Almost Summer?

Well today it sure felt like summer! The kids arrived to school in their shorts and t-shirts and their brains were shut off! My classroom felt like a sauna and I couldn't wait to run out to the car after school and turn the air on! Now don't get me wrong, I love this weather, but it needs to wait 26 more days until I can get outside and enjoy it. It's too hard to get the kids focused when the sun is shining through the windows. Okay I admit, I have a hard time focusing too. Here is a conversation that I had with a couple of my students today...

Student: (from across the room) Mrs. Mihalek?

Me: (continuing to walk around the room, helping students)

Student: (now approaching me) Mrs. Mihalek?

Me: What do you need to do if you have a question?

Student: Stay in my seat and raise my hand?

Me: That's right, now show me please?

Student: (stomping back to their seat, sitting down, raising their hand, and shouting) Mrs. Mihalek?!

Me: Yes?

Student: Can we go outside now?

Me: Not now we have work to do.

Another student: Oh yeah, can we go outside?

Me: We have work to finish.

Another student: Mrs. Mihalek it's too nice to sit inside. It's summer. Look I'm wearing my shorts and t-shirt. This is what I wear during summer and I play outside when I wear these clothes. I put them on today hoping you would give us more recess. Don't you want to go outside too?

Me: (looking out the window as if the sun was calling my name) We have work to do right now.

Another student: (walking over to the student who kept asking the question) Didn't you hear her? She said we have work to do. Maybe if we don't bother her any more she'll take us out. She is a nice lady. Let' s just keep working.

Me: (5 minutes pass) Okay kids time to go outside.

Okay, so I gave in. Sometimes as I walk around the room, I see how hard they work and how long they've been working. I have to remember they are just kids and they need to get outside and release their energy. They are only 7 and 8 years old. I can't imagine sitting as long as they do at times. To tell you the truth, I needed to get out of the room too. So I was being selfish! The kids had no idea. They thought I did it for them. Truth is, I wanted to take a break too!

Summer can't come soon enough. I love what I do, but I need a mental break. I need to sit on the beach with a good book and just relax. I can't wait!