Interruptions

Blog51:

Have you counted the times you have been interrupted?  I was barraged by it today and most definitely began to inch by inch lose my cool.

First, three messages were left in my voice box that required quick replies, and   before I could turn on my computer at work to check how the day was going to flow, a blaring intercom interrupted with loud announcements for this and that, and all sorts of disruptions  that yet would take place during the work hours: a meeting with PLC at 10:00, a meeting with a colleague at 8:20.

The phone rings and agitates my brain; on the line, a parent wanted information on her child’s test results.  Hmmpphh, I grumbled; it was not even the official hour for my day to start and there they were … all stoppages lined up. 

Next, an email popped up.  It reminded that professional development was scheduled from 4 to 6 … PM … downtown … half an hour drive.  That was after 7.5 hours of work already completed by end of office hours!   More mail pop-ups, documents that needed completion, papers to be processed, etcetera.  On top of it, another intercom interruption about Community Academic meeting on Common Core Curriculum … tonight … scheduled at 6:30;  that would be after the PD from 4 to 6!  Ugghh!  More grumbling!

Finally, I could meet with at least a dozen students who really could use a stimulating discussion of good reader habits.  Creating a path for any of the students to succeed in manipulating learning is always satisfying.  There’s Susan for instance.  Whenever Susan is stuck at a 3 or 4-syllable word, she’ll need to remember to break apart the long word, call out what she can, and then attempt to sound out those letters to unlock the rest.  Martin is another struggling reader.  It is unfortunate that he had not mastered yet his letter names and sounds.  That’s key to beginning reading.  And of course, associating a word, a phrase, a sentence with a concept is most important. 

The phone rings one more time. 

The head honcho rattles on the other end, “Where is the data on such and such?”

I roll my eyes.  I talk to myself and murmur, “She’s kidding, right?  That info was a week old.  Did she check her inbox?  How about her snail box?  That was last week’s request already attended!  I calm down myself and tell her I could forward the mail with the attachment. That was an unnecessary intrusion.

Shortly, two students arrive in my room while twelve others complete their tasks.  Which teacher in the building fouled up this time?  I could not double-up on whom to serve at an appointed time.  That’s why there are schedules.  Why don’t people pay those a mind?  “Total disconnect there!” I thought.  My ‘tolerance box” might not hold up.

From there, three more phone calls followed by a fire alarm … an unannounced building fire drill.  What else? 

That was that.  Whatever was left on my work plate would have to be on top of tomorrow’s pile.

Reflect … Relax … Get collected!

I must have had quite an unusual day for interruptions.  But while I don’t mind a few, a dozen or more- in one day- tore up my calm ‘routine’, easily flipped my brain over, and ruffled what was left of  my feathers.  

A mundane thing, you say?  It might have been.  Today though, it was simply annoying!