And on the 28th Day, I Rested

Well, I had to break down and take a sick day. Apparently my health regimen isn't working too well. Every fall I get some sort of respiratory infection so I'm trying to cut it off before it gets worse. I'm stressing out right now. I got everything I could together and organized with post-its everywhere. I also left instructions with the classroom assistant: there are videos on the VCR and don't be afraid to take extra recess. Most of my students will be fine, but I have 2 that will probably fall completely apart. It's also a testing day, so my students who would usually go out for inclusion will be in the room all day. I keep looking at the clock thinking, "they should be doing this right now".

Luckily yesterday when I was dragging my body around the classroom, I didn't have to redo any of my lesson plans. If there was one thing my mentor teacher was adamant about during student teaching, it was that my lessons could be followed if there was no way I could get there. The only thing I had to do was highlight the things I wanted done. I just wrote a quick note, and put post-its on everything to be clear, left it on my table and closed the door with my mind racing about what I could have forgotten.

I'm not being over-dramatic. I know they will be fine without me. They will make it through the day and that's all that matters. It's hard knowing that simple changes in certain student's routines have the potential of ruining their days. Besides, I'll be back tomorrow.

The Intervention Specialist Diet

There are often comments made about how small I am (honestly, it's through the blessing of genetics) so in response to that, I decided to give my advice on how to maintain that girlish figure through what I like to call the Intervention Specialist Diet.

Eat Sensibly

Every morning pack a healthy lunch that is well-balanced and has enough important nutrition to get you through the afternoon. When it comes time for lunch, only eat about 1/4 to 1/2 of what you have packed. Instead of eating, continue to walk around the lunch table opening containers and helping your students to stay in their seat. Train your students to get up and run across the lunchroom when you are just about to take a bite. This way you almost perform the act of eating without all those pesky calories. Have every intention of finishing your lunch later, but don't actually do so.

Exercise Regularly

Doing a combination of aerobic and strength-enhancing exercises will keep you feeling good and also gives that sense of accomplishment. Some common ways of doing this would be to walk the hallways of the school at least 50 times a day, running after students who have thrown mulch and then sprinted off, helping students go across the monkey bars (if you're tall, stand on your knees to get a greater work out) and picking up students up off the floor who are having meltdowns so that other people can get through.

By starving and exhausting yourself through the everyday routine, you too can look your very best!