Symphony of sorts

This morning I gave a quest (shorter than a test, longer than a quiz) to my seventh grade boys. In second period, this was no big thing b/c I only have ten of them and two were absent so I was able to spread them out all over the place. In first period, we were looking at much closer quarters as I have 21 students, 21 desks and not a lot of extra space. Our principal helped get them settled and started quickly and our behavior specialist swung by to check on things, so they were actually really quiet, which for them is highly unusual. The only sounds were those of pens and pencils on paper, deep thinking (for younger students this is an active and sometimes audible process) and that tell tale sound of fall: sniffling and coughing. Seriously, not to be gross, but there was so much snot going on in first period that I was getting legitimately grossed out. At one point I had to make them all stop what they were doing so I could address the noises. I cannot do them justice in words, but I think most of you can imagine. Ew.

Now my seniors are finishing an essay exam (and thinking evil things about me, I'm sure) and then I'll do a class on McCulloch v. Maryland with my AP kids and I'll be done for the day. It's our first half day, which means our first round of interim assessment grading. Our students are tested every four weeks in the same way that they would be tested for the annual standardized exam. We then meet as faculty teams to score their written responses and identify areas that need work. Then we focus on those areas until the next assessment. It's actually a great process with a lot of merits, but the first assessment scoring is always a little depressing, at least for the seventh graders.

Random things:

1. Tomorrow UW plays Michigan! I'm going to watch the game at our local alumni bar, although I'll get there late b/c I'm babysitting until 12:30pm.
2. I got a new toy at work - a Dell Inspiron 640m. It's very new and small and wonderful. It means I can work from home and that I can connect to my new ceiling-mounted projector and to my smartboard. Plus it looks cool. I'm so technological now, it's awesome.
3. Fall starts tomorrow. In DC that means it will be 84 degrees and humid. I have to take Leo, one of the kids I now babysit on Saturdays (he has a younger brother and sister), to soccer practice. It will be fun, but hot. Oh well.
4. Happy birthday, Jeff! Happy birthday, Angela! For very different reasons, you are both amazing people using your talents to change this world for the better and I, for one, appreciate you. I hope you live it up tonight!
5. My friend Laina reminded me that it is Rosh Hashanah tonight. I had completely forgotten. Like I wasn't a bad enough Jew to being with. Not having a real planner is no good. Anyway. L'shanah tovah, everyone! May this new year be filled with peace, happiness and success.