And now a little about school

School is still going well.

I'm teaching 11th grade all day. This is new. In the past, I've either had a 12th/11th split or a 10th/11th split, but I'm teaching American Lit in some form or fashion all day now. That's fine with me. I think I'm an "American-ist" at heart when it comes to literature.

I'm teaching three preps for the first time, too: AP Language and Comp/American Lit (a new course for me), Honors American Lit (another new course--new entirely to our school), and College Prep (a.k.a. "regular") American Lit. (Ironically, the students in College Prep are the least likely to go to college. Gotta love education rhetoric.)

I think teaching AP is the kick in the pants I needed to put some more passion into my teaching. I think I kind of lost it last year because last year was so difficult for many reasons, but I'm really working hard to meet the needs of these extremely bright students. I taught them all last year as 10th grade honors students, and I'm thrilled to get to teach them again. They're a good group of kids. If I had one complaint, it would be that the class is too big for AP (26 kids), and because the kids already knew me, there was already this air of familiarity with me...not the typical first-of-the-year nervousness and quietness that accompanies truly "new" classes. They tend to get off track frequently, but fortunately, they will eventually get back on. They're fun. And nerdy. I love nerds.

I'm less than thrilled with my Honors kids so far. I like them, but goodness, they got really lazy over the summer. I guess I just need to whip them into shape.

And the "regulars"...look, y'all. I have one class that is just sad. The kind of "bless their hearts" sad. The other two regular classes I have are pretty good--good attitudes, good natured.

I'm pretty optimistic about the year. I really need a good teaching year because frankly, by the end of last year, I was emailing Darryl articles to support the notion that I could be a stay-at-home mom. (In all reality, I don't think I could be one. But that's another blog post.)

On a somewhat school-related note...I took Amelia to her first football game last night. She was very good. Fortunately, my friend Sheri and her kids sat nearby, and Amelia played with their toys. But Amelia watched the game some, clapped when everyone else did, and danced a little to the music. I think she enjoyed it!

Dear Goodness!!

I have been a horrible blogger. But here is my reason/excuse:

I'm tired, y'all.

The kind of tired you feel in your bones.

So when my choice has been to blog or to go to bed, I've chosen the bed. No offense.

Since school started two weeks ago, every day just seems to be cycle of continuous activity. Here's my day:

4:30--Alarm clock beeps. I hit snooze twice.

4:45-ish--I get up, grab a cup of coffee, check email. Maybe have to finish up packing lunches.

Before 5:10--shower, wash hair, straighten it (men, you just don't understand), etc.

6:00--fix Amelia's waffle to take to school, pack her bag for the day, haul stuff to the car.

6:10--wake up Amelia, give her a sippy cup of milk while I dress her (sometimes Darryl steps in and does this if I'm running late. I usually do the morning stuff for her and he does the evening stuff. Usually.)

6:25--get in the car and head out

6:50--arrive at daycare and get Amelia situated

7:00--arrive at school

7:15--first period (my planning period). Grade papers and run copies for the day.

8:12-2:30--teach American lit. All. Day. Long. Somewhere in there I have 20 minutes to eat lunch.

2:30-4:45--lesson planning, grading

4:50--pick up Amelia

5:30--arrive home and start preparing dinner or preparing to go out to dinner

6:45--dinner done (usually), play time with Amelia, clean kitchen

7:20--start bathtime ritual with Amelia (if Darryl does this instead, I go to the gym or work on school stuff)

8:00--put Amelia to bed

8:01--begin packing lunches, do things around the house, work on school stuff, do laundry, load the dishwasher, fix sippy cups for the next day--all this stuff seems to take until 10:00 at least.

10:30 or later--go to bed

And the next day I get up and do it all over again. I know my schedule isn't any more hectic than any other working mom's, but I AM TIRED. I think the whole getting-into-the-groove-of-school thing is still going on. The past two weeks have also involved lots of beginning-of-school work: curriculum maps (ugh!) and finishing up summer reading books and making tests for those. (Our school is requiring summer reading for everyone for the first time this year, so we're giving the students a 2-week grace period to get the book read.)

But school is good. I really have one class (so far, knock on wood) that I dread, but at least the class is small. Eighteen knuckleheads are better than 28 knuckleheads. I have lots to discuss as far as school goes, but I'm just happy to have a post on my blog. Maybe some time this week I can elaborate on some other things going on.

Edited to add--I feel I should say in all my "oh, I'm so tired and busy" that Darryl DOES help me. Cleaning isn't his forte (sorry, honey...I have to call you out on that one), but he often helps with dinner and watches Amelia for me when I need to get something done. Usually he gives her a bath. Sometimes he does the dishwasher stuff and fixes sippy cups. I just didn't want you to think he was sitting on a satin pillow eating bonbons while I flittered about.

If it isn't apparent from my lack of blogging...

...school is keeping me busy, busy, busy. I will try to blog soon, within the next day or two.

So far, things are going well...just hectic. I haven't fallen off the planet, though.

Farewell, Summer. It was nice knowing you.

So today was my official last day of summer vacation. It was a good day, complete with lunch with Darryl and a fun time with Amelia at the indoor inflatable playground. She had a blast, and so did I.

I'm sad to say goodbye to summer because truly, this summer was great. I was able to visit some friends, take Amelia on various adventures--to the beach, to playdates, to inflatable playgrounds, to birthday parties--and I was even able to have some "me" time to scrapbook or chill out. I saw Jersey Boys with my mom, had a couple of date nights with Darryl, and read some good books.

I really have enjoyed Amelia this summer. Last summer was nice, but now she is able to do more things, and that's been fun. Sure, there were some hairy days in there where we both thought we would lose our minds, but I really am going to miss seeing her as much as I have the past couple of months. She is growing up way too fast, but I'm enjoying her personality so much.

So goodbye, Summer 2009. It was fun!

The Last Week...of Summer (sniff!)

I didn't post last week because, frankly, I wasn't in the mood. Here' s the rundown of how I spent the last official week of my summer:

Monday--Attempted to buy classroom supplies with a not-so-cooperative Amelia. Watched The Bachelorette finale. (I was pleased with the outcome. Don't judge me for watching that show.)

Tuesday--Worked on school stuff in my classroom while Amelia was with her sitter, Alisha.

Wednesday--Had a playdate with a "kind of" new friend, Sophia. (To make a long story short...Sophia's mom (Michelle) and I have been running into each other in various places--the pediatrician's office, church, and even a unbeknownst-to-us mutual friend's birthday party--so we finally decided to get the girls together. We went to another inflatable bouncy playground and had a great time!

Thursday--Went to the pool. Went to Open House at Amelia's daycare. She's moving to the 2-year-old room even though she won't be two until November. It made me a little sad.

Friday--Had to go back to work so I could be available to help/answer questions for three new teachers in our English Department. Luckily, they were pretty low-maintenence, and I got lots of work done.

Saturday--Met Darryl's Uncle George and cousin Camille at Mary Mac's for lunch. They were in town because George was picking up Camille from a ballet academy that she had been attending for several weeks this summer.

Sunday--Church. Shopping. (Scored some great deals at Old Navy, of all places. I haven't bought anything for me there in a while.)

Thanks to the state-imposed furlough days that Georgia teachers are required to take, we won't be returning to school tomorrow as originally scheduled, so technically, I have one more day off. (Technically, I have two because we are off Thursday as well...the day before school starts! Don't get me started on that one...) Anyway, tomorrow I plan to hang out with Amelia and do something fun with her.

I might have to do a "Farewell, Summer" post tomorrow...it's really been a good break for me.