Busy, busy, busy

I feel like I am on a merry-go-round that just won't stop long enough for me to even think about getting off. It's always like this at the end of every term, so I don't know why I'm surprised.

I have several students who have missed tests and the time is running out for them to make them up. My normal "stay late" day is Thursday, but I am more than flexible when it comes to staying for students to make up work or to get extra help. One of my guys is here now taking the test he missed Friday. All of the others will keep the zeroes if they don't get them done by Thursday of next week. And that is NOT going to be good for their grades. I've talked with them and told them they need to stay. They know what my late day is, and they know I'll stay any other day--as long as they let me know ahead of time so I can make sure I don't have anything else to do. What else can I do? This is one of the frustrations of working with teenagers. :)

Kristen, Sam, Todd, John, and I went to Laredo last night to celebrate Kristen's birthday. We had a BLAST. Kristen is an absolute hoot, and with a margarita (or three) she was even more fun. When I first started teaching here, a group of us who got together every Thursday afternoon and opened up the Mexican restaurant. It was so much fun, and it was such a good stress reliever. I'd love to get back into the habit of doing something like that again, but we're all so busy with first one thing and then another.

There are only six days--school days, that is--left until spring break! On the way to Auburn yesterday, Kristen and I were talking about how LONG this term has been but how FAST it has gone by, too. I know that is totally contradictory, but it's the truth. It seems like Christmas break was forever ago, but then it's hard to believe that it's been only nine weeks since Christmas break.

I really think that one thing that has made such a difference is that I really and truly enjoy what I do, and I couldn't always say that when I was in the special education department. It wasn't that I didn't feel connected to the students I had then because I did. I would have the same kids for all four years, so I really got to know them. I have some who still call me "momma." :) But I don't think I felt challenged intellectually. I was challenged every day, but the challenges were usually in the form of "what in the world can I do to change the behavior of this student?" and that was very draining. By choice, I continue to teach the special needs students in my senior classes.

John is taking off the Thursday and Friday of spring break. We'll leave on Wednesday to go up to the lake. His plan is to replace the water lines and put in the water heater (that fabulous Christmas present we got for one another LOL) If this project is like any of the other projects we take on, we might have water lines replaced and the water heater in by Sunday. hahaha NONE of our projects EVER seem to be as easy as what we think they will be.

Ahhhh...my student is finished with his test, so I'm going to go home. I hear the tanning bed calling my name.

Have a GREAT afternoon/evening/Friday! :)

♥