Skip to main content

the thing about teaching is...

Ok, we went back to work today after a week-long break. I wasn't ready to go back (who ever is, really?), and none of the students were. I love my kids and would do just about anything for them. However, I hate grading and lesson plans -- probably the worst part of the job. I would much rather not really plan anything and just let teaching flow from our experiences and discussions in class. I realize this is a highly utopian type classroom to desire and that some measure of planning is essential in everything we do. But goodness, sometimes I think we are made to plan to an extreme degree.
Grading wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so subjective and complicated. You'd think marking a math test would be easy, right? Nope. Partial credit, corrections and retests make it terrible. I spend way more time than I should grading and regrading papers. Also, no matter how objective you try to be, if you know which kid turned in which paper, it's really hard not to let everything you know about that kid influence your grading. It's really hard sometimes.

Sorry about the rant.....just needed to get that out.

Now....today was a beautiful day!! The weather was perfect -- not too hot, not too cold, marvelous blue sky......mmmm :) Too wonderful to sit inside, so crackers and I enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood. Makes me sooo ready for spring and everything that comes with it.....but we are in winter, and so must wait patiently until spring is actually here.....but I do hope it hurries!!



A quote
The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other. Arthur Rubenstein
Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. Virgil A. Kraft



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

the final list of 25 :)

so, today's the day! i'm now a quarter of a century old :) and to celebrate this year, i decided to create a list of 25 things to do the year i turn 25.... the list that started all the other lists.... because then it turned into a week long list-making event.... and i've loved it! because, as you know, i love making lists. so, without further ado, here is the last list of 25: 25 things to do this year 1. re-learn to play the piano 2. read all the books on my shelf i've never read 3. go to a movie by myself 4. visit the museums in this city 5. learn to sew and knit or crochet 6. re-learn my spanish (or at least, start to) 7. cook something i've never cooked before at least 2x a month 8. start saving money 9. try to visit my friends who live in other places 10. send more cards to people 11. read one classic novel a month 12. take more pictures 13. become less dependent on makeup 14. make a meal plan every week 15. become less emotionally-d...
2 comments
Read more

happy new year! and....a quarter of a century

happy new year, my friends! i hope you celebrated in a fun way and were with people you love :) i was able to see some friends i never get to see new year's eve...and then was back at my parents' house by around 10:15...and was in bed by 11:30.... i did not stay awake to welcome in 2010, but i'm ok with that :) in other news, i'll be a quarter of a century old in a week. 25... i'm not one to freak out about my age (at least not yet) but 25 is a good year, i think. and in honor of my turning 25, i've decided to make lists of 25. because it'll be fun, and who doesn't love a good list? and because i spent yesterday traveling, the first list is a travel list, but is by no means complete or comprehensive....there's no way i could make a full list of everywhere i've been or would like to go.... so, enjoy!! 25 places i've traveled or would like to travel (red = where i've been, blue = where i'd like to go) 1. new orleans,...
5 comments
Read more

His Straight, Not Mine

Whenever I have a huge decision to make, I stress. My default mode is "what if I'm wrong??" This has been true for the last 10+ years of my life. College, mission trips during college, where to teach after college, quitting teaching, moving to Baltimore, leaving Baltimore, beginning seminary. All decisions fraught with questions, doubts, fears. And I'm there again. Graduated from seminary, looking for the next step. Wondering. Doubting. Questioning. Hoping. Dreaming. Fearing.  Every big decision is the same. You'd think I'd have learned by now just to decide or jump or trust or whatever. But no. The reason for this struggle is that I so badly long to do what I am meant to do. I long to follow God where He is leading, to fulfill the purpose He has planned for me from the beginning. But I'm only human. And so how on earth do I know what God has planned for me? And how on earth can I possibly do that without screwing it up completely?  I look at vers...
2 comments
Read more