I gave my final exam last night and am desperate now to get them marked and final grades done. I’d much rather be doing anything else. I’m trying so hard to concentrate, but keep getting distracted by the lights on the tree, the funny stories you all share on your blogs, the bunnies scampering about, you name it!
I’m glad to see this semester coming to an end and will be glad for the break from students until mid-January when I’ll start all over again. This semester has been the least enjoyable and least rewarding in the 5 years I’ve been teaching at the college, mostly due to the change in curriculum that was implemented by my department. It’s not working for my students and their final exams make that fact all too obvious.
Anyway… don’t mean for this to turn into a rant… back to that stack of papers. Have a great night!
Bummer that the students didn’t do as well with the change and that you weren’t as rewarded as you have been in the past.
Sorry that the semester has been less satisfying for you AND that you have a stack of papers to grade. I don’t mean to gloat, but I’m happy to be off all weekend, my house is clean (mostly) and I have some girlfriends coming over tomorrow night for a little party.
Hang in there!
(insert picture of cute kitty hanging on by its paws) 🙂
That is unfortunate for you and the students. Any hope of adjusting the curriculum to something better?
Well, if these students were “unschooled” they would have chosen what they wanted to learn, and curriculum be damned.
Hee hee.
Maybe it was something about this semester–because I too (and my office mates with whom I commiserate) found the students less than inspiring. And we had no change in curriculum. But, as you know, my exams are all graded! Good luck as you finish yours.
I’ve heard the same thing from the teachers in our college – finals have been taken and grades are due soon. You aren’t to blame. Get through it and enjoy the break, looking forward to a better semester. What do you teach? I am guessing literature/writing 🙂
Hang in there. It’s always these last few days before the break that seem the hardest.
That sucks about the new curriculum, though. Just remember that educational fads come and go, just like administrative fads. The trick is to do the bare minimum you need to keep from losing your status as “team player,” then go on and do what you know works.
And let the bunnies the distract you. Go on! Why do we have them, if not for their entertainment value? They’re sure doing nothing to contribute to our household income or future retirement.
So glad your ordeal is almost over and you’ll soon be basking in the spirit and twinkle of the season. Hope your sinuses are breathing easier and all will be restful celebration. OH! And Happy Anniversary tomorrow!
Doing work at home can be such a drag…blogging is way more fun. My community job requires me to have a home office. I send my reports in by email and do my charting here. It takes a lot of discipline some days to get it done. Hope you are finished now!
You have my utmost respect Laura. I could not teach to save my soul. Kudos to you. Hope the break refreshes your soul and spirit.
Oh, I know! I’ve got this final project that NEEDS to be finished, and there’s nothing I’d rather not do!
I hope that by now, you are all done with your work, and out doing fun things!
At home work is a challenge to stay focused. Enjoy your Christmas break.
Sorry about the crummy teaching experience. What a shame about the curriculum.
When I taught at the community college level, I got to set my own curriculum and — in fact — helped the department set up a written curriculum. Having some autonomy is nice!
Sorry about the no fun grading experience! 🙁