The time of year that brings anxiety to a teacher’s heart – July. I am a dedicated teacher and lover of language and writing, but once the school year begins, the demanding and unrelenting nature of teaching, takes over my life. In summer, I always vow to do more, be more fun, and not let teaching take over, yet it always seems to. I often describe my job as a merry go round – once the kids arrive, the carousel begins – up and down, round and round – nothing deters it, until the kids leave at the end of the day. Then you must grade papers, get ready for the next day, go to many meetings, meet with parents, and try to fit in all the other things you’d like to do. How do I find the time and energy to do all I’d like to do? You’d think after 25 years, I’d have mastered everything about teaching, but alas, I still struggle with finding time for everything I need and want once the unrelenting year begins. But, I keep moving forward, hoping I’ll do a better job of fitting everything in. Maybe this year…