FSpringebruary eased into March with sunny days and cool nights. Spring is obvious in the bits of green I see popping up in the yard and the birds returning to the trees.

Spring is also obvious in the hallways and classrooms of our schools. Boys notice the girls, who giggle in groups as they try to seem older than their years. I see the pent up energy of my students bursting to come out – sometimes in strange ways.

Me: Ok, let’s get our novels out.

Student: Augh!

Me: (startled) What was that?

Students in room: laughing

1st student: Sorry, miss. I don’t know what happened.

See what I mean? It was as if he had been holding in that yell all day and it finally erupted in my classroom. Taking them outside has a similar effect.

Student: Miss, are we going outside?

Me: Yes, let’s go to the door.

Students: Waiting just inside the door to be released.

Me: (at the door) Ok, gang, let’s go!

Students: running out the door, shrieking, yelling, jumping, leaping

Me: (left with nothing but dust)

This time of year, with spring break coming and TAKS testing ongoing, is the time we see this energy bubbling over more and more. As a teacher, I can tell you that this is not always beneficial in the classroom. There is more tapping, whispering, giggling, and desk-drumming than ever before. Now is when most teachers are also in the final push for the coming tests, but kids are already looking beyond spring break to summer vacation. Therefore, this is also the time when teachers are at their most creative as well as their most stressed.

Teacher-who-shall-remain-nameless: Christine (they call me Christine), have you seen my stuff? I know I had it.

Me: No…when did you have it last?

Teacher-who-shall-remain-nameless: I’m not sure…I had it in here. I can’t find it anywhere.

Me: Well, I’ll keep an eye out for it.

-Later-

Me: (to Teacher-who-shall-remain-nameless): Is this your cup?

Teacher-who-shall-remain-nameless: Yes! Where was it?

Me: I found it on the table in my room.

Another teacher walked in: Is this your notebook?

Teacher-who-shall-remain-nameless: Oh! Thank goodness! Where was it?

Another teacher: It was in my room on my desk.

Yes…spring fever has struck. We are all victim to this malady. Now is the time when students are more excited and teachers are more frazzled. When spring break arrives, it will be with a sigh of relief from everyone. Students will sleep, play, and chat/text. Teachers will sleep, play, and catch up on housework (maybe).

Me, I will be working on my own homework, rearranging part of my house, spending time with my family, and hopefully relax a bit before the final weeks of school.

Hopefully I won’t get run over in the parking lot by all the people yelling, shrieking, leaping, and running in the excitement of spring break beginning.

I’ll have to move out of the kids’ way, too.

Christine Moore currently holds a degree from Howard Payne University and recently earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She is now working on her Ph.D. in Educational Technology at Walden University. Married with four children who attend Brownwood schools, Christine teaches 6th grade reading in Brownwood and has been working in education at various levels for the past 15 years. Christine welcomes your questions and comments and would love to hear from you!