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Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat

Unlike
many teachers across the nation, my holiday break started on Friday
afternoon. I was so happy to see them go - and now, 2 days later,
I'm missing the little buggers.

This is probably a good thing as I am determined to plan out next semester much more closely than the previous. The past 4 months have been a bit crazy and I've felt like I've accomplished little besides going through the motions. Maybe I just haven't had enough time to reflect or really wanted to. I just feel like I haven't been doing enough to really get anyone engaged in actual learning or even had some authentic goals in mind when teaching (other than "please god, let them turn something in")

I had an interesting chat with the Woodshop teacher at the "Ladies Ornament Party" (apparently, the whole town is stuck in 1971. This explains my apartment decor). She asked me if I wanted to know what the students thought of me and since I had a few drinks, I figured what the hell. It's only 4 days til break, I can always quit. So, the result is... they don't necessarily hate me, but the assignments are way to hard. Also, students can't get away with
anything in my class (yipee!). This would explain why a few of my sophomores are attempting to transfer at the semester break. (The
freshmen aren't even talking about it anyomore... I've broken them, mwhaaahahhaaa!).

I told this to my mentor who laughed it off and told me not to make anything easier - period. In looking at the grades of my students, I have to wonder. I have one section where the highest grade is a B. Then again, I also have students who are actually trying hard to improve and really doing it. Do those few outweigh the lesser?

And what the heck do I do with the student who does nothing (seriously
under 6% overall grade) and it's his 4th time in this course? Just let him flunk? Or the one who's following in his footsteps? Decisions,
decisions....

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