Goal setting

Last Friday I managed to waste away most of my free time during the work day and that cannot happen again this week. I decided to make my to-do list semipublic (since I don't know who might actually read this today), so as to increase my sense of urgency. Plus,it gives me a better idea of what to do and in what order.

Today, (outside of teaching class) I would like to:

• write lesson plans for next week (my final set of plans for the school year!)
• meet with Bill to discuss his course schedule for next year
• file my lessons from this week
• respond to two posts on my grad class discussion board
• create the writing assignment on which this week's grad school paper is based

Here's hoping I can get this all done!

My new hobby

In the last year or so, I have gotten really into baking. It's a natural fit for me...I love food, I don't have the creativity needed to be a good cook, and I don't have the patience to futz with a meal for extended periods of time. Baking, then, is perfect for me. Sometimes I make more complicated things, and one day I'll have the time to dive into the great baking cookbooks I've been gifted, but usually it's something quick and easy for Brian and I to enjoy. Tonight, I made a really simple blackberry crostata with fresh whipped cream and thought I'd share.

Crostata is just a rustic tart and when you use frozen puff pastry from the store it is even easier than ever. I just tossed blackberries with flour and sugar, piled them onto the center of the puff pastry (which I had defrosted, rolled out, and placed on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper), folded the edges of pastry over the fruit, brushed the top of the pastry with milk, sprinkled it with sugar, and baked it for about 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. After the crostata was done, I made the whipped cream (chill a mixing bowl and beaters, then beat whipping cream with a little vanilla and confectioner's sugar until desired consistency is met). The result is below.

And, this is a slice plated with the whipped cream.

Delicious! Give it a try with whatever fruit is fresh/on sale this weekend (that's how we ended up with blackberries).

Awww...it's nice to be appreciated.

I arrived at work this morning to find a dozen hot pink roses and a card from my vice principal on my desk. She wanted to thank me for my hard work with the AP program and for generally being a team player (because I did work hard and I do play nice).

Then, as I was working on my lesson plans for next week (yes, I do still have some students), three of my seniors came in bearing a plate full of goodies from their farewell breakfast and offered some thanks of their own.

This job can be very difficult, but it is mornings like these that keep me going. It is also mornings like these that remind me that everyone needs to be recognized and honored for their efforts. No matter how small the gesture, we all appreciate being appreciated.

Now, I am off to recognize and honor my seniors at their transition ceremony. I really cannot believe that another year has passed, but within the next three hours, the class of 2009 will no longer reside on campus and the class of 2010 will have moved up to take their place. Such is the cyclical nature of schools.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Tenth grade's gonna make me lose my mind

My roommate is the tenth grade world history teacher and so I get the opportunity to observe her students in class every day. It makes me want to scream most days and every day is a struggle to keep my face in check. Here is a good example of what I'm talking about:

Teacher is reviewing an activity with the class.
J balls up paper and throws it across room at D
Teacher says not to throw paper
D throws paper ball back at J
Teacher says that it is unacceptable to throw paper
J gets ready to throw the paper ball at D again
Teacher yells "Stop!"
J whines "Why?!"
M interjects "This is college prep - we don't throw things"
J says "I want to" and giggles hysterically

Because...you know...disrupting class and not taking school seriously is funny.

Two years from today these children will be preparing to graduate high school and enter college. I have a hard time seeing it this week. Is this what it's like in all schools? Because sometimes I can't find my perspective.

PS: The title is a song reference and now I can't get that chorus out of my head...