December is a stressful month in schools.
It’s report card season. All told, from beginning to end, teachers probably spend four weeks working on report cards. Is it worth it?
In December there’s an unusual charge in the air and although it’s the same every year, it still catches us by surprise. The children sense it, but can’t control it so they let it control them.
Everyone is stressed out.
The office lights are dimmed.
Holiday shopping may cause anxiety for some who’ve lost jobs or are experiencing hardship.
Interruptions to classroom routines increase as more children leave early or come late. There are planned and unplanned rehearsals for winter concerts and plays.
The halls are full of charitable collections of canned food and clothing for those in need.
And, we can’t seem to slow down. In fact, it seems as if in December we intentionally speed up to get to the finish line faster.
And, when we finally slide into our own end-of-year celebrations, we do so with eyes wide open: this winter break is just a quick stop and then we’re off again in January.
Here’s to the seventh inning stretch!
Crossposted to the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Tuesday Challenge.
Elisa Waingort 
Hadn’t considered the effects of unintended acceleration before. Thanks for the thought!
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Elisa, I have been reflecting on the change in my pace lately. Why do we allow a rushed pace happen each December? My writing with the #haikuforhope writing community is helping me take time to slow down. I wrote two more haikus this week and these are highlighted in my slice.
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Exactly, Carol! I thought once report cards were done and I finished the corrections, I could relax a little bit. But that didn’t happen. We have two more days with students and it still feels like I’m catapulting my way to Friday even as I write. Glad your Haikus are helping you to slow down. What helps me is to stop and take deep breaths.
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You are so right about the pace of December. Every additional thing seems to add more stress when really we should be happy for the season. The madness seems to grip me every year. Although I am sad that you are affected by it as well, it brings comfort knowing that I’m not the only one who suffers it.
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Angelina, I think it’s important to talk about this openly because so much of the time teachers are made to feel bad for giving voice to the ways in which we are overworked, not because we don’t want to work and do a good job, but because we do!
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