Good day dear friends,
Mid-terms started yesterday and my strategy is working. They are learning... the test at least. Hopefully the definitions will stick until the highstakes test in March. I still have half a dozen assignments to grade, but I have more than 3 times the number of required grades so I'm strongly considering just letting these go. Failures are managable, so I'm on to planning the next quarter.
I broke 190 pounds on Friday and I'm into my size 18 khakis. Hey, that's a big deal when you're not quite 5 feet tall! The carb cravings at night are horrible though. And with all the grading and testing and now planning, my walks have been up and down the classroom. We have a series of cold fronts moving through and the changes in barometric pressure plays havoc with my fibromyalgia, another excuse for not walking. Oh well, maybe today.
Seven of my middlings are moving on to the alternative high school next week. All but one aren't passing, but at 16 years of age they just don't belong in middle school. Several others are moving due to foreclosure. Overall student population is shrinking... but not for long. I expect an influx of students from the private schools because families can no longer afford the tuition. Most of these youngsters struggle. They are overwhelmed by the size of the student body and the general level of pushing and pulling that goes on. Math and language skills are usually passable, but history and science are lacking. Oh well, one does the best one can with what is available.
Sounds like I have no life outside of the classroom, doesn't it? During the change between quarters that is the case. My boss at the store always takes me off the schedule, something I appreciate. Store numbers could be worse. We didn't make corporate plan numbers, but we are covering overhead and turning a bit of profit. Once the semi-annual sale is over I expect the bottom to drop out from under us. Soaps and lotions are discretionary and as folks tighten their belts we become a luxury that can be replaced by a less expensive product. We normally experience a drop in sales after Christmas & semi-annual sale because folks are well stocked. Tough times ahead for all.
Off to make my oatmeal and pack my lunch. This will be a good day!
be well dear friends
