Slice of Life-Change of Plans on the First Day

Every Tuesday, the writing community of Two Writing Teachers hosts Slice of Life. All are welcome to participate by linking up posts or commenting on other participants. 

I wasn't sure how yesterday would unfold. Had I known, I might have driven with my daughter to Michigan--a ten hour trip. I might have opted to clean our attic (which is 110 degrees). I might even have gone for my mammogram that I've been putting off--I know, I know, I'm going next week! I didn't though. I showed up for the first day back to school for teachers.  

Convocation was at 8:30, and after that, my plan was to travel around the district and meet some of the new teachers and long-term substitutes. So often I find questions people didn't even know they had when I stop in to introduce myself. However, my first task was to find the All About Me posters for one of our kindergarten teachers. Until I finally gave up and asked my secretary where they were, I wouldn't have found them since they were in the science cabinets. (I coordinate writing and social studies for the district.) And I also wouldn't have discovered the moths who had discovered the open birdseed.

Fortunately, my supervisor and I share a history with lice and an aversion for any kind of creepy thing that could require an exterminator, so she helped for a while and had no problem with my day's priority involving a vacuum and cleaning spray. 

I'm not sure how the custodian and the exterminator who came today will make sure that the vacuum filters are moth, worm, and egg-free, but so far, the science closet seems to be mothless. The funniest thing we found which we no longer need in the curriculum is this Integrated Pest Management kit. I may have to use this as a gag present one day. There was a certain irony about finding it as we were tracking down meal moths.

My first day of work this year serves as an important reminder that sometimes our most important work isn't what we planned, and that sometimes the most important decisions we make in classrooms are responsive and based on the needs we see right in front of us. Hopefully, they don't inspire second showers of our days, though.

Happy Writing,