holy mother of all things good and sacred!

Okay, so we're less than 2 weeks away from Spring Break, and I'm about to lose my mind! The kids all have Spring Fever, apparently, and I can't get any respect from them. I kinda feel like Rodney Dangerfield at some points.

The worst group of all is my honors class. I actually completely lost it with them earlier this week and have felt awful ever since. But at the same time, they've been listening a bit better. I shared with them that I was in the same position as they are once upon a time - an honors kid who couldn't keep her mouth shut! And the only thing that finally taught me my lesson was losing my status on honor roll and getting grounded for poor behavior grades - all from the diarrhea of the mouth!

I'm trying to keep myself sane by planning for the weeks after our state mandated testing (2 weeks after SB) and making it fun! I'm actually busy doing research on Nancie Atwell's workshop method of teaching reading and writing. And I LOVE the idea. I've implemented it partially already, just with what I've learned from a fellow teacher, but now, I'm learning so much from reading her books.

I'm actually excited about the prospects of teaching this spring, even though my kids themselves are totally draining me! Can't wait for April 14 to get here!!

kids = germs

I feel like I've been permanently sick for months now. It's a combination of the mold, dust, and mildew of our current apartment (which we'll be out of in 3 1/2 months!), the germs that circulate in the school (the joys of teaching), and the old musty building in which I teach.

Since New Year's Eve, I've had a 2 sinus infections, an upper respiratory infection, a mild ear infection, and a virus that masquerades as a mild flu-like illness. The DH has had strep throat, 2 sinus infections, and a violent 48-hour stomach virus, as well. Our combined extreme allergies to dust, smoke, mold, mildew, pollen etc. have made life miserable in our neck of the woods.

Luckily, I've only had to call in for a sub once in these two months, though. I hate it when I've gotta use a substitute, because of all the work it means for me once I get back to school. The prepping for a sub is not tough work, but the piles of things that I couldn't get graded IN class while the kids were working on them get HUGE! I mean, just for being out today, I'll have 1 class set of Reading Logs, 3 class sets of spelling homework, and 3 class sets of pronoun workbook exercises waiting for me! Not fun by any means!!

On a positive note, after a bit of research and thought, I've cut all gluten-containing products out of my diet for almost a week now, and I've been feeling better in certain areas of my body. I'm not sure if it's in my head, if I'm gluten intolerant, or if I might have a wheat allergy, but as tough as it is, it's working. I'll keep you updated on how this works out!

ahhh... made it throught the first week back. though unfortunately, I feel like I never even had a spring break. I feel completely drained. I fell asleep by about 10:00 almost every night this week, that's how drained I've been feeling. It is the weekend now, luckily, and I plan on making the most of it. I'm not even going to think about school. Plus th next week should be relatively easy considering it's TCAP week right after Easter, and all my classes will be doing for the lovely 4 day week next week is taking a TCAP practice test. And that means nothing for me to grade all next week except for their standard vocabulary quiz and their journals - something that I'll be doing away with soon anyway.

I'm off to have a great weekend and spend some time wallowing with a few fellow teachers over a giant bottle of champagne at brunch this morning!

2nd day

So, true story. School has been back in session for a grand total of 2 days. We've already got one girl going to ISS for 3 days, and I was sooo close to writing another kid up today for taking something out of my classroom that was supposed to be used for an in-class group project. And it was something that was my own personal material! The demon-child I've been having issues with all year is up to his same old tricks. If he doesn't watch out, he's gonna end up suspended again and possibly on his way to an alternative school placement (not that I would mind, though).

And it's because of these few that I feel really sorry for the good kids. For the most part, they're great. But their learning is hindered by the behavior of a few, and I'm sick of it for their sakes. There are, believe it or not, some 12 year olds that actually seem to enjoy school, and much to my surprise, writing! And those are the kids that give me the strength each day to push ahead irregardless of the crap put up with on a daily basis.

On a happier note, our team's math teacher who's been out on maternity leave is officially back!! I've missed her so much, and now she's back. Hopefully the consistency will help return our kids' sanity to survivable levels. And I now have my normal across-the-hall neighbor to talk to in between classes! And there's now an adorable 2 1/2 month old girl that has joined the sixth grade family down at our end of the hall. I keep saying that whenever I start to get "baby fever," I'll go chill with this adorable little one for a while to get it out of my system. Babies make everyone happy - except when they're crying... a lot!

time for a change

This has been coming gradually over the last few months, but I'm finally happy about my new short crazy hair. The last two times I've had it cut, it was gradually shorter and shaggier and more deconstructed, but this time, I really went all out.

It's not only short and funky (think somewhere between Sarah and Jael from ANTM:Cycle 8) but also chestnut brown with red-violet blended throughout. So, in short, I'm no longer a brunette, I'm a violet-head. What does that say about me exactly? Dunno, but I <3 it very very much!