Selling Out

So I've got a donorschoose proposal for two digital point-and-shoot cameras that's almost fully funded. I've got another under review - that one is for supplies for writers' workshop. I've got four more in draft, waiting for me to write an essay that will convince people to donate money.

And I am just outta words.

I have a vague idea of what I want to say for the one I'm working on. I'm requesting a set of children's picture books that my high school students can use to practice reading out loud, because I am SO TIRED of listening to droning voices. And I know that if I'M bored, there's no way that they're fascinated.

I could just blah blah blah through it, but if it's not going to be something that gets me funded, it's a waste of time anyway.

The beginning asks for one line that will inspire or grab the attention of donors. I don't even have that. (I do think my title is pretty kickin', though - I see it as a shout-out to both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine," though it's a common enough phrase.)

It definitely frustrates me that you have to meet the word count before you can save. It's easy enough to work around - at least one of my drafts has a few inspirational quotes (I haven't decided which one I want to use yet) and the rest filled out with 'essay here essay here essay here.'

I guess I really ought to be over there, grinding through it, and I'll head that direction in a minute, but sometimes it just helps to acknowledge the struggle.

Image thanks to http://www.newsobserver.com/

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The Road to Hell Is Thickly Paved

... although I am not the one leaving Reese's wrappers on the floor! Hang on, though, while I go throw it away.

ok, back - not like you missed anything. I can't complain too much, though, because the Hunk DID let me commandeer the entire closet in our bedroom. His stuff is now over in the library (which doubles as a guest bedroom). They both look quite spiff and organized. I wonder how long they'll stay that way...

I've finished the first draft of my English II units for this year. Want feedback. Help help help!

Plan for today is to get the Hunk to do all the outside-foo while I pick up around here. And write my donorschoose essays. And play World of Warcraft (shhh).

Oh - SCORE! We got our class schedules in the mail. I have two sections of Journalism each semester - one each of intro & advanced! Unfortunately, I can't log in to PowerSchools to see if I've got the same students each semester - I'm really hoping so.

It's a HUGE relief, because I was planning to 'split' the class into n00bz & vets anyway, and now I'll be able to focus on each group, instead of just the one I'm working with. woot!

Lots to do. Off to call the Shakespeare Tavern - ta!

ETA: Tony is out of the office but will call back Monday! woot!

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Meanwhile...

I had a teachery-post kind of outlined, but I haven't really fleshed it out. Today I've mostly been recovering from yearbook camp, just kind of trying to digest some of the ideas we went over & how to make things fit. Our ladder isn't cooperating. I'm not sure how to plan for ads; never have been. If I set aside two signatures (32 pages) as usual, we don't have room to expand our academic coverage. Plus we didn't sell very many ads last year.

But I don't want to PLAN to accomplish less. I want to sell LOTS of ads. And lots of books. Because that means lots of MONEY!

But anyway, I was not the only person who kept busy over the last few days. Oh no. Sure, the Hunk stayed home this year (last year he came along as a chaperon because there were BOYS that went). But he didn't just sit at home and do nothin.

Nope, he went out and got this:

The still shot just does NOT do it justice. The upper light shines through the fan, giving a soft fluttery effect, and it also fades between red, blue, and green.

It looks like a frickin Christmas tree.

However, with the lights on, it's this:



That's our new computer, boys and girls. And yes, it really is supposed to look like that. The fan is on top. All the device ports are on the front, which is super convenient. No sides (so you can see inside it! but mostly to help keep it cool). And there's lots of twinkly lights!

With the squat, roundy-ish shape and the 'legs' sticking out from the sides, it kind of reminds me of R2-D2.

Lemme tell ya, after I saw that, I felt NO GUILT WHATSOEVER about having dropped a fat chunk of change on some new clothes last week.

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Calling Parents

So last night I called parents for EVERY STUDENT who has anything below a B (with the one exception of the student for whom I have a parent conference today - I figured it'd be redundant). I also called some in the 87-89 range who could pull up ton an A.

A number of them are flunking because we've had one end-of-unit project so far (a wee one, but it was still a test grade), and they didn't turn it in. Well, test grades in our department count for 50% of the final average. Thus, if you have a 0 for your average, you take the rest of your grades, average them out (half quizzes, half "daily work" aka classwork and homework) and then subtract 50 points. So, yeah. Not turning in test work? Not good.

It took about an hour, maybe an hour and fifteen minutes total to do ALL my calling. And you know what? It wasn't so bad.

1) First, and most importantly, I state that the purpose of the call is to let the parents know that I am handing out student reports tomorrow, so the students will know exactly what grade they have and how they've done on each assignment. The parents can ask the students about this, and the students should be able to give them the report if asked. While I don't quite agree with the "sandwich" method of parent contact (start with a compliment, put the negative in the middle, and finish with a compliment), the idea behind it is solid: always begin with something nonconfrontational.

2) I don't lie or brush aside the truth, but I skirt the line pretty closely! I don't think you have to be harsh. Parents know that when they hear "Well," followed by a pregnant pause and then, "he's reeeally not doing so great right now," the news is BAD. I go very quickly through the source of the trouble (usually uncompleted work and/or failure to use time effectively in class) and then move on.

3) Here's where I really disagree with the sandwich method: I don't finish with a compliment. Rather, I close the call by explaining what the student can do to fix things, and describing what I'd like to see as a result. And, of course, as student success is always good, I'm still ending with something positive - plus I'm letting the parents envision their child being successful if the action plan I've explained is followed! I really think this is the lynchpin, because it creates a "team" effect: this is what we all want, and we're going to work together to achieve it.

When I finish my calling, I always feel relieved because it is OVER, but also because I know that I've strengthened the relationship I have with the parents, and I've given them a way to help their child be successful.

Your parent calls can be painless too!

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Counting Down

Two weeks from today I will - hopefully - have just returned from my first day of pre-planning.

I feel fairly well-prepared for the first week or so. After that, things are a bit up in the air. I don't much like it, but I need to find out when I can use the library for the (required) research project before I go and schedule the rest of my units. Plus I need to know how FRIGGIN SOON I get my computer projector.

I don't have things straight in my head, and that frustrates me. I've spent pots of time over the last couple of days updating my book list over at goodreads.com (as well as checking out WAY too many library books). I need to fold laundry and I'd like to play with some ideas for my journalism classes. Particularly the laundry, because the yard needs to be mowed and I feel unjust asking the Hunk to mow the lawn while I'm putzing about online.

I can't believe it's after 7 at night. I feel like I've just frittered away the entire day, and not on anything particularly enjoyable, even.

(Though I did get to read a good book and watch an episode each of Monk and Veronica Mars.

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Back Home, Part 2

*stretch* Made it. WHEW!

I am going to go soak in the tub - yes, this time we still have water!

Question for the bright ones out there: why do we call the figures 'triangle' and 'quadrilateral' rather than vice versa? You know, trilateral and quadrangle. Don't they essentially mean the same thing? And if not, why is there a change? Is there an additional difference between triangles and quadrilaterals beyond the number of sides/angles?

Ooookay, it's late. I need to skedaddle.

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AIEEE!

So we'd planned to do some housecleaning and packing today because my parents would be coming by tomorrow and we'd be joining them on the way down to Florida.

Well, they called at around 7:30 and asked if we had a wrench because their battery needed to be fiddled with or something. I'm thinking, 'huh? WHY are you calling this early?' So I asked where they were and they said, "oh, about an hour away."

I don't know when the last time was that I got out of bed so fast!

So yeah, a bit of mad dashing around. They're here after a long drive. Dad's talking to The Hunk about our trip out west. We're still not packed, but at least we got the dishes into the dishwasher, the laundry switched, and the books put away in the library/guest room, though the sheets for the futon are still in the wash.

We're actually leaving tomorrow, rather than Thursday, as I thought. I need to pay the bills and pack, so this may be all for today.

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Patience is a Virtue

...just not one of mine.

Since we knew we'd be gone for a good two weeks, we asked the post office to hold our mail. We got back lateish last night, and after futzing about online and putting dinner in the oven, I went to run a bath so I could soak for... well, until The Hunk demanded I get out!

No water. A dribble, and then: nothin'.

Checked the main: nothin'.

Turned the computer back on and went to our online banking site: oh look! Our check posted back on the ninth. Bill wasn't due 'til the 15th, IIRC. And yet we have no water. And the office won't be open until tomorrow morning.

Further description follows, possibly with somewhat-salty language. After being in the car for THREE DAYS, I was really looking forward to a long bath in my own house. We can't do dishes. We can't wash the enormous pile of dirty clothes from the trip. Oh, and let's not forget being able to flush a damn toilet!

I tried to think of a reason why our water would be off, but barring a very localized natural disaster, I'm coming up with nothing, and I'm absofuckinglutely livid. This is ridiculous.

Incompetent bastards... and I can't do a damn thing about it! Well, not today. Boy, does that boil my duck!

(You were warned.) At any rate, hopefully having gotten all that off my chest HERE will mean I can be a little bit calmer tomorrow.

Maybe.

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I AM BACK!

And let me tell you, it feels GOOD. I am so, SO grateful for my darling mother's pre-cooked dinner that I found in the freezer - dinner is now in the oven and should be ready by the time The Hunk gets back from the grocery store with beverages. And then after dinner - A BATH! I have been stuck with showers since we left and oooo, I can't wait to stretch out and soak!!!

*hugs* to all! I've cleared out my yahoo mail and will be going through school mail next, then I get to read all the lovely blogposts I've missed! I've SO been on withdrawal!

Missed you all bunches!!

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The world's BIGGEST geek.

So today is Wednesday. On Friday I will be driving hours-and-hours up to PA to see my parents and possibly my little brother (if he isn't out on tour). Next week will see me headed from there to St. Louis for a wedding, and then from there out to the southwest with my in-laws. We'll be back on the ... 28thish.

The closest I've come to packing has been making a list. I'm not even sure it's complete.

Instead, I have been sitting here at the computer since about 6:30 this morning. I know it's summer, but just TRY telling my body that! I was awakened by my phone alarm going off. In vibrate mode. AT THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE. (I'm totally not joking.) And I've been puttering around on my page at the Understanding by Design wiki for four hours. Oh, and reading stuff from this week's Carnival of Education, hosted by The Education Wonks.

Also? We have next to no clean dishes. We haven't had forks since Sunday, I think, and I used the last clean spoon on Monday night to mix my cup of hot chocolate. But I am holding out - I'm pretty sure that The Incredible Hunk will give in before I do! Hahaha! See, we still have a whole bunch of knives, which means that I can continue to subsist on peanut butter sandwiches.

I do think I'm going to take the load of clothes out of the dryer - at least almost all of our clothes are clean, in preparation for The Big Pack. Hopefully as I do that, the mishmash of squabbling confusion in my head will begin to sort itself out into ideas for how to use the materials I have available for next year.

Plus I think I'll get pouted at if I do absolutely nothing - and also? then the Hunk will do the laundry and I'll be left feeling like I ought to do the dishes, when what I really want to do is look at how my short stories fit together and go through my Poems I Love folder to see what else I might want to use... et ca continue!

NO WAY! No dishes for me!

Edit to add:

I can NOT find the picture I wanted to use for my Favorite Thing, but it was of the Hunk at the sink, up to his elbows in suds and scrubbing a pot! How sweet!

So do you ever feel like your days just disappear into a black hole if you can't recall having accomplished something (even something frivolous)?

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Swimming against the current

Our department is, I think, the most fertile one in the school - and I'm not just talking about creativity, mind you! There are only two teachers in the department (out of ten) who do not have children, and the other one returned from retirement, so as a result, I tend to get rather a lot of ribbing about being The Next One. (Just got word that this morning we've got a baby girl from another teacher on the hall.)

I do not want to be pregnant.
I do not want to give birth.
I do not want to be a primary caregiver.

I really think I'd make a much better dad than mom. I'm great at making kids laugh when I swing them around under their arms. I'm great at saying NO and sticking to it. And there's only so much time in a day. I don't want to lose time with my husband.

I don't know if it's the local culture or if it'd be the same anywhere, but there's this expectation that if you're female, you want babies. Don't get me wrong; I like kids. I just... I'm too happy being a teacher and a wife. I don't want to sacrifice any of it - not even to be a mom.

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