch25k program and see how that goes.  No skipping, no rush, just see.  If I still don't at that point enjoy running, then I'll stick to hiking and walking, and in a few months, try again.  The program is 9 weeks, if in 9 weeks I don't even slightly enjoy something, I don't think it's right for me at this point in my life.

I also got inspired by A Journey to Thin's blog and her 30 day challenge (actually, a lot of her progress and watching her transition has inspired me as a whole), so I will also challenge myself to do the 30 Day Shred for 30 days.  Ideally, 10 days on each level.  I will have to see how this will work with our mini vacation coming up, maybe do two one day, and two the day after we come home? Oh well - I will figure it out. And if somehow a day gets lost, I'll just tack it on at the end. I realize I can't control everything.

I also have my yoga lined up, at least twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) but once summer camp is back over with, I plan on going again on Mondays.  My Tuesday class always leaves me a little sore, so I like to take Wednesday off.

What do you do to recenter and refocus?

Related articles

• 10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Summer Break (coolcatteacher.blogspot.com)