Dawn and I have been discussing this common problem since we have started teaching. The Sunday Blues. It's the pit in your stomach that you get on Sunday. It usually kicks in at around 4pm and doesn't go away until you make it into school on Monday morning.
When I had just started teaching, I thought that this condition was just amongst myself and my closest friends. The more that I spoke to colleagues, I learned that this wasn't just a condition: it was an epidemic. I think the Sunday Blues are worse when you're a new teacher...but I also have felt mine intensify now that the Commin Core is in full swing. Teachers are being asked to teach more rigorous concepts with the lack of materials and support staff that are needed to address the neediest students. We are trying to keep up with the evolving curriculum and the needs of our students, and it takes a toll on our well being, especially our mental health.
The worst part about all of the new standards isn't the fact that they are more rigorous. The problem is that teachers want to do their job well. I have never met a teacher who said they are okay with teaching crappy lessons and 20 year old content. For the most part, elementary teachers care about their students and how each and every decision we make can impact every child's life and future.
So if you ever hear a teacher say they have the Sunday blues, maybe now you can understand just a little bit better about what we're talking about.
I will let you in on a little secret: the only thing that cures the Sunday Blues is seeing the faces of your students on Monday morning. After all, they're the reason we get out of bed so early!
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