Twelve hundred has been the number of the summer, the number going into this school year.
Twelve hundred means two new portables partially blocking the view from our circulation desk, numbers five and six in our portable village. I think our campus was built for eight, maybe nine hundred.
Twelve hundred means planning for automobile congestion outside, and pedestrian congestion inside, during transition times of the day.
Twelve hundred means losing instructional time to avoid hallway traffic.
Twelve hundred means four more teaching positions, and moving our meetings this morning from the library to the cafeteria to accommodate our growing faculty.
Twelve hundred means stretching professional materials and kits a bit more thinly.
Twelve hundred means possibly fewer author visits, as I jockey for space and time to provide seating for grade levels of nine or more classes.
Twelve hundred means more doubled classes in the library, more fidgeting with the schedule.
Twelve hundred elicits gasps and worried looks from colleagues, some of whom have been there, done that, with mixed results.
Twelve hundred has this usually optimistic realist non-worrier worried about providing personalized, quality library service to my learning community.
I know that once the school year starts, I will be happier in my element, promoting literacy and matching kids with books and supporting my teachers. I will be so busy that worrying will go by the wayside.
But for right now, the uncertainty is about to do me in.
I know we'll manage, too...but I want to thrive, not just manage. That's my worry; we will be treading water all year. I've taught in situations like that, and it is draining.
ReplyDeleteSounds like some challenges are coming your way! Something tells me you will find the good in all of it. Kids, books, and reading. It doesn't get any better than that! Have a great year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. It's dizzying just thinking about the numbers!
DeleteI definitely agree about not wanting to just manage but wanting to thrive. 1200 is a huge number. May you thrive and not just survive.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending you positive vibes and hoping that your worries are unfounded and you achieve your goals! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Lisa. It helps that I have a supportive staff who love the library as much as I do.
DeleteGood luck!! It'll all work itself out
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThat's a huge number. I think once you're back in the swing of things it'll feel smaller. I hope.
ReplyDeleteThe swing of things will keep me busy...one class at a time, one visit at a time will most likely be my mantra this year!
DeleteThanks for your kind thoughts, Ms Lewis!
ReplyDeleteTwelve hundred is definitely a large number. My school has a partial renovation underway and things are not finished. Teachers are told they will be able to get into rooms until the day before school starts. Schedule day will be at the high school. Incoming sixth graders are stressed about not being able to tour the building on schedule day. And yet in the middle of it all, teachers will make it work. Here's to a year of thriving with your increased population.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine preparing a room the day before school starts! Although we have a kindergarten teacher in a similar situation, as our numbers grew large enough to add a tenth class at that level (!). She had a day to prepare before meet the teacher time.
DeleteGood luck to you and your staff, too!