Last school year, Virginia Woolf would have been proud: I had a room of one's own. Yep, by some stroke of luck, I had my own classroom - one that I didn't share with anyone, which is a rarity in a high school that graduates 800 students a year.
It meant that I had a lot of time to think, to write, to grade, to plan, and, well, just to be. I was, I believe, a better teacher, a better (and more frequent) writer, and more organized because of that private space. During my plan periods, I didn't need to hurry up and gather my things so that the incoming teacher could get her lesson started; instead, I could sit there and debrief the lesson I had just taught, make adjustments, and then move on.
This year, I am a (wo)man with no land. I have no home. I teach 1st and 12th periods in what was, for 6 or 7 years, "my" classroom; it now belongs to a lovely newly tenured teacher who is in there for her entire day. Then, I move to in and out of another classroom that belongs to a teacher more senior than me (I'm 5th in seniority on my hall, out of 16); sharing that space is difficult for us both but somehow, we manage, although it usually means that she stays 5 minutes into my class to gather her things and I am carting binders, books, bags, and yes, even technology back and forth from room to room.
When I'm not teaching, I'm trying to usurp space somewhere else: the English office, my best friend Laura's classroom, the computer lab... wherever there is space. And there usually is space but unfortunately, that space rarely comes with a computer.
That's a huge problem for me because I rely heavily on technology in the classroom and need to be prepared to show StarWars Macbeth at a moment's notice or to download an episode of This American Life.
But today I struck gold, which is why I'm writing this at 8:34 am: Laura's class is in the computer lab and so I'm situated at her desk, replete with keyboard and monitor, like a kid in a candy shop.
Virginia did say it best:
"a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction..."
And I agree.
If I plan to add to my 200 page novel and eventually arrive at its conclusion, I need a room of one's own and I know I'll have one soon, although there will be a baby close by...
Now, as for the money part, well, that's where I'm screwed.
If it's not one thing, it's another...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Love this. I must confess, when I was hired and the magical words "we'll show you your classroom on Monday" came out of his mouth" I breathed a hugh sigh of relief. I may share my classroom during my prep period, but that is okay...it is still mine.
ReplyDeleteLame that you had to make the switch this year!
I don't think the teachers in my high school ever shared rooms - what a pain in the rear. I imagine this is the type of thing that makes being a good teacher really hard.
ReplyDelete