Pre-Holiday Hodgepodge

First, THIS.

I don't know how familiar you are with Rate Your Students, but I visit it for a few reasons. When I feel like a lonely and beleaguered high school teacher, and think that teaching college students would be sooooo wonderful, this gives me just the grande half-caf no-foam latte of reality I need. Sometimes the stories are funny, sometimes upsetting, and sometimes full of all the cussing I want to do but restrain myself from. This particular article is a reminder to me that I tend to smooth the path, and I could do with letting students move their own rocks once in awhile.

Today I finished an oral quiz with my seniors. I gave a few students three different opportunities to step up and answer questions from the study guide. They aren't easy questions, but the students have had them the whole time, and have had ample opportunity to formulate some sort of coherent response. Most of those students who earned zeros or ones out of five earned those scores three times. They can do better than that, and while I need to work opportunities to make my assessments better, the students need to step up. This isn't play time. This is learning. Move your own rock.

Second, my principal observed me today. I was nervous! It's been a long time since I've been observed by someone whose opinion mattered to me. Class went pretty well, though there was a lot more me at the beginning than them, they did get some quality group work time in today -- I'm looking forward to their character charts for Dorian Gray on Thursday! My principal stayed the entire period, spoke to the kids (I refused to eavesdrop), and had a couple nice things to say when he left. I have to fill out my reflection and make an appointment for the follow up meeting. I'm both excited for and wary of the constructive feedback he will give me. It's difficult to admit that I might have been resting on my laurels more than I thought.

And third, I am grateful to those who dedicate their lives to serving our country. I wish them good health, good leaders, and good intel. Thank you for keeping us safe.

A Strong Desire to Smite

Sometimes I am glad to leave the smiting to the Universe and its generals. Sometimes I wish I wielded such power.

Marvel 1: "What time should I make up last Thursday's vocabulary quiz?"

Me: "Friday."

Marvel 1: "This coming Friday?"

Me: "No. Last Friday."

Marvel 1: "..."

Me: "You were here Friday, right?"

Marvel 1: Nod.

Me: "And you've read the syllabus?"

Marvel 1: Nod.

Me: "The one that says that athletes who know they are going to be gone need to take their assessments early?"

Marvel 1: *Wince*

Me: "See you at lunch today, then."

And then...

Marvel 2: "Should I have told you that I was going to be gone on Thursday and Friday of last week? My book report was on Thursday."

Me: "..."

Marvel 2: "So, when can I make that up?"

Me: "I'll see if we can take a chunk out of the activity we're doing tomorrow and accommodate you."

Marvel 2: "OK. I want that on my quarter grade."

Me: "Grades are due now. I won't have time to add up your score and enter it. It won't appear on your quarter grade."

Marvel 2: *Disappointed wince* "Um, can you maybe..."

Me: "...allow you to do your book report tomorrow, and give you late credit instead of the zero you deserve?"

Marvel 2: "I, uh, yeah. Yeah, I guess so. OK."

Me: "Excellent."

Smitey smite smite.

Skipping Sunday

...well, I skipped Saturday, too, officially speaking.

Yesterday I ran errands (returned boots from Zappos -- good boots, fat calves), renewed library books (I'm going to read some today), bought a couple new tops (still in need of some new trousers), and made an appetizer run at Costco. After walking the dog, my partner and I gussied up and headed to the marina, where we boarded a small yacht for a bachelor/ette celebration cruise. The couple is a gorgeous and happy one, and we were happy have a fun night out. There was another couple from school there, with whom we spent most of the trip, but everyone was really nice.

Best quotes from the night (and don't I wish I knew the context for these):

"Which barnyard animals are most desirous of sexual activity? Brown chicken, brown cow."
(You have to say it rhythmically, like a bad movie soundtrack.)

"I have never been a pirate in my life!"

"I turned around and was holding a cat."

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So, I took Saturday off. And today's post is like taking Sunday off, because the post was about Saturday. I think I'm cheating. I'll be back on Monday, though!

Past as Prologue

Two of my former freshman from two years ago came to visit today. I'm flattered, of course -- even though they mostly came to see me because they couldn't get out of the parking lot at 3:10 (it is, as one of them said completely un-ironically, "a parking lot out there").

Juniors now, they have ridiculous, stressful schedules (which I ribbed them for and they gave them advice about) and very busy lives. But they stayed until four o'clock, and we had a great conversation about weddings, the Hubble, vegetarianism, dogs, "easy" classes, and a former AP from here ("He was awesome").

It's amazing how they've grown, and how much they've stayed the same. They have every intention of taking my AP class next year, and I'm looking forward to it.

It was a good way to end the day.

Reclaiming My Life

For the past two months, I have been unable, it seems, to get a handle on my life. The new prep, of course, threw me for a loop -- but really, how long is one allowed to be thrown before she gets up, dusts herself off, and says, "This is it. No more."

Well, I'm not quite there yet. I still have grading to do before quarter progress reports. I must prepare my pre-observation paperwork so that Monday I can go under the microscope. I need to write tests and plan lessons. (And then I need to blog for this November challenge.)

But today I finally met up with the lovely woman who is my Pilates trainer. I reconnected with a very good friend whom I had not spoken to in weeks. And I read a cheesy romance novel cover to cover.

I almost feel like a person again.