I'm getting antsy

I honestly think I'm almost as bad as the students. Spring break is just around the corner, and I can't wait! Being able to sleep past 5:30 is something I look forward to more than anything. Mornings are not my thing...

The next couple of weeks will be pretty busy, so I know they'll go by quickly. In my senior English classes, we're beginning to talk about research so that we can jump right in on the DREADED RESEARCH PROJECT (or the DRP) as soon as we get back from break. We'll do that for the next couple of days, and then we'll review for their term exam. It will be Friday. Next week, I'll see the seniors on Wednesday and Thursday only, so they'll do their presentations on the pilgrim project from The Canterbury Tales on those days.

In my junior class, we're reading The Great Gatsby, so we'll be finishing that up next week. Because several of them are having to take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, they won't be taking their term exam until after spring break. I hate to do it that way, but they cannot take ANY tests during the week of the grad exam. About half of my juniors are having to take at least one part, and somebody is testing every day, so there is really no way to give a term exam before spring break.

Next week really won't be a bad week, even though it is the grad exam week. We allow the students who AREN'T involved in testing to delay arrival at school until 11:00. That includes all freshmen except those who are taking the math and/or biology portion, any sophomores who have already taken and passed the math and/or biology portions, and all juniors and seniors who have passed each section. Once the students arrive at school and testing has been completed, we'll have our advisement period and then we'll have classes in the afternoon. We'll have our third and fourth block classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and our first and second block classes on Wednesday and Thursday. I have third block planning, so for three days, I'll only have to teach one class. Woo Hoo!! BUT, I have to either administer or proctor the grad exam on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, so those mornings will be pure torture! At least Tuesday will be an "empty" day until 1:30. LOL

Test administrators and proctors can do absolutely nothing during the test except walk around the room and watch the students. We can't skim through the newspaper or a magazine, grade papers, work a crossword puzzle...NOTHING. I understand the reason behind it, but is sure makes for a L-O-N-G morning, especially on math and reading test days. Try doing absolutely nothing in an almost totally quiet room for 90 minutes.

My dad is having a prostate biopsy on the Tuesday of spring break week (the 17th) because his PSA level more than doubled from last year. He found out about the increased level around Valentine's Day, but they weren't able to schedule the biopsy for any sooner than March 17, and then we won't know anything about the results until the end of the month. It drives me crazy that the length of time between A and B is so long, but I also realize that my dad is not the ONLY person in the world who is in need of medical care. Mom said the doctor was very thorough and explained that it could be an infection, an inflammation, or cancer. We're obviously praying for one of the first two! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

I think that's about all I'll post for now. There are a few other things I could post about, but I'm kinda tired. I had some of the weirdest dreams last night, so I didn't sleep very well. Actually, I haven't slept very well in over a week. Even when I napped over the weekend, I dreamed crazy dreams and didn't rest.

I hope everyone has had a great start to the week, and I hope you have a GREAT Tuesday!

♥