First six weeks grades
This last week was a little crazy. We had our Curriculum Based Exams in all English class periods on Tuesday. That ended up rolling over to Wednesday in two classes because of a practice Lock down. Then one day we had a fire drill when the dishwasher in the kitchen set off the smoke alarm. And I was out for a meeting one afternoon. Crazy.

Grades are due on Monday and I am remarkably ready. I did stay until 6:30 on Friday to ensure that happened, but having weekends stress free of grading is important.

I was able to finish some grades in class and one student asked what his grade was. An extra credit assignment brought his grade from a 96 to a 99. He was dissapointed. I saw the disappointment on his face and quite sternly said, "Oh no. We are not disappointed with an A. We are happy with an A. We do the happy dance." He smiled and said ok. Then later as he was leaving class he told me that he just didn't like nines. I told him I would be happy to give him an 88. He passed on the offer.

When I was chiding him for not being thankful for having a 99, I had two things running through my head. First, my seventh period class where I had about 7 people failing because of zeros. They all would have been very happy to have that 99. Then I have been reading the book Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids. And it just makes me sick. I went through high school just 7 years ago and I don't remember this crazy pressure. Have things really changed that much?
- posted by Alicia @ 2:27 PM |

 
School Update
August 23rd My sister sent me these beautiful flowers. That was also the morning I walked up a ramp and thought I was walkind down a ramp but soon realized (as I tripped over myself and on my knee) that it was less ramp and more stairs.

I had a fabulous birthday and continue to have a fabulous year. My students are wonderful. Both my PreAP and my regular. The amount of grading is proving to be more this year, but it is still managable. I am really enjoying what I am doing and so happy to have my job. I am looking forward to moving off of Great Expectations and on to The Odyssey, where I have slightly more experience. I do need to read the book though. (We will read the prose version in Pre-AP.) 
- posted by Alicia @ 10:48 AM |