OK, so I didn't get anything posted in December, I should have, being that I was off of work for 2 weeks, but LB was home with me and there never seemed to be enough time or the right time. Don't know what all I'll get through now, but at least I can start in on it.

December, like most months was pretty busy. Things seem to be moving along. My students are fine and I'm not getting much in the way of whining about grades-which I think is nice. I assume that word about me and how I do things is getting around and so I'm getting mostly kids who are going to work, and those who won't work aren't upset by their grades because they know what they've done or not done. There's talk of changing the school year to run 1st semester Aug.-Dec. 2nd semester would be Jan. - May. I'm in favor of that, for two main reasons. First, it is so stupid, to me, in this day and age, to give the kids 2 weeks off and then come back for 3 weeks at the end of which is a cumulative final exam-based on the entire semester. Plus, so mny teachers assign major projects over the 2 week break and so many of the kids don't really feel like they get a break, and they need it. The second reason I'm in favor of the change is that it would give an extra 3 or more weeks for AP classes before the exam. A number of east coast schools have been on this schedule and it gives their students a HUGE advantage when it comes to the exam. So those are my thoughts on the issue. It'll supposedly take 4-5 years to come to fruition, but if it does, what a boon!!

The other school issue is that one of our science teachers is apparently gone and not coming back and it's not under good circumstances. I don't know all the details, so I'll not say much more about it, but it has the potential to impact a number of teachers. I've been told that they may ask me to teach Chemistry instead of Physical Science which would be OK. I've also been told that they will ask me to pick up an extra class. While the $$ would be nice, there's NO way with LB that I'll do it. I have enough work to do without the extra of an additional class. SO that's a big no on that one, and the other no would be if they want me to change now instead of at the end of the semester. I don't envy the teacher who is going to have to cover the last 3 weeks of the semester and then also write a final exam to cover the entire semester. UGH.

OK, well this is as far as I got and LB needs out of his crib before he kicks it down.