How to Fail at Getting Stuff Done While Students are Taking Online Tests

I had a great idea today. My idea was to have students take practice standardized tests online, and while they were being quiet and productive, I, too, would be quiet and productive, grading various projects or formative assessments.

This is not the way the day went. The day went like this:

Jabber jabber jabber jabber

"Miss Reger! I don't understand this question."

"Where do we go?"

"Is this for a grade?"

"Why do we have to do this?"

"Which test do we take?"

"We have to read ALL of this?"

"I don't understand what any of this means!"

"Why do you hate us? What did we ever do to you?"

Jabber jabber jabber jabber

I hardly sat down for more than a few minutes at a time in most classes. I finally got the bright idea to assign seating charts in the computer lab. This helped a great deal with my last hour class.

Needless to say, I got very little accomplished today. I feel generally okay with that, however, seeing as it was a Friday sandwiched between two snow days and the weekend. If kids did anything remotely related to content matter, I feel like that was a success.

Seeing the questions on the tests convinced me that I have taught my kids nothing this year. When I feel that way, however, I usually try to console myself with the thought that if this really is true, neither their life nor their education will be utterly ruined from one unchallenging class in Jr. High. And I will be better next year.

I WILL be better next year.

*Saturday update: I got a package in the mail today that I ordered from Amazon. Inside were three books, all teacher helps. One on classroom management and general classroom fluidity, one on various reading strategies that align with Common Core Standards, and one on various activators to help start the class and get students engaged. I learned that I needed help. I don't like asking for help, but I needed it. I'm excited to peruse these books and use the material to strengthen my teaching for next year. I have so many plans...I just hope my dreams of an improved classroom really will come to fruition. I think they will. Sometimes, I wish I could see through God's glasses, wish I could see if I'll ever be the teacher (and the person) I dream of being... but in the end, I'm glad I can't. My purple glasses are hard enough to see through. At least my single-perspective lens is still framed with faith. For that, I look up and am thankful.

I will be better next year.

And perhaps, someday--should the Lord tarry and continue to show me grace--perhaps someday, I will even walk in line with those who are among the best.

I do believe that anything is possible. I also believe that great is in me. The greatest torture is knowing it's there but not knowing how to draw it out. I suppose the harvest is in the in the hands of Father God and Father Time. We will see what the days bring. I am ready with my books, with my glasses, and with my trembling hands.

Onward, Little Teacher! No white flags today! I say--no white flags today,

How to Fail at Maintaining Blogs and Being Productive on Snow Days

I had this great idea to post some kind of fail every day throughout the course of this year. The problem is that I'm inconsistent: I'm an inconsistent blogger. I'm an inconsistent teacher. I'm an inconsistent lots of things.

I tend to be more consistent when I'm not stressed, but...well, I'm stressed. Welcome to a first year teacher's life. I rarely make time for anything fun, let alone blogging. Especially blogging. I would probably be a good blogger if it weren't for the fact that I'm inconsistent. Maybe I'll try to do better the rest of the year. No promises.

But enough of that. It's March, and I'm actually feeling better.

We had a snow day today, and I should have been super productive and graded 8th grade Holocaust Diaries (their final project for their Holocaust unit), but I didn't. I surfed the Internet trying to find a dress for my best friend's wedding next year. I did not find a dress, I did not do any grading, and I did not do anything remotely close to what I had intended to do.

I did manage to come up with lessons for the next couple days, though. I suppose that was a success.

And I baked a pizza. It wasn't delivery, it was Digiorno's. Three meat. Classic crust. I had three slices. WIN.

Maybe, on any given day, you never totally fail at everything.

How to Fail at "Spiritual Emphasis Month" and Having a Godly Attitude, Day 2:

It's January. This is Day 2 of "spiritual emphasis month." Hooray for spiritual emphasis month. (I did not post on Day 1, so don't be looking for it.)

I normally get excited about spiritual emphasis month because, as far as I have gathered, that's what a dedicated and faithful Christian does. They delight to grow closer to the Lord. I really should be more excited. I'm trying fervently to convince myself to be more excited...

I'm not excited. I'm hungry.

And no, I am not spiritually hungry. I am physically hungry at this moment, and I am fighting the urge to go make myself a sandwich or heat up some soup. What I am supposed to be doing right now is grading the small mountain of essays I *must* finish tonight, but it's overwhelming and starting to stress me out because I'm tired, so I'm taking a detour that will probably last a valuable hour to type this entry, which ten people may see if they stop by this blog accidentally. To those ten people: hello! I hope you've had a nice day!

I would go make myself a sandwich, except that I'm supposed to be fasting until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. I strongly dislike fasting. I am a terrible faster, but I always feel so relieved and happy and satisfied after I do, especially when I manage to do it right and for the full length of time I intend to. It's kind of like the feeling you get after your favorite meal, only it usually lasts all day rather than a few hours. I think it will probably take me a lifetime to learn to fast right.

I used to fast religiously every Wednesday. That was back when I was a new convert and happily crazy. I shouldn't say crazy; I was a fanatic, and cheerily so because I did not know how to be anything else. Now, I look back at my new convert self and wonder where that fanatic dedication went. I think it's probably taking an extended vacation in Switzerland.

I have gotten a little bit cozier and have just stretched out my feet across the pile of essays I should be grading. I am guarding them.

I can't stop thinking about my stomach. But I'm supposed to be thinking about Jesus. Rats. Maybe a nice thought about Jesus will pop into my head in a little bit.

I am getting a little too warm in my fuzzy P.J.s now that I'm no longer cold. It's winter (obviously, since it's still the beginning of the year), and it's been really dreary and rainy for the last...oh, month or so. It was cold for a little bit, but it's really more mild right now. I hear it's supposed to drop down to the teens tonight.

School starts Monday, and grades are due Monday morning. I guess I'd better get back to work...

I DON' WANNAAA!

(For the record, ^^this is my mature whine. I included it to show you how I can complain while maintaining the full range and display of human dignity. I think this beautiful juxtaposition is evident in the complaint included above.)