things unsaid

From parent teacher night to parent

"god has a plan for your child, and its my job to help her get there."

(it may be to say "do you want fries with that." but hey, who am I to go against the Almighty's will)

actually is very good child who is doing well with my class

not this time

Last year my seniors got away with too much. I let them because I had them the year before and they were so doggone earnest puppy eyed. Not this year batch. I am not letting them mess up. The large class settled down into their comfort zone seats. Monday I reassigned seats. Some was random, just breaking up their cliques, others got moved to the front because they did poorly on last test and I know from last year what they are capable of. Some grumbling but I learned to take it in stride, they just have to grumble.

"my mom won't like it if you move me to the front."

*blink* *blink* okay take a breath before you say something smart

"okay, you have my school and home number, she can call me anytime." (and I will explain and show her notes about your last test, the three days you did no work and either studied for another class or drew and ignored my orders to do my work. The only way you are getting what you want is if the principal tells me to move you.)

chapters of stories

I drive the same 40 plus miles one way for the past two years. Since I have a regular patterns I generally see much of the same thing. I mean "I know the roadkill on a first name basis." I know where the police like to wait. The areas where the logger trucks come from. Where in the road the deer like to cross and what yards they hang out in where its safe. I slow down in one township, right after it are several trailer homes. There is often a van from a school for developmentally disabled preschoolers and adults. Sometimes I see the van in route. Sometimes its parked in front of one of the trailers. I see a man walking with a gait of those who are slow, (deliberate, stiff legged) holding the hand of a small child. Are they both going? Is he going on the bus and the child is "helping" a loved relative? Is the child going and the adult simply has a bad back?

annnd we're off

The school is undergoing new things. We have a new principal, new superintendent, lost 3 teachers who because of funding will not be replaced. Two spanking new non traditional teachers and moved from the middle school, ought to be put out in pasture teacher.

Last year's seniors were the smallest class ever. This means that I have the largest group I've ever taught. Now I should not complain within hearing of larger school teachers, who have classes of 30 +, but it is not what I'm used to. I have 88 students this year, with two classes over 25 and a total of six classes. This may not seem like much but it does stretch my lab work area. I actually have to double the labs, half the students do the lab today, half tomorrow. I can make it work.

I scared the heck out of the chemistry class,.."you want to keep your honors courses? I heard the problems you gave the biology teacher last year. Do no think that if you give me grief I will not talk to your parents and principal and ask "why is this one in my class?"" they are working hard. And realized that "I don't know" is not an acceptable answer..."you can use your notes....page 10+ 11...." "I can small fear"

They put me on the leadership committee..why? I don't want to be a leader?....

God...*ahem*...God? If in the afterlife you have judged me a righteous person deserving of reward, I would like to be a tourist in New York for healthy part of eternity. Aside from plane issues in which 3 out of 4 of the planes had maintanence issues, it was wonderful. Okay the hotel had trouble giving us hot water, but they worked on it. The hotel was a block off of Times Square. We saw 2 Broadway shows, Wicked and 9 to 5. One off Broadway show, Stomp. Different food styles every night. Ellis island, where I swear I kept feeling somebody behind me at my shoulder. Museums, the people. Granted I stayed on the Manhattan the time.

And the scariest thing you can hear is your cab driver saying "I know short cut, okay."

after 80 days

My concealed carry permit arrived today.
This is not something I do lightly.

New York awaits. Airline tickets, bags pretty much packed, broadway tickets, tours picked, shopping planned...he loves me...he really loves me.