Catchup

January is that odd combination of slowness and speed. Because the weather is so changeable and can be so problematic, it's a daily concern, and that can be wearing, making the time pass slowly. The speedy part is associated with my work: not long after we return from winter break (I still call it Christmas vacation), midyear exams make their ugly or auspicious appearance. Those days in the interim are a rush to complete the lessons that are reflected on the exams by combatting the predictable desire of the students to do as much academic work as what they'd accomplished over the vacation - typically, nothing. One snow day, early release, or two-hour delay can upset the schedule. It's a daily struggle, and exams often have to be amended almost at the last minute to include only what we've actually been able to cover. And then, after the students labor over them (or not), they all have to be corrected. Needless to say, this can be a stressful time.

Weather maps have shown us to be the target for some truly wintry weather this year. We seem to be in a flow that brings a half dozen inches of snow, sometimes more, every 2 to 4 days. If it's not snowing, it's cloudy or frigid with wind chill temperatures well below 0ºF. Today is the first day of sun, almost no wind, and temperatures above 20º since December, and I'll enjoy taking a walk in it today. The upcoming week looks fairly quiet, and that's A Good Thing. Making up exams pushes the last period exam into the next week, taking away the weekend to grade them, so it's not the optimum situation. Besides, this time, I don't want to give up my birthday this coming Saturday to school work!

I've struggled with my 4th period class all along, but finally someone with more pull than I have observed the class and demanded that I have a classroom aide. HOORAY! Although part of me is disheartened that the observations of a classroom teacher with 36+ years of experience were of less significance than those of a student support person with 7 years, the larger picture is the better focus. Julie's job is to support me by helping the students to do the right thing, be it taking a hat off, following directions, understanding a question on a quiz, or speaking with respect. So far it's working well, although some of the yahoos still make poor choices, and I now have the perspective of another adult to reinforce my observations. By giving her all the handouts and worksheets and assignments that the students are expected to complete, I know that she's able to assist them, so I can be more attentive to the quiet, cooperative students who also sometimes need help or direction. The major outcomes of the presence of my classroom aide at this point in the school year are twofold: the class will run more smoothly, and the students who make the poor choices, behaviorally and academically, are clearly on their way to failing the class. Yes, after exams, a few will have already achieved averages so low that it's mathematically impossible for them to pass for the year. That's pretty sad.

Another sadness is that the only way I could ensure that my 4th period class was reading the assigned book, ALAS, BABYLON, was to read over half of it aloud to them in class. At first I gave them "multiple guess" (multiple choice) questions, and a few students accidentally passed them with 60's. I didn't catch on to the fact that the kids as a whole just weren't reading until everyone in the class failed the quiz on chapter 4 on which they had to supply the answers. From then on I gave them what would have been the quizzes as worksheets to be filled out as they read or were read to. Sadder still than my need to read the book to them are the facts that some of them "forgot" to fill in the answers as I read to them, a few "lost" the sheets, and most still didn't finish the chapter for homework, expecting me to tell them what they missed. Nope. Not gonna happen. So now, for their midyear exam, they'll be allowed to use those worksheets to help them answer the questions about the book, and some of them will be out of luck. In fact, they have permission to use four sets of notes/review sheets to refer to for facts in their responses. They have all the tools they need to pass if they've put in any amount of effort. We'll see who steps up and who fails.

There have been some lighter events in the past couple of weeks, too. Yoga has resumed, and I've realized how much it's helped my flexibility and is toning my muscles. Kristie, the instructor, asks us at the end of each session to bow and give thanks to ourselves for our practice and for sharing our energy, and each time I realize that this activity is oh so good for me. I'm taking a grad course that's been brought to our campus, partly to stir my brain, partly to gain more credits on the pay scale. I have to acquire a total of 15 more credits to move up another notch, and it's a doable goal, one I'd like to achieve at least a year before I retire. This class is about the process of conducting action based research, and it's something that I can actually use. A dozen of us will meet with a very laid-back instructor four times and conduct searches for supporting information to try to resolve a problem of our choice. I know it sounds dull, but I can see ways in which I'll use much of what we're learning as I teach my classes. The fact that my Professional Development funds pay for it is a sweet bonus. There's an upcoming online course that's inexpensive, and one this summer at the local university that a voucher from having a student teacher will pay for, so I'm well on my way to earning those 15 credits.

Another Good Thing has been my learning how to set faceted stones to make some pretty jewelry. My friend Gary asked me to make some birthstone jewelry for himself and his daughter in a style that I'd never tried before, so I did some research and found the materials I needed to accomplish the task. Stones were imported from Thailand, metals came from the USA, and soon I'd made some lovely Alexandrite post earrings and pendants. I was so pleased with the outcome that I've continued purchasing stones and settings, and assembling rings, earrings, and pendants for myself. I've learned that setting cabochons using this process is harder than setting faceted stones, and that not every beautiful stone has an easy setting because it may not be of a standard size or shape. Undoubtedly, I'll continue, making post earrings and maybe pendants and rings to sell. It's widening my repertoire and expanding the designs that I can offer. I'm thankful that Gary gave me the challenge.

My car is still making me happy. My husband's truck can now park behind my car in the garage because the water pump was moved to let my car pull in right up to the cellar wall. The huge new tv continues to give us pleasure. The livingroom is decluttered because we'd invited people over to watch (yell at) two football games on television yesterday, but the foot of new snow kept them at home. That means we have a nice tub of homemade dip for potato chips and plenty of cheese and crackers for snacking this week. It also means I have less cleaning of the house to do in preparation for the visit of my friend Brick and his wife Mieja a week from now. They're in the US to visit friends and family, to see places where he'd spent time in the past, and to attend a reunion of his International School pals. They'll spend one of their days here giving acting workshops to students at our school, and the rest of the time is unstructured, other than wanting to snowshoe somewhere nearby. Last time he was here, two years ago, he wished for snow; well, this time, he'll see plenty of it!

Finally, last night was the first of the season with flannel sheets on our bed. Until then we'd had the usual percale sheets, a single electric blanket, and a quilt. For me to be warm, I've had to wear pajamas and turn on the electric blanket to warm the sheets. Sometimes I'd forget to turn off the blanket over night, and that can make me congested or restless when I try to sleep. Now, I can return to thin nightgowns, long or short, and the electric blanket will be necessary to preheat the sheets only on the coldest of days when we haven't been home to keep the fire going in the wood stove. Flannel sheets are sooo soft and I feel sooooo snug and warm in them! I'm a happy bedbug :)