It is the middle of the beginning of the end of July, which means that summer is steadily trickling away. The 4th of July decor has been fully replaced by back-to-school sales and supplies. (Inexplicably, my craft store has erupted with Halloween supplies, and there is a corner dedicated to Christmas decorations.) The price of crayons has dropped to $.50 a box, and Expo markers are available in 24 packs now. Don’t panic, though. Everything will return to normal in a few days, and the price of Kleenex remains blessedly stable, though still too expensive if you ask me.

I am about to start teaching for real. Like, for REAL for real. I passed the things, I signed my contract, and pending some truly unexpected event, I am to report to work in t-minus sixteen days and counting. Y’all, I am so excited. I have ideas. I have plans. I have A JOB!

I also have a question.

So…somewhere between 125 and 135 students, give or take, separated into five groups will be in a room with me and I am supposed to…teach them? I mean…yes. Obviously. That’s what this gig is. And I know that ELA is my official subject of record/title. But comma placement and capitalization and adjectives (the kinds grown-ups aren’t scandalized by, I mean), are only a fraction of a fraction of what they need from their teachers. We have to teach them to respect each other, respect themselves, and respect the adults around them who really do want them to have a great life. We have to teach them the value of being mindful in the present, but also keeping an eye toward their future selves, and let go of bad things in the past while holding on to the lessons those things taught them. We have to teach them – I swear this is true – basic hygiene, to tie their shoes, to wear clothes that cover the parts of them that it is really uncomfortable to get sunburned, to protect their stupid feet in science lab, and protect their sweet hearts and spirits when they are confronted by the meanness that is all around them. We have to teach them to be quiet, but also to speak up, to tell but not tattle, and to understand the difference between acting up, acting out, and activism.

All of that, and more not listed, has to be absorbed by little sponges with weird haircuts that are all practically saturated with hormones, counter-messaging, insecurities, and an awareness that they exist in that fuzzy grey penumbra between childhood and adulthood.

My question is…how do I get ready? Ready to succeed, fail, fall, climb, sweat (and sweat some more, honestly my classroom is like a sauna sometimes), lift, push, lead, follow, and put together a comprehensive folder that will benefit a substitute teacher if they are just willing to look at it.

Challenge accepted. It’s almost time.