The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am
helped.—Psalm 28:7
After three straight classes, I need this time to relax and
refresh—before the next group arrives in 45 minutes. It’s called a planning
period, but I find myself doing every other thing
but planning—I'm grading papers, writing discipline referrals, reporting on students
with special needs, and answering emails from parents. My desk is littered with paper and my
electronic inbox is bursting at the seams. How
will I ever get it all done? And what can I do with my most challenging
class—soon to arrive? Just thinking about makes my heart palpitate--despite rhythm-regulating medicine.