I really thought this was the November I was going to break my NaNoWriMo curse and win for the first time since 2014. I’m not in grad school and I don’t work my night job anymore which means I just have the day job. In theory, I have extra time to write and for the first week, I was fine.
And then the second week of November, my principal came to ask me if I’d leave my long-term job at the high school a week early to take over for the rest of the year as an ELA teacher at the middle school. I jumped at it — I needed the stability, the middle school is around the corner, and I’m excited to stay in the district teaching something I love. I really thought I could manage everything — new students, curriculum, and school while writing every day.
And then I started the job and met my students.
Don’t get me wrong — I genuinely love and adore every single one of my eighty students. I’ve gotten to know them relatively well in the nine days I’ve been teaching them, but they didn’t have a teacher for a month — just going back and forth between two subs that they mostly didn’t like. No routine, very little work getting getting done well, and behavior issues off the wall. I managed to get to 2:40 every day, drag myself home, and do very little once I got there.
I’m feeling better every day that I’m there. We still have our pockets of nonsense, but routine and structure are helping and some of my tougher cases are starting to come around. I love my career and I know I picked the right path in life, but wow, there are days I just want to stay in bed.
Anyway, with a week left in NaNoWriMo, I’d have to write about 4000 words to make 50k. That’s not an insane proposition, to be honest, considering I wrote 4-6k words in July for Mad World two summers in a row. I wrote 30k in a week this last summer. I can do it. But will I be able to? Maybe. We have our break for Thanksgiving and only two full school days ahead of us. I might be able to do it.
But I’m preparing myself for not meeting that goal. I’ll get the kids straightened out and I’ll get writing back into my daily routine again. I just hope it’s sooner, rather than later.
Comments
I’m going to cross my fingers for you. I hope you meet your goal but honestly I think you’ve got your priorities in the right order. In my opinion, teachers have the hardest job period – you seem to love it, and I envy the kids you teach.
Teaching is hard. This is my 17th year and there are still days I go home and do nothing. This is your first year and it is so hard, learning the school culture, figuring out what works for you, trying to learn the curriculum, finding resources, writing lesson plans. Just survive this year. It will get easier!
This is my 22nd year teaching middle school and I know how hard it can be. Keep building structure, routine, and hold them to high expectations. They will get there. Keep your chin up and best of luck!
I have mad respect for you for choosing to be a teacher (Jo-Ann and Tiffany as well). It is not something that I could have ever done. I just would not have had the patience. I think your kids are lucky that you have that much devotion to them and passion for your job. Best of luck in your writing goals.