IB Student's Worst Journal Entry Ever

How you can tell that the student only read the first page of the chapter:

"Two major conflicts occurred during the Cold War; the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Korean War lasted three years, from 1950-1953, and was a conflict between Chinese, Korean, Soviet, and American forces. In late November Chinese forces attacked and overwhelmed the United Nations forces, this caused General MacArthur to drop five atomic bombs on the Chinese forces on the peninsula. This action killed 150,000 Chinese forces and caused two atomic bombs to be dropped on two UN controlled Korean ports, and later two bombs were dropped in Western Germany. The Soviets also issued a warning to the US that if it didn't halt its military action in Korea that it would face the consequences."

I read it in front of the class, without giving the student's identity. Then I asked them, "How many atomic bombs have been used in combat?" Amazingly, all the other students had the right answer. Yes, this was one of my IB students, trying to get away with BSing his way through an assignment. Hopefully, he was humbled by this experience. Now before you think I must be a horrible History teacher for this to even happen, the other students commented about how we had discussed this very part of the chapter in class, and where was this student during the discussion they wanted to know? The chapter in the reading book starts out with a one page hypothetical discussion of what might have happened if the US had decided to use atomic weapons in Korea. The rest of the chapter is about how the US developed a policy of using limited war instead to avoid starting WWIII and MAD (mutually assured destruction).

Want to Procrastinate With Me?

BooBear has completely taken over my home computer and desk/work space. I have had no WYWS trivia for a month because he moved my papers around insisting it was his computer and his chair, not mommy's. This is also the reason why I haven't posted pics of BooBear in a while. He won't let me near my computer to download the card from the camera. When I have to give up this laptop next month, I am going to miss it. It's nice having an alternative computer. I think it's time we set up a tv, so BooBear doesn't need my computer to watch videos.

Which reminds me, if you were me, and it was your birthday in less than two weeks, what would you rather have: finally getting a sewing machine, or a cell phone, or a laptop? See, I am leaning toward the sewing machine, but I think that is partly because we have lived in this house for a year now, and I really want to hang curtains up already. The pieces of sheet that the previous owners hung in the basement windows are still there, and they make me say yuck when I look at them. I want to take our old neutral colored curtains from the condo, trim them to size and put them in the basement windows instead. But, that requires a sewing machine to hem them. There are so many projects I would like to do and finish, but they require sewing. Like the loch ness monster jean quilt I started before BooBear was born. On the other hand, getting a cell phone might be good since I am joining in the stay at home mommy group, which I know will quickly become more of the "mommy on the go" group. A cell phone would help Werty and I coordinate, plus it would mean I was finally joining the 21st century (just ask my HS kids who can't survive without them) so that when the hostess at the restaurant says, give us your cell number and we'll call you when your table is ready, we don't have to pretend that we accidentally "left" our non-existent cell phone at home. Or, do I want a laptop to replace this one, which would allow me to listen to a DVD while I am cooking or cleaning the kitchen? I think I am leaning toward the sewing machine. At least we wouldn't have to sign a 2 year commitment to purchase it.

Well, today, I found the WYWS questions. Since Ddonn is due to have a baby on Thursday, I thought I had better post the rest of the questions today. Answering trivia questions is a good excuse to procrastinate...which is what I am doing right now. :P

1. What's the first thing you see when the movie starts?
2. Who has higher billing in the credits, Bullock or Pullman?
3. What professional sports arena do they show in the beginning credits montage?
4. What happened to Uncle Irwin at Lucy's parents' wedding?
5. What colors of flowers does Lucy get from Joe Jr.?
6. How many times does Midge mention how creamy the mashed potatoes are?
7. What is Lucy's employee badge number?
8. What did Joe Jr. BBQ in the stairwell?
9. Who does Joe Jr. want to give a bottle of booze to for Christmas?
10. Where does Lucy tell Jerry she would rather be found rather than at the hot dog stand?
11. What side of Peter's head is his wound from falling onto the tracks?
12. What is the name of the hospital where Peter is taken?
13. What school subject does Lucy profess to Mary that she is useless in?
14. Where did Saul go on his honeymoon?
15. What is Jerry's advice about how to deal with Jack and Peter at the New Year's Eve party?
16. What is the first question Jack asks after falling on the ice and splitting his pants?
17. What color is Lucy's scarf when Jack walks her home the first time?
18. What "classy" thing does Jack do on that walk home?
19. What is the number on Jack's truck?
20. Why does Elsie think Joe Kelly shouldn't be a lector?
21. Which account does Ox ask about because it takes a while for Jack to secure it?
22. What color is Jack's truck?
23. What newspaper does Ox and Midge read?
24. Where did Ashley go after breaking up with Peter?
25. What does Saul bet he got for Christmas?
26. What does Ox give his wife for her Christmas present?
27. What does Saul tell Lucy about Elsie's egg nog?
28. What two colors are Jack's reversible jacket?
29. What does Joe Jr. try on in Lucy's closet?
30. What color is it?
31. What kind of car does Peter drive?
32. When did Lucy first start "seeing" Peter?
33. What is Joe Jr.'s last name?
34. What is Peter's favorite of the Three Stooges?
35. What is Peter's favorite song?
36. What time is showing on the microwave when Lucy hits Peter with the kitchen door?
37. What is Lucy's apartment number?
38. What brand of cat food does Lucy feed Fluffy?
39. Who does Fluffy belong to?
40. How long ago did Saul's wife die?
41. Why did Lucy move to Chicago?
42. What is the name of Peter's colleague that Lucy meets at the elevator?
43. What is the name of the firm that Peter works for?
44. Why does Lucy think Peter wouldn't believe in love at first sight?
45. How is Peter when his family sees him a second time?
46. Where does Saul place his cigar?
47. What present does Lucy bring to give the Callahans for Christmas?
48. What sport was Peter playing when he had his "accident"?
49. What cost the Callahans $600 each?
50. What does Lucy tell the Callahans about how she met Peter?

Whew. I think that's a nice number to end on. Have fun figuring out the answers.

27 Days...

27 days left of teaching, and that's counting the days that I am planning on only being there for half days to observe a student teacher and do test prep for the IB class. If I haven't had the baby yet, I may go in to teach additional test prep the next week. We shall see. So that's 23 days of full time teaching left before my maternity leave. As soon as I get these extended essays off and in the mail (I get to tell one student tomorrow to go to the IB room instead of attending my class because his citations were so bad, IB will probably cite him for plagiarism and he will be disqualified for being eligible for the IB diploma), it's time for the IB History papers and term 3 grades (end of term is next week). But sometime VERY SOON I need to write out a schedule of topics for my long-term substitute to follow. Time is running short. When I start packing up my files, that's when it's really going to feel final.

Work and Progress

So, the new substitute Aide decided that she wasn't the best fit for the position. Turns out she didn't speak Spanish, and couldn't handle the Math classes that my previous Aide used to to cover. We tried to juggle things around so that the other Aide took the Math classes. However, the sub Aide didn't think we should have to accommodate so much if it was the right job for her, so she resigned. We needed someone pronto. The Asst. Principal said she could ask the after school tutors if any of them were interested unless I knew of a sub that would work. I said that my brother speaks Spanish and is looking to start substitute teaching, and she said, great! Go call him and then call me if he wants the job. Okay.

So, Monday, my brother Ovaltine will be my new sub Aide. If everything works out, then he will be around to finish out the school year, even if I won't be. I am down to less than 40 days left of teaching before my maternity leave. I will be taking off a week earlier than my original plan, but I will still be there half a day each day to cover an ESL Practicum student and my IB kids' test prep. But, I see no reason not to say I am on maternity leave, so that my long-term sub gets paid for that week, you know? Make sure she gets the full 6 week pay period. And teaching only a half day when you are two weeks before your due date sounds smart to me. I can tell that I am in the last trimester - the tiredness has set in. I am currently 30 weeks along, btw.

Meanwhile, I have been telling more of my colleagues that I am not returning next year. It's getting easier, and I hope that it is helping me to feel like it's a reality. Let's all pray that Werty's job stays secure for the next few years. The Lord definitely led him to the job, so we are trusting in that. He has a new supervisor, with a completely different tact, and he is still trying to figure him out and where he stands. It's been unnerving for Werty, especially this last week.

We are finally starting to get over this cold. Werty has been on antibiotics, since he had developed a sinus infection. Thankfully, the rest of us seem to be getting better on our own.

BooBear's current favorites are: Wallace and Grommit (or anything by Aardman studios), Green Eggs and Ham, baking, and trying to use complete sentences.

Crazy, Emotional Week

I hope you will excuse my lack of posts after I explain my week. I know Ddonn is getting closer to the end (she made her goal of Valentine's day - without being put on bedrest, YAY!), and I am supposed to be entertaining her with trivia questions. (I fail.)

The week started out normal enough, with BooBear sick, again. This time he was well for about a week, the longest duration since last December. Werty has had this crud for at least two weeks, so I guess it was inevitable. BooBear came down with it last weekend. I am finally succumbing to it now. It's nasty because it settles right into your chest first. People at work kept asking Werty if he was okay today and if he had seen a doctor yet. Nasty, nasty cough. Poor BooBear has been so tired, and you can see bags under his eyes!

Monday, the department head comes to talk to me to see if I was serious about not coming back next year. I told him my plan to talk to the principal about turning over the ESL program to my ESL Aide, who is finishing his Math endorsement, with the intention of him teaching ESL and Math, splitting his time like I have been doing the last 3 years. Then I could work part time, just teaching Social Studies. He was relieved to hear that I would be willing to come and teach the IB class.

So, Tuesday I spoke to my boss about possibilities for next year. Was there any chance for part time work? Would they be willing to let me teach the IB class for one more year while they got someone else trained? I also gave my recommendation that about my Aide becoming the new ESL Coordinator. But, the assistant principal simply said, "Part time is nice for you, but a nightmare for us." He's helping my boss with the master schedule, and he's the kind of person more likely to care about athletics than the health of the IB program." I know there are a number of teachers expecting their first child at work right now who all want part time, but dang it, this is my second, and childcare for two outweighs how much they pay me. They have refused everyone, except one, and that was because there are less student requests, so her enrollment numbers were down, and they were hoping she would go part-time. Also, they have another position they want my ESL Aide to apply for, a full time Math position. So, they want to find someone else who will take over the same classes I teach. Someone who will teach both ESL and Social Studies. (Which parents and staff members have all called a crazy decision because I teach such specialized classes - but I remember Mrs. Snell saying, "No teacher is irreplaceable" when she retired mid-year. I think I know now why she did it mid-year, it's a tax advantage that lets you get more of your retirement money.) If they can't find anyone, then I can re-apply for my job and be put in the hiring pool for the IB class/part-time. So, the answer is really no. I wasn't expecting an answer right away. I was hoping my boss would consider the options I was suggesting for a few days, and then get back to me. So it was a little shocking.

Wednesday, my ESL Aide comes to me and tells me that he has been approached about taking over for a Math teacher who is having difficulties and can't finish out the school year. He would be a long-term sub this year, and be one of those interviewed for the permanent position next year. That means, I lost my only full time ESL Aide this week. He starts teaching Math in his own classroom next week. He showed the other ESL Aide the piles of filing he hasn't touched yet, and the red folder check is in two weeks. Not to mention that she has to do all the state ESL testing that she was already involved in. But, I am excited for him. This is his opportunity to finally start his career.

The assistant principal over ESL already chose someone to put in my department to take his place, without me having a say in it. She is a friend of another teacher, and substitutes at the school a lot. I have been told that she is very smart and speaks Spanish. Not that she has any experience or training with ESL kids or ESL testing or paperwork. Which means, with my other Aide gone, I have to oversee her training. Oh, and she can't help with the ESL state testing, because the certification and ethics training occurred in January.

And it's crazy time for me with my IB kids. I am advisor for three extended essays, and they are due at the end of the month. And let's just say this years kids procrastinated more than the kid I was advisor for last year. There's still one students I haven't seen anything from yet. I have to not only conference with them, but grade these papers before I send them off for a second opinion. As soon as those are done, I have to receive and grade the IA Historical Investigation papers before those get sent off at the end of March. Meanwhile, we are in the middle of our paper one topic, so there is a lot to cover before I go on maternity leave.

Wednesday night was parent-teacher conferences, which meant a 12+ hour day. I had one family show up after it was over, while I was still there trying to get a little planning done before going home, so I was there until 7:30, without getting any planning done for the next day. I had a constant stream of parents lined up, without a chance to eat anything. They brought around snacks, but it took three families for me to eat one cookie, which was all I ended up eating. The good news is, I talked to a number of 8th grader parents about the IB program. Two of them are reconsidering it. A few others just wanted reassurance that it wasn't going to burn their kids out because their kids want to do it.

That brings us to Thursday, exhausted and rushing to get to my Dr. appointment. The principal wanted my resignation form that day, even though it wasn't due until Friday. So, I had to go down to the office and straighten that out after school before I could leave, which delayed me drinking the orange stuff until 2:45. But that's fine, the appointment was 3:30, so I can take the test after seeing the doctor. Nope. After making BooBear and I wait in the waiting room for 45 minutes (when he is supposed to be taking a nap, so he was bouncing off the walls), I finally took and failed my glucose tolerance test. Thankfully, they are open on Monday so I can take the fasting test on President's Day. Werty will have to drive me home by the third hour, in case I faint. I haven't actually fainted before, but my blood sugar has been low enough that the nurses thought I should have. Definitely shouldn't be driving.

The best part of Thursday was when I picked up BooBear and said, "Remember we have to go to the doctor today?" And he responded, "Oh, listen, baby, heart." "Are you excited to listen to the baby?" "Yeah." So cute! He's starting to get excited about the baby.

Today, I had to turn in the form giving my notice not to return next year. Since I was already explaining to the students why today would be my ESL Aide's last day in our class, I also told them I wouldn't be back next year. AND I started crying. AND I decided not to tell my other classes, because I will just bawl. I will let the word trickle out through the grapevine. I seem to be okay talking about it in short bursts with a few students, but I lose it in front of the class. Even as I write this, it makes me cry.

I think it is a great blessing that I will be staying home with my children for the next few years. It will also be an adjustment. But I will also miss working with my students, seeing them grow, and trying to make a difference in their lives. I will miss all of my colleagues, who, let's face it, make up my social circle of friends. As I was crying in front of my ESL class today, my feelings reminded me of how I felt when I came home from my mission. My goal when I left on my mission, scared and uncertain, was to enjoy my mission so much that I would cry when the stake president told me it was time to remove my name tag. And I did cry, sincerely. And that was the feeling I had today when I thought about not being back next year and I looked out at my students.

More Trivia

I have a week of trivia to make up for.

#24
What two things does Lucy remember about her childhood?

#25
Who directed While Your Were Sleeping?

#26
Where does Uncle Al live?

#27
Ox doesn't remember Uncle Al, but he does remember who?

#28
Who slipped on the ice first? Lucy or Jack?

#29
With what hand does Jack beat comatose Peter in playing poker?

#30
What engagement present did Ox give Lucy and Peter?

Sleeping...

Last night I think BooBear was able to feel the baby kick again, this would be instance #2, but he's probably not sure what the feeling is. At my last doctor's visit, we listened to the heartbeat. I told him ahead of time what we were going to do. He had a look of concentration and confusion when he heard it, but then said, "More" when the doctor finished. Most of the time when he puts his hand on my belly, he waits about 3 seconds, and then says, "Sleeping" because the baby isn't moving. Last night, after feeling the baby kick, he tried to put his hand on his daddy's belly. "No, there's no baby in there, only in mommy's tummy." Aren't toddlers adorable? You know, when they aren't throwing tantrums, they are pretty angelic.

Trivia #21
How many boys actually push Peter?

Trivia #22
What five people come to the hospital on the first visit to see Peter? (Lucy is already there)

Trivia #23
What flavor of 'contraband' ice cream does Jack bring Peter in the hospital?