I'm leaving next week and the week after for some hardcore planning/preparations with the online 120 class for this summer. After that class is off and running, then I'll focus on revising 110, 105, world lit, & poetry.

This week is kind of the lazy week for me... I have a race to run Saturday morning, and I just can feel my body moving into a lower gear, stress-wise, now that this school year is over. I've been accidentally sleeping in and just feeling a bit lost. A good kind of lost, really. But it's nice to not have anything in particular to do right now - I need the break, my brain needs the break, and my body needs to prepare for running a 5K.

It is definitely tough for me to sit still. To not go to campus. To just relax for a few days.
I need to cherish this.

Hopefully, I can implement the plan I had for the summer by next week:
Exercise for one hour a day (M-F particularly, weekends are extra) AND read for one hour a day.

Tomorrow, I'll go to campus to check my mail,
email Wade/Deb my 110 list of Fs,
buy some folders & organize 110 stuff a bit?,
and...
log onto PeopleSoft to see how many students have registered for 120.

I'm starting to feel the strain; I have been overloading my body in two ways this week - mentally & physically.
I am proud of myself for working out much, much more, yet I've also been taking my brain muscles to extreme with thinking ahead preparation-wise for the rest of the semester, the summer, and the fall.

By the end of today, I want to:
a) assess a few more English 120 Paper 3s.
b) send off the Bookstore Order Form (add masking tape to list).
c) look through the Review assignment.
d) create the Final Test for English 110.
e) think about what the Final Essay in English 110 should be.
f) make a list of things to do next week...?

So, I purchased a really cool bookcase last night (at Target), and I've noticed now that the shelves are a bit bowed (sp?). It takes a good eye to see it, but I still think the purchase was worth it; it's different (one of those ladder bookcases that lean against walls) and it's black and it'll hold my little buddhas & books.
> Which leads me into one of my summer dilemmas... what books to read.
I've decided that I am a sampler-reader (mostly when it comes to non-fiction). Unless the book is RIVETING, I just read a bit of it, blog about how it affects me or how I could apply it to life, and that is that. So, since I know that about myself, I think I'll try to sample various chapters (if not read the entire thing) of at least 7 books. That sounds small, but last summer, I don't even think I sampled 3 unless they were course-related. I don't even remember what I did all summer... oh yea, I moved. Ugh.
> Today, I'd like to send off my Fargo Marathon form as well as grade 5 more Paper 3s in English 120 Online (as well as assess Unit 15 work) and the English 110 quizzes from yesterday. Oh, and I need to fill out a Move Request Form so I can exchange my big bulky desk with the smaller blue one I saw yesterday. In addition to those items: I teach a class, I have an office hour, I have a workout class at 5:30, and then I meet with the TA bunch.

Congratulations, Colts! That was an awesome game to watch... simply awesome. It'll make for a memorable Super Bowl.

105 Today: Work Day for the Fake Company project (things got pushed around last week due to me going to the Fargodome); we'll start on Project 3: The Job Packet tomorrow as well as the Technical My Words.

110 Today: Students will hand in their My Words if they haven't already. From there, we'll look at that Sentence Worksheet, I'll introduce Paper 1 (and show an example), we'll view videos of Chapters 2 & 3, and then I'll hand out the AAY Packet information. Due for Wednesday: Read Chapter 4 and have a paragraph's worth of a Paper 1 draft completed.

120 Tomorrow: 1) Grade Units 1 & 2. 2) Work on Units 6+. {Unit 10: Spring Break is finished.} 3) Record voice for Paper 3 Introduction.

Etc Today: Job Packet handouts for 105?

Etc Tomorrow: 1) Prepare for 110 on Wednesday. 2) Add in newest 110 grades. 3) Any new students to add to ThinkWave? (There's one in 105...)

Happy New Year to All! [A new header for the blog in the new year. So far, I think I like it. And the abstract art was created by me... I think.]

And I am ready to get back to work. I have two classes with small enrollment, but instead of focusing on that, I'll just have to start on that English 120 Online tomorrow after wrapping up the English 110/105 syllabi for printing...

I was going to get some work done today from the Fargohouse, but... I think I'd rather shop some more (found some good Christmas deals last night). I would like to, however, get some things completed this week... like finding controversial images for both PPTs I have been pondering. I don't want to leave a lot to do next week, but I also don't want to miss out on just relaxing these last days of 2006.

And... I need some breakfast.

"Put a little love in your heart,
Put a little love in your heart,
and the world will be a better place
for you and me."

It was finally a relaxing weekend. And while we don't have snow like this photo (yet?), it was filled with fun and that holiday spirit. I think I simply like the atmosphere that comes along from Thanksgiving through the middle of January. I just hope I can tap into that atmosphere even as I attempt to get some work done today. This week looked quiet days ago. But, now, I will maybe have today, half of tomorrow, and Thursday to get school-related things worked on. Oh well... there's always procrastination and the week before the spring semester starts up again.

Even though I got really pooped out halfway through last Thursday, I did accomplish quite a bit. So this week's agenda is a matter of getting the important things taken care of first and then making my way down the list. A) Final Grades, B) Preparation/Syllabus creation/revision for English 105 & English 110, C) Revising the World Lit online, and D) Re-working the heck out of English 120 Online.

p.s. Happy Birthday Jan! [belonged on a Friday post]

It was an itty bitty teeny weeny... to-do list for today & tomorrow:
- Gather items for preparation (all classes placed in different folders: 105, 110, 120, 240) & find items I'd like to revise (look back in notes from conferences, blog, etc)
- Put all updated syllabi (ones used this semester) on red USB & print off drafts (adding next spring's dates) for easy transportation over break
- Start to revise syllabi...

Next week:
- Enter final grades
- Begin to redo Online English 120
- Clean office... file away stuff/organize materials better

It's difficult to get any really good sleep at the beginning of any semester and, again, at the end of the semester. Only the diffculty now lies in the grading anxiety, the excitement of the holiday season, and the anticipated break from students (because, no offense, we need it right about now - who figured out 16 or 17 weeks was enough? hmph).

I know I won't get through half of the stuff I'd like to do over break. That's a given. But at least I know that and accept it. I used to think I would get my spring classes prepared wonderfully AND have time to read about 5 books. Not so much. I think this break needs to focus as much on my family (I'll get to see g'pa for the first time since his heart attack) and friends as possible. In fact, I have decided to use my Office Hrs this week (when students will be picking up final grades & assignments) for spring preparation. That way, I can try to relax over break and not have the "I still have to do _____" hanging over my head.

Speaking of configuring grades... I really need to look into that HTML EZ through UND. I think I signed up last year, but never got around to actually using the dang thing. It would really help out with the adding up of points at the end since it's got a built-in gradebook feature, I hear. I dislike math (hey, that's why I am in English) - especially simple math. And lots of it. Luckily, I handed out mid-term grades, so I just have to add up the last half of the semester. For 90+ students. Eeeek.

Meanwhile, I had a fairly relaxing weekend even with the grading, the shopping, the writing of Christmas cards/newsletters, the wrapping attempts, the last washing of the bug, the naps, and the watching of football.

p.s. Happy Birthday little Bug! You are 7 today!

So, I made a list. For the next few crazy days. Will I follow it? That is good question. Hopefully, I'll get done what I need to get done with the least amount of stress. Hopefully. I think it was a great plan to leave this weekend open for getting caught up on anything I needed to get caught up on. I have been traveling every which way for too many weekends, etc.

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After writing my entry yesterday (post 1pm class), I had a great bunch of presentations occur in my 2pm class (not only had they saved their songs correctly, but most of their PPTs focused on abstract issues). So much so that I asked the students to copy their PPTs to the main teacher station so I could transfer their PPT projects onto my little red USB (was on Sale for $14!). And then the 3pm had many successful PPTs too even though some of theirs may be considered less "deep" as far as stories/topics are concerned. With that said, I don't know if one can argue that a story about someone's life (including partying & girls) is less complex than a story about 9/11 or the war in Iraq. They are just different stories to tell. Some, I think, would judge harshly, but when if a teacher were to step back, he/she would see that each student is using the same process and the same strategies to organize.

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And speaking of organizing, I need to organize my things better. I have a few filing cabinets; they should be filled properly with folders I can grab on a whim. I now have things listed generally, and I think those need to change into more specific units. Over break, I will have to devise a better organization system... a folder for the PPT Project, a folder for Introductory Days (those first few days of each semester), a folder for REVISION exercises, a folder for INTRO PARA ideas, etc. Be more specific. Just as I used to be a wordy writer and then changed into a more technical writer, I also need to change from general folders and piles to more specific ones. It'll be helpful in the end. Oh, and I should go through my USBs and desktop folders (both office computer & iBook) and delete old versions, etc.