pondered my careers

Spent the day yesterday teaching 5th grade. As a substitute, I spend a good number of my days in other people's classrooms, teaching other people's students. I am lucky to usually be in the same building, so that the students know me, I know them, and we can get on with the process fairly seamlessly. Over time, I have become a part of the faculty in a way, and it is nice feeling so settled and welcomed. For me, it is almost perfect. I get to do exactly what I went to college to do-work with the kiddos. Yesterday I chatted books with a group of 6th grade girls I have come to know well-they were mine last year-discussed how Parliament mishandled the colonies back in the 1760s, taught a lesson on summarizing, and had lunch with teachers who have become friends. I do not have any of the burdensome paperwork (which has now become the burdensome data input), nor do I have the demands of administration and parents to navigate. Of course, I don't have the regular salary, either...and just recently, between house excitements and wedding, regular salary would be helpful! But my calendar is filling up for the new year, and I know more days will be coming my way.
But I am lucky that 32 years in, I am still glad I chose teaching. I may have had different feelings if I had stayed full-time all those years-but for me, it has worked out rather nicely.

On the other job, I had a very crazy December-4 things to write within 26 days. The 26 days that included Christmas week. I was anxious about these deadlines. They all required research, careful plotting and character development, and then the additional factors involved with educational writing. There are always certain things that must be included. These vary according to the specific curriculums and grade levels of the assignment, but without them, the passage will not meet specifications, and will not be accepted. I was also working with new editors and a new company-my former company had been "acquired." So this was unknown territory. I was no longer the "go-to girl" that I have been for so many years...I had to prove myself all over again. It worked out well, though-good reviews, pleased editors and the potential for more assignments.
Now if it would just snow.