8th Grade GT Theories

What do you think really happened to the lost colony of Roanoke?

"In original history, the colonists were brutally slaughtered. But Dr. Who fixed that."

"The settlers were really good and God desided to translate the whole colonie. He lifted them and the houses but not the fence. Then he sent a tornado to stop others from finding out. CRO was another word for god." [sic]

"I think that the lost colony is still being tested on by aliens to this day. Their houses and the odd belongings are vital for testing."

Phooey!

I can't bemoan the fact that other people aren't updating their blogs (*cough* Lisa), when I haven't written anything in September, and it's halfway through the month. Beginning of the school year is always crazy busy. Next week will be the worst - BUT - thanks to Jimmer, yes Jimmer, for having an NBA event at BYU next week, NHS inductions got moved a week. Yay! Orginally, it was scheduled the day after PT conferences, which is a really long 12 hour day - it's exhausting physically and emotionally to interact with that many people at once. I still remember one year when parents were complaining because the line to talk to me was 30 minutes long. Yikes. It hasn't been that bad since I took over ESL, because I have fewer students than before. However, teaching the GT 8th graders means a lot more parent questions and concerns, and they want things like a list of all the due dates for the whole year. Aack! I am still refining the curriculum of that course! It's not like we have a textbook or anything for them. One parent was really upset about the lack of a textbook on Back to School Night. I even had one 8th grade parent questioning my credentials to teach History if I teach ESL. Hello! History was my MAJOR! Did you know I teach the IB History class - the awesomest IB class in the school?!? Okay, I didn't really say that to them. I said something more professional and patient-like.

Meanwhile I was recommended to attend the CITES conference training this year - which is a big honor, and if I turned it down, I would probably never be invited again. Some teachers wait their whole careers without getting to go to these conferences. That does mean that I will miss 10 days of class this year for these conferences. I hate having substitutes, and I hate the state my room is in when I get back. BUT, I do get stay in a hotel in Park City...and I have reading homework for the conferences, 7 books in all. Oh, and this Saturday is an IB conference in SLC. Next month is a 4 day IB conference...somewhere, they haven't decided where yet. Poor Werty, while I am off having work related trips, he is stuck at home. And when I am home, I am often working or sleeping. I am supposed to be taking classes starting in November for the GT endorsement cohort, which means more time away from home and more homework to do. I don't know if I can really swing all of that. The GT classes might have to give way. Phooey.