Progress & A Great Week

There are times in life where I have so many projects in the air I just can't juggle them all. This was one of those weeks. And what do I do when I can't figure out what thing to do first, next or ever? I clean. Perhaps it is generations of female intuition and perhaps it is just a subconscious means of cleaning up SOMETHING so that everything else can fall into place a bit easier. Whatever the reason, I found myself in massive cleaning mode at work at the start of the week and that was a sure sign that I had too many "to-do's" to do. I'm glad to report that many of these things are well under way to being nicely wrapped up.

First of all, my students have worked the last 2 weeks on this final project I created (read previous blogs to catch up on those!). Many are asking good questions, trying hard and just about finished with them and ready to do the presentation portion of the project next week. Others haven't even given it a lick of effort. I kicked one such student to the dean's office yesterday for not only telling me he had most of it done but it was at home (keep in mind he is missing nearly every assignment this semester) and because he was distracting a student who desperately needs this class to graduate. I told him I better see proof tomorrow then because we are in class to be working on the project. He thought going to his dean would be a cakewalk until the dean actually embarrassed him in front of a large group of sophomores (ha!). I saw that same student 3rd hour today when he brought me a pass for a kid in my law class. Naturally he didn't come to class 4th hour. Sure sign that I was right (if I needed one).

Let me just say this. This project is one of the best assignments I've given. Not only is it REAL LIFE applicable but it takes up 3 weeks of lesson plans. At the end of the year. SWEET! All I need to do now is write a review sheet and finish writing the final. Both were items on that lengthy to-do list I had at the start of the week. I wrote 1/2 the final in about 1.5 hours and plotted out the rest of the final. Once that is done I can write the review sheet and BAM! Coop class will be finished for the year.

Item #2 on the agenda was visiting my students at work. I have 4 kids without jobs. Watching this "indicator" is like watching the stock market, only the human error is not on my part but on that of each student. The jobless meter was at one point up to 9, as several students quit jobs. 4 have since gotten jobs and a 5th has gotten a job but says he doesn't start till summer. I don't count that since it doesn't help his class grade. 3 have not had a job all semester. For those with jobs, I'm trying to get to them all before the 17th when our end-of-the-year banquet is held. I tackled 4 visits today between lunch and 5pm - 7pm. Another thing being checked slowly off the list.

Item #3 was more of a personal item but still on the list. I recently received an email from a cousin (my grandfather's cousin's granddaughter to be exact - I think that makes us 3rd cousins?). I'd asked her about our family tree and did she have any info on our Italian ancestors. Now that tax season is over, she's had a chance to respond and in the post this week I received a copy of our family tree. That led me to call the Family History Center in Champaign (ha! I didn't know there was one in town!) to inquire about getting records. I hit a jackpot. They've got all the birth and marriage records for my town in Italy for a 100-year period! So I went there today and ordered 2 microfilms to view. I'm so excited! We're getting closer to dual citizenship application! Besides, I never dreamed I could trace my Italian roots past my great-grandfather who immigrated. Now I have his parent's names, courtesy of Immigration records and this family tree. I felt like I was experiencing my own episode of "Who Do You Think You Are?" today.

Why else has it been a good week? Well, it has been Teacher Appreciation week. It's been fun. Our administration has held a contest everyday for gift cards and other goodies. I didn't win anything but it was nice to see the intention to acknowledge. A parent bought pizzas for the staff on Wednesday and a breakfast was provided today. Very nice. But on top of that, I had a few students tell me I was a good teacher. At one point, one of my C students said, "Ms. B this is your first year teaching? You're good!" I thanked him and the others and my insides smiled. In this profession you don't always know if you are making any sort of impact. I don't need to make the golf ball dent-in-the-car type of impact. I'll settle for the little electric shock you get when you touch someone who shuffles their feet. Little words or actions like this make a big impact on me and I was glad I had some proof I was doing something to these kids!

I'll wrap things up now, as this is getting lengthy. You know that when I get wordy I've had a lot happening. I'll probably do a few more days of cleaning and filing ahead until these to-do items get fully crossed out. In the meantime, I'll close out my good week with a car wash tomorrow for my Freshman. Let's hope the positive vibes continue. Time will tell.

KB