Spring Semester, I'm calling your name

One of the benefits of the Block Schedule is that we have new classes each January. We have two first days of school. It's fun. I get to celebrate New Year's three times a year. Once in August, once on December 31st, and again in late January, I get to start new.

Yesterday, we were playing a game to review literary terms for the final. The kids were getting a little too excited. I (im)patiently waited for them to calm down, while standing with my arms crossed and glaring at them with my very famous "teacher look." One of my students said, in her most sympathetic voice, "Calm down, guys. She can't handle it." She was being sincere and empathetic. I laughed. It's a little bit true. I do like order.

This weekend is an essay-grading-weekend for me. I'm actually okay with it. It's my last chance to offer these kids feedback (before their writing skills are somebody else's responsibility). I just spent 30 minutes grading one student's essay. She's an excellent writer. I wanted to give her "real" feedback. I hope she knows how much I'm rooting for her.