More info on the year so far...

Still continuing to update everyone on our lives in 2009, let's talk about my job. This past year I was asked to teach two English classes in addition to my four French classes (3 classes total each semester). Now that's not a big deal as I am certified in both subjects, but oh wow -- was it ever overwhelming! Both English classes were new to me (though I did some work with freshmen in college, but nothing with sophomores), so prep time was huge. I would have to read ahead every day plus grade papers, which in English is a much more involved process. I never caught up, staying consistently behind with grades all semester. I felt bad for my students because their grades were never accurate reflections of their progress, plus I didn't feel like I was giving my normal 110% because I was so overwhelmed. Luckily, next year, I won't be teaching English again; though instead, I am teaching theater (another new class).

I am also in charge of prom. Now it's one thing to have helped with prom in high school or worked on your sorority's socials in college; it's completely different to be the teacher in charge of prom. That's right -- I'm the only one! So, I have to do everything: fundraising, selling tickets, decorations, finding venues and vendors; it's an overwhelming task for one person, yet somehow it all gets done each year, and I survive. I always say, "Next year, I will do this differently." And maybe I do, but it never fails that I feel ridiculously overwhelmed.

Also, I am still doing color guard. This year I had the brainstorm to have auditions the first week of March. I had 20 girls try-out for 16 spots, but I ended up narrowing it down to 13. We currently have 12 girls, and I hope that number sticks, because we are in the show-planning stages now, so it would seriously mess things up! I decided that spring practices were a great idea -- another thing to add to my already overwhelming schedule. They definitely have helped so far (along with summer practices), but man, do I wish I would just relax every once in a while.

Lastly, I decided to do Credit Recovery after school to earn Wes and I a little bit of extra money. Credit Recovery is a program that has the kids sit at a computer and complete lessons on a given subject. All the information is given to them to study, take practice tests, and finally mastery tests. Credit Recovery is an option for students who fail with no lower than a 50 in their course of study. The kids have to complete all lessons for the subject, by reading through the study, taking the practice tests, and receiving no less than an 80 on their fourth and final try at the mastery test. They are also required to keep a notebook which counts as 10% of their grade. It seems so silly to me that we give these kids this option and most of them don't even care. Half the time they wouldn't show up; they wouldn't try; it just didn't matter to them. I just figured I stay after school until 4:30/5:00 everyday anyway, so why not? It was rough, but at least the money will come in handy, especially now that our upstairs a/c has definitely gone kaput! So much for getting out of debt this year! But that's a story for another post.

So, as you can see it was a busy semester for me. I would love to say that I am enjoying my summer of relaxation and taking it easy, but again, I am sitting at a computer for 8 hours every day, watching kids complete lessons in Credit Recovery. It will all be worth it in the end -- right?