Life has ended.
Ok, that's a bit dramatic, life has not actually ended. But time to enjoy it has.
That's not true either, I get home from school to big (little) open arms and a cheesy grin, then we lay on the floor and play and hide in the curtains and cuddle and it makes me forget everything until morning when it all starts again.
I have a very busy school schedule this year, my job has multiplied and reproduced. Now I have many big jobs, as well as lots of little baby jobs, and frankly there is not enough hours in the day.
What do I do you ask? (Well, someone recently asked me, and it was not easy to answer, so I'll try it in writing)
I am the ...
- Assessment Director (Coordinate and organize testing for the whole school, report the data to teachers, parents, and the state, blah blah blah)
- Intervention Specialist (Use the data from assessment to determine students needs, meet with grade levels to make intervention groups, help provide instructional support, and teach intervention groups for K-5)
- BTSALP Arts Integration Specialist (Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program...see, the abbreviation is shorter, but only barely - I go into all the classrooms and teach integrated arts lessons with drama, dance, music and visual arts, and some other stuff, but this is new this year so I have a lot of figuring out to do)
- ELED 3005 Beginning Classroom Management Co-Instructor (I team-teach this with a colleague, once every other week. It's a lot of online grading and discussions and a short lecture, but 97 students so a lot of papers to read!)
- ELED 4040 Assessment and Instruction for Struggling Readers Instructor (This is a Level 3 (almost student teacher) class with 23 students. We meet every week for 3 hours and I'm on my own. It's new and a lot to learn, I'm loving it, but it's a lot of figuring out this semester!)
- Leveled Library - ian (I order, catalog, and organize all the books for our leveled library. Then I help teachers find books, and reshelve when they come back. I'm supposed to be printing some thousands from a phonics reader site we purchased, but have yet to have time.)
- School Musical Director (I've picked the play, decided to do it earlier in the year, and can't figure out when to have rehearsals. no time.)
- I also sit on the Governing Board, Management Team, Gifted Team, PLC Team, and Specialists Team at school.
I'm tired.
In other news. I've been reading (in the middle of the night, when I'm not grading discussions, while I nurse my baby, that still doesn't sleep through the night)
While on vacation I read a sappy teen romance, I can't remember the title, but I did finish it, so that says something.
Then I read, Turtle in Paradise - Cool setting and historical perspective. A good easy read, but not one I'll read again.
Next up was Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. I have read many of his books, they are African American historical fiction and are generally very good. This one was my favorite! The story was so engaging and a different view of the culture and country during the late depression. It wasn't overly complex (some of his novels are) but was full of life. Definitely recommend this one.
I just finished a book called Auditions, another teen romance, that was fairly interesting. It's written in verse, Patricia Reilly Giff style. I really liked the authors ability to paint a clear picture and still keep the language beautiful. If you're a dancer, it would be even better because you'd understand all the french ballet terms. It was good, but kind-of somber and did not leave me with a happy feeling.
(can't get image to upload, stupid)
I'm currently reading a book called Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms, so far so good.
That's all for now. Miles will be walking any day, I can't believe how fast the time goes by.
