Tomorrow is the first day of the new trimester. It's kind of weird because I'm getting only two new classes; my middle school classes stay the same. I'll get new Composition students tomorrow, though, which is exciting and anxiety-provoking at the same time. I wish I had a little more time before the new trimester … Continue reading December 2: new beginnings
teaching
November 28: so done
I'm so tired because I've been working 12 hour days or so for the week and sometimes, instead of working on grading, I have meetings and meetings. I like it when I'm at meetings with parents, where we can talk about what is going on and look at ways to work together in the future. … Continue reading November 28: so done
November 21: Better
If you would have told me on Monday that I would leave school on Wednesday feeling *good* about things, I would have laughed in your face. But here we are. Teaching can give me metaphorical whiplash: one day can be terrible and I leave feeling like I'm the worst teacher in the world, the next … Continue reading November 21: Better
November 18: running in place
That's pretty much what I feel like. I worked on grading way more than I do on a typical weekend and still I am swamped. I did get almost all my 7th grade essays done. I had 5 left and I just couldn't keep going tonight. I am distracted and tired and I know I … Continue reading November 18: running in place
November 16: reading essays
I graded an entire class set of essays tonight after work. Here's the thing about reading personal essays: you learn a lot about the lives of hundreds of young people - how they view things, how they process, what bothers them and what they care about tremendously. I've read thousands of stories from kids at … Continue reading November 16: reading essays
November 14: still weird
Today was a bit better, but I still feel really weird: more hungry than usual, uncomfortable skin, more tired and irritable, just all around icky feeling. I wonder if this is all stress related? I am over my head in grading and I had to have a sub yesterday and another one for part of … Continue reading November 14: still weird
November 11: another weekend over
Sad. Sunday night blues are kicking my butt. I don't want to go to sleep because I don't want to get up tomorrow. I just want another day to relax. This is the first fall I've been able to enjoy my weekends in 15 years. Coaching debate took over half of every weekend, which left … Continue reading November 11: another weekend over
November 5: darkness
When I left school today, it was dark. Not dim, not dusk. Dark. I used to love fall back because I love to sleep, but now, I'm annoyed with the entire concept of time in general and I just want to hibernate. Instead I'm going to take vitamin D pills whenever I remember them and … Continue reading November 5: darkness
November 1: conferences
I have far more conferences this year since I'm working at two schools, and I have a few proposals and points for consideration: The word "lazy" is now banned. There is probably some reason a 12 year old doesn't get their work done, but calling a kid lazy doesn't help anything and probably just makes … Continue reading November 1: conferences
October 28: guilt
I'm stressing out about how I didn't get done what I wanted to get done this weekend. I had to leave school earlier than I usually would (by hours) because the debate tournament started. That meant that I wasn't able to get my weekly planning done on Friday before leaving, which threw me off. Then, … Continue reading October 28: guilt
Adventures in Distraction 