Three Weeks...

That's all, folks...the semester is nearly done, and not soon enough, perhaps. There is much exhaustion in the eyes and bearing of my co-workers. Demands are higher this year than before, and yet another curriculum mandate is being implemented. In all reality, there is probably more than one, as there is some confusion about how to resolve conflicts in different educational mandates. Many of us find that very little time is available for private life outside of school, and the rush to catch up and complete work by our students will likely obliterate that entirely. We all need the break...

Back Again...

We are sitting here with sleepy eyes in the Yute Air terminal in Bethel, waiting for the plane that will carry us back to home, family, and work. The tough thing about these gigs is sleeping two nights in a row on a classroom floor and then getting up early, flying back, and going straight to work for the rest of the day. What I would like is a nap at some time, and probably sooner than it is scheduled today.

On the other hand, there are certainly tougher jobs, and I was tired enough last night that I slept pretty well on the air mattress. I always see lots of people from around the district at these affairs, and this time was no different. In fact, another group from another school just walked in and up to the counter. It is fun, even when it is tiring.

Since the last paragraph, I have gone to the plane, taken the five-mile flight home, walked to the school in the -10 degree temperatures, and am in my classroom listening to the kids tell me how much more they learned from the sub than from me. Who knows, they might be right. The sub did mention how wild they are in the afternoon after math class. Same thing I have been noticing all year. Hmm...

Boppin' "Round Bethel...

I have been doing a little chauffeuring around for some of the speech kids that have specific appointments that need to be attended to while they are in town. It strikes me that this is a better reflection of my talents in some ways. It is a little easier to see results, anyway. The other thing is kind of abstract. I appreciate finality and clarity more as I age. Of course, I suspect that some finality is more welcome with age than others.

Speech finals are this afternoon, and the awards tonight. None of our kids made the finals. Oh, well. They seem to be enjoying themselves ok anyway. We fly back in the morning.

I need to get observed for evalutaion before the end of the month. Oh, joy. Can't be avoided, so there is no reason to try. I look forward to Thanksgiving, and sleep. And maybe some football...

But I Write a Nice Narrative...

Sorry, kids-it's an inside joke, and I am not sharing. Well, not widely. It does occur to me that I am a narrative guy in a bullet-point world, but I don't know what real importance that has. It just sounds like a funny line, and that may be the problem. I may be more concerned with being funny than with being an educator. It may be important. Or not.

I think that I liked sleeping on the floor in the science lab room better than this classroom. I have been here before. The carpet has a lot of dust. I tend to wake up congested and sneezy.

One more night here and then back to PKA. We will see what the week brings. The holidays approach, and the prospect of rest. Welcome. But first, fun at the speech contest. More to come...

Traveling

I am over in Bethel again, for high school speech. We are rehearsing and rewriting as I type. The coaches meeting will begin in a few minutes, as will lunch. Fun stuff for the next two days, and time to write. I hope to get a chance to update later on today.

It Was Stormy...

It was not the storm of the last thirty-five years, but the one several days later that really impacted here. I decided to take a stroll with my camera (heading back to work), on Saturday afternoon, and I hope that this gives some feel for the wind speed. The snow was harder to get an image of, as it was way too busy flying off to the east...

Saturday Afternoon...

A pleasant, semi-lazy morning with my wife (I did fold the laundry), and now I am listening to the Michigan football game on the internet. Tomorrow, we are planning to watch the Detroit Lions over Skype. What a pleasant prospect. I just need to focus on some catch-up work today and tomorrow. The snow and wind are swirling outside and it is just nice to be cozy inside. I hear rumors of flooding out by the coast, so I hope that all are safe out there...