The Science of Rockets

Failure to launch is not an option.

So just to mix things up a bit, I am taking a break from grading papers to read an article for homework (for which I have to write a coherent response before I forget what I read), planning for classes tomorrow, planning for Parent Night on Thursday, and now, stopping in to blog. Somehow it all works together. My reading is called "Seeing the Student," and is about taking time to make deliberate observations about as many individual students as possible for the sake of learning how best to teach them. Mind you, I still need to figure out what to do with my observations of CM, who is given to near meltdown (despite his bravado) as he claims innocence when I call him on disruptive behaviors; or RWB, who studiously avoids anything resembling a test or quiz with feigned illness, overwhelming desires to sleep, or some other affliction. I cannot plan without considering them in particular. I'll just say they have a way of making themselves known. Every single class.

At the same time, I am engaging in an effort to backwards plan, or begin with the end in mind as I think about the next five weeks of instruction. I am excited about what I've planned so far, but let it be known that what I think is exciting is often not viewed thusly by those with 'teen affinities. That applies evenly from shoe styles to lesson plans, trust me!

I hope it works out, though. In the meantime, I must figure out to how to make five hours of sleep power me through the next four days without breaking a sweat. Did I mention the monster assignment I have due on Wednesday night for another class? No matter what, I've gotta look like I have it together when the parents come this week no matter how much of my brains I've left strewn along my commute between now and then.

Oh boy.