What a Week

I think I'm finally caught up on my grading, at least the exceedingly old stuff. There's very little left to do on the whole. Thank goodness. (And seriously, I am so sick of grading things.)

It's been just over a year since my friend Stacy died and I still miss her.

On other fronts, school has been total crap. Long story, not appropriate for blogging. Let's just say that February totally and consistently blows and I don't know why I expect something different every year. And I don't really want to talk about it any more right now either.

Information Roundup:
- why Americans love peanut butter
- how Catholic indulgences work
- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has been nominated for HHS Secretary
- apparently, student expectations cause grade disputes
- school librarian job update: web information guru

Also? Teaching about the 1920s today in AP history class was maybe one of my most favorite days all year. I think I should always teach with minimal notes.

Shameless Promotion of Friends

One of my college friends is quite the businesswoman. I am linking to her to share her stuff, but also, shamelessly, to perhaps win a pair of her earrings.

Blog
Etsy
Twitter

Unexpected Gift

Today I drove up to Gaithersburg, MD to interview a prospective student for the Frances Perkins program at MHC. The Frances Perkins program is for students of non-traditional age, women who have had their education interrupted for whatever reason and are ready to return.

As an alumna, I was doing her a favor by interviewing her. But she gave me a gift in return, one quite unexpected on my part and unintended on hers, I'm sure. The gift was being allowed to hear her story. How amazing, how inspiring. I'll write more if I hear that she's been accepted.

Truly a gift.

Interesting

Stuff for the day:
Schools --
- on bringing up "average students"
- on magnet schools and standardized tests

Other --
- Amish auction items
- Postcards as art
- excellent things the feds did with our money during the New Deal

Awkward

School can be... awkward sometimes.

Exhibit A: students' comments. Students like to provide running commentary about teachers that they like. My students like to know about my personal life, interfere at times, spread rumors, etc.

Me: Hey, SeniorBoy, how are you doing today? Feeling any better?
Senior Boy: Yes, Ms. K, I am. Thanks for asking.
[Senior Boy gives me the once over.]
SB: You look really nice today, Ms. K. You should wear skirts more often.
[Pause]
SB: And I mean that in a totally student-teacher appropriate, non-awkward kind of way.

The Busy and the Lazy

And both are me. Roundup for the day:

from the NYT:
- Legos and New York
- breaking up big high schools in NYC
- continued concern about equal access to AP exams

from Slate:
- snow incapacitates London
- long-distance relationships are bad for the planet, bummer.
- Michael Phelps: can he get high faster than the rest of us?
- Burma continues to have issues
- Not Polk, please, not Polk
- Vultures (and ticks and jellyfish, oh my!)
- Donating a kidney? You can have less invasive surgery

Happy for the Day

So, if nothing else, here's something:

One of my students, who applied early, GOT IN TO MOUNT HOLYOKE!

Clearly, I'm thrilled. And proud. And stuff.

Home Again

Another trip, home again. Chaperoning is exhausting sometimes.

From the NYT, two interesting articles:
- on "womyn's lands" and their aging residents
- a series of illustrations on the inauguration