Last week got away from me

I started back to school with students on Wednesday of last week and things got a little away from me because I was busy getting back into the swing of things.

This year we're going back to block scheduling.  We did block scheduling a few years ago then did a traditional meet every day schedule and now we're back to block.  I was really resistant to going back to block because I don't think my students do well with it.  Many of my students have really inconsistent home lives so I feel like the more consistency we can give them at school the better.  But as hard as I fought against going back to block, I have to admit that I'm loving the extra day to plan between classes!!!  (I'm just not telling anyone at school because I know I'll be hearing an "I told you so" if I do!)

Not only do the students need consistency, I need it!  I've really been trying hard to get into a routine this year.  It makes me feel less stressed because I know I have the things I need to get done done before going to bed/going to work.  Here are the routines I've been working at establishing.

• Making my lunch for the next day at night.
• Getting the coffee pot ready to go so all I have to do in the morning is flip it on.
• Cleaning up the kitchen at night.
• Picking out my clothes for the next day at night.  This has saved me so much time, especially because I normally get up before Andrew.  This way I'm not scrounging around in the dark trying to find what I want to wear because I have the bad habit of leaving my clothes on the floor of our bedroom...  Whoops!
• Packing my gym bag if I plan on going after work.  It's much easier for me to go if I don't have to come home first.
• Heading to bed around 11.  Even though I don't actually go to sleep until around midnight, being in bed and reading helps me relax and get ready to go to sleep.