Holiday Fever

When I was younger, the week before Christmas vacation was filled with excited anticipation of presents, freedom, food and family visits. I can't imagine that a classroom of 30 students just like me was very fun to manage back then.

It's strange to be on the other side now. The last week it has been insanely difficult to get my students to focus. The Eid holiday will begin in the middle of this week. Schools take the entire week off. There will be many visits to extended family. And a lot of food will be eaten (mostly mutton).

Before the holiday many schools gave exams. So my students didn't have time to do the homework I assigned them. The relation between this weariness and the general aura of anticipation matched their attitude in my class perfectly as they oscillated between cranky resistance and enthusiastic distraction.

Unlike the other schools, we are still open two more days this week.

I have already given up on trying to teach something. Classes will be smaller; attention spans will be shorter. So I think I will just lead a discussion on their holiday plans.

And I will feel sorry for all the teachers in times past that had to put up with me before a holiday.