This week was slightly trying – I had the beginnings of a migraine when I walked into the weekly meeting.  Thankfully, my mentors noticed that I was feeling unwell and excused me from the meeting, even allowing me to take a short nap in a makeshift bed that had been set up in the classroom for the unit “getting ready for bed.”  I know that it was dreadfully unprofessional of me, but it did allow me to nip the migraine in the bud and perform my usual duties in the classroom and at the administration.  Perhaps this can be categorized as job-specific skills – the ability to know when to power nap or take a break so that the rest of the day is only moderately uncomfortable, or perhaps the ability to take a nap in a non-bedroom setting?  I am aware that this does not fit into any category particularly well, but then again, rarely anything fits perfectly into any package, tied up with string.  I suppose the best we can do is approximate.

            Communication wasn’t exactly at a low point this week – more like a miss.  I found out this week that my administration-mentor’s work hours have changed by seeing her in the office on a Thursday, which used to be her day off.  While this will not drastically alter any of the workplace conditions, it still leaves a bit of a funny feeling to be surprised like this.  After writing this, I realize that it sounds far more dramatic than it should, but I don’t think it can be helped.

            As far as gracious professionalism goes, I don’t think I have yet had to be gracious about not performing a task, but there is always a first:  this week, I was, if not startled, mildly surprised when it was suggested that I not interact with the children for a while.  I had gotten caught up with a game that two of the more lively students were playing – pretending to be puppies – and I was enjoying tumbling about the motor room with them as much as they were.  However, while this in itself was not a problem, the specialists decided that since such an unusual outburst of social interactions among the students without prompting from the adults was taking place, we should all withdraw slightly and see how the situation played out.  I definitely saw the reason behind this decision, although I was a little disappointed that I could not continue.

            Lastly, there is a problem that needs to be solved – towards the end of each class, the children engage in group songs and activities known as “circle,” named for the semicircle in which the students sit at this time.  A large book filled with velcroed pieces of paper depicting different activities and songs is used at this time, with each piece of paper that is to be used at that time stuck to the outside of the book and displayed for all to see.  However, there is almost no organization within these books, so I hope to find some time to organize my class’s book to make circle time more efficient.

            My long term and short term goals have not changed from last week – I have been giving a green light by my mentors for my semester project!