Updates

I'm really, really busy, but am taking a brief break to blog. If you're interested in keeping up with me more, follow the twitter feed to the right. It's probably not a bad idea for me to, in my busy-ness, reflect a bit on what is going on in the classroom, baseball field, and National Board preparations.

Classroom:
The 9th graders are doing pretty well with the Literary Circles Unit. I tell them that this is an exciting time for them, because it's showing them that the teacher can be kind of removed from the "giver of information" role and more into the facilitating role. They struggle with it, and I struggle with it, too - holding back from giving information, or unsure about what is going on in the books because it's hard to keep eight books straight at once. I love the excitement and buzzing I'm hearing, though, and I love that they're using each other to dig away at the texts.

As for the seniors, attendance is often erratic and that's frustrating. I'm moving the East of Eden unit alongside poetry, practicing for both Exam 1 and Exam 2 of the IB Exams. I probably will not choose a 600-page novel again for the second semester of senior year. I love the book, still, but it might be too heavy for right now. The students are up and down on it. As for me, I'm so moved by it, but alternately frustrated by the too-perfect dialogue. It's like the characters are more symbols than they are people. But I still love it. And, it's sad for me to say this, but I see a lot of Tom Hamilton in myself, which makes it all the more moving for me.

Coaching
Today was Opening Day, and we were rained out. The weather has, once again, been brutal for Baltimore City Baseball. First, we were dealing with the melting snow, and now, more rain. Our field is in horrible condition and the city has not come yet to fix it. Still, the team is good - possibly very good. I just hope we can play some games soon.

National Board
I'm so busy I can barely see straight. I'm not looking forward to Spring Break; I'm looking forward to March 31st, the due date. Hope I get done!