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!