Winter Blues

Every year it seems, late February and early March are especially trying times at school. I am not exactly sure what leads to the gloom... the weather... exhaustion... stress.... It's hard to say.
The glamor of a new year has long since worn off. The time when you can blame behavior issues on unknown routines is past. The tests that we work so hard to pass are upon us... accompanied by a nagging fear that we are not yet ready for them. We haven't gone outside for recess since before Christmas. Saturday school has begun as one more effort to pass all the tests so both staff and studnets are working 6 days a week. As I have said - it is a tough time of year.
I haven't found too much I can to to ward this feeling off, so I look for cures. Part of it is simply relying on past experience to know that it will get better. The test will get done, the snow will melt and, if all else fails, come August we get to start all over. Some of it is turning to friends and family - venting my frustrations seems to make them a little less. Misery loves company so fellow teachers are also a great source of strength for me - fellow teachers can understand my stress with very little explanation - they just get it.
Spring is coming - the gloom of winter never lasts as long as it seems it is going to. So on these last days of winter I need to focus on the coming spring. And if all else fails, Starburst jellybeans always reappear in stores at this time of year in preparation for Easter.