Late, or Early?

Around 12:30. Been playing my superhero game and having fun doing it. Nice dinner tonight and talked out a few things that bother me about my profession. I ran into one of my professors from U of M at the Kroger today (she taught SPED, Dr. Greer, wonderful lady) and she told me that she was glad I was teaching middle school "because those kids need you." And I don't hear things like that often. I toil, and I agonize over the failures, the kids who miss a great lesson because they are worried about something I don't know about that is going on in their lives. And I have to let it go. I can't give 100% every day, every class. I have to settle for my best at that moment.

So, mid-February resolutions. Be less hard on myself. Seek the positive. Remind myself that self-validation is just as good as validation from others (which is unlikely to happen) - I can trust myself when I tell myself I am a good teacher. I might not be the best teacher for a particular student, but I am a good teacher.

And finally, the big project. I want to create a binder, or more accurately a crate, that has at least one activity for every SPI required by Tennessee. I have a computer list of test questions for each SPI - that can be the assessment tool. But I want something that is not just reading and practicing. I want a game, a challenge, a discovery, something hands on. A big box of stuff to do that might get the kids to learn something without having it feel like "school." THIS I can do. It might take me until the next school year, but I will feel better having it in reserve. And it will make me feel more confident about teaching 40 weeks of material in 30 weeks. Like the sign says "You can have it fast, you can have it cheap, you can have it done right. Pick two out of the three."