Pretending I'm Retired

  We’re baaack! How was your first week? Mine was challenging, rewarding, and a stimulating kind of good. And also, exhausting. There’s no tired like teacher tired after the first week of school. Over the summer, we’ve gone soft. The first week back is like boot camp for our out-of-shape school bodies. Physically, I’m fatigued. My feet are worn out from wearing flats instead of flip flops, and there are band aids on the back of my heels where my shoes have been digging into the soft, tender part of the Achilles tendon. My vocal cords are drained from overexertion. Add an extra layer (no pun intended) of wearing a mask while trying to project my voice, and I’m explicitly enunciating every syllable, praying my message is clear. My neck is weary, and that dang spot between my neck and shoulder is already throbbing from hunching over my laptop. My eyes are strained from responding to emails and reading the latest covid mitigation announcements. Mentally, I’m spent. My brain is ov

When I was in second grade, my mom signed me up for a summer soccer camp. It did not go well. I wasn’t very fast, I couldn’t dribble the ball, and well, let’s face it: I was not interested in playing soccer. Instead, I preferred to spend my time on the field daydreaming and searching for four-leafed clovers. So, as a new school year begins, you may wonder why I’m taking my inspiration from a soccer coach. Have you seen Ted Lasso , the show on AppleTV+? Ted Lasso is an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team with no experience. I’ve been thinking about Ted as the new school year starts and this year, my motto is, “Be Like Ted.” Without any spoilers (just in case you haven’t seen it yet), here’s why: 1.       Ted forms relationships with his players. Period. Just kidding—there are six more points below. But this is number one for a reason. To teach my students effectively, I need to know their strengths and their stories. The opportunity to connect with my