My week has been kinda crazy. I have been making really dumb mistakes. I have been calling people by the wrong name, I didn't put enough gas in my car and I thought I had, and on and on and on...

I wrote up a student and meant to write up a different student. Nice--the wrong student got into trouble. I misguessed how much gas was in my truck (the gas gauge is broken) and I broke down on my way to work. That was fun. I have said some really stupid stuff too. Just ask the kids. They always hear the stupid stuff.

Jacob is having girl problems. He is in the middle of the "middle school girls drama" and can't get out. He broke up with his girlfriend yesterday and started going back out with his girlfriend from last year. I thought this stuff started when they were older. I am going crazy just trying to give him advice (good advice that is).

I am excited that tomorrow is Friday!!! Angie and I are going to see Jeremy Camp in concert Saturday. FUN! Hopefully when I get home from GA, my house will be clean by the three guys who will be staying home.

Well, Skillet was great this weekend. This was Gabe's first concert (outdoors) and he loved it. He was singing loud and clapping. We had a lot of fun. My parents had a birthday lunch for me yesterday (today is my b-day) and their best friends were there. One of them asked me why teacher's complain about the work load when they are off during the summer. Wow. I have heard that a lot--from men of course. So, I figured it out:

Each day--8 1/2 hours (lunch is maybe 20 minutes)
Week--43 1/2 hours
My week (because I do detention)--47 hours
If you are a coach--I can't even think about how many hours
Week (if you take work home--lessons, papers to grade, etc.)--50+ hours

Week when English teachers have to read research papers--too many hours to add.


So, yes we do get Christmas off and Summer off, but think about how much of the summer we spend creating lesson plans, working on getting our rooms ready for students, and taking classes or seminars. If teachers got paid for the time they really put in, we would all be rich!



So, no we don't all leave early and sleep during our planning period--most of us are actually WORKING! Just remember: We are teaching the future leaders of America and you can't put a price tag on that...LOL

The "Whine" Fest

There are many phrases for what I am about to do. "Whine Fest", Would you like cheese with your whine? And many others...
Teaching high school kids has been rough on me in the past year or so. This year, it has been better, but some days are like today. My teenage students WHINE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I could give them free time--whine. I can put on a video--whine. I could tell them to sleep--whine. Geez--nothing makes them happy. I try my best to make English both educational and enertaining, but the bottom line is that this is high school, not elementary school. They want to be babied. Forget it. I am so tired of hearing these things...

"Why do we have to do this?"

"Does this count for a grade?"---duh, why give it to you if it didn't count?

"This is stupid, boring, etc."

I want to tell them to get a life and leave mine alone. Don't get me wrong--not all of my students act this way--just about 70%. I am also tired of repeating myself. I am going to create a device that attaches to every desk and records what I say. Then, the device with show the student what I said--and it could show them over, and over, and over...

My sister is taking Gabriel and me to see my favorite band this weekend--Skillet. At least the nightmare has a nice ending. Well, thanks for listening to me vent.

Skillet Music Video:::::http://myvideo-box.com/clip.php?id=d6ca0ee5