Life as an Educator

Yeah, so...I'm just going to start posting some of these situations on my blog just to see whether I'm sane or not. In retrospect, this one is minor in comparison but this is the e-mail my colleague received from a parent today. Now, keep in mind that we are requiring our 8th graders to memorize the pronouns (yes, 8th grade---don't even get me started on THAT!) But one would assume that it is also important to understand the differences between the possessive pronoun "their" and the word "there." One would also assume that ANY 8th grader (with an IEP or not) should be able to learn the difference between the spellings, especially in the case these two particular homophones. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe we are just expecting too much from out 8th graders.

Mrs. X

My son Bobby is in your language arts class. He had a test on pronouns and he got 4 wrong because they were misspelled. Our, ours which he spelled ower and owers and their and theirs which he spelled there and theres. In his IEP it clearly states that he is not to be downgraded for spelling errors an if you do not know what he wrote he is to be questioned before it is wrong. I have the paper at home and will send it in Tuesday to have this explained to him and so you can see it as well. Thank you for your time and help. If I am mistaken please let me know, otherwise I will assume his grade for that test should be changed. Thanks again.

Bobby's Mother

It Happens Every Year

It's almost time to go back to work for me which probably means I'll have even less time to add entries to my blog. (I'm so diligent about keeping up with it and all.) The kids' school supplies are purchased and I'm busy trying to get things organized for my own classroom and I feel like I'm running out of time.

I started my morning workouts again and it actually felt really good. My heel isn't killing me which is definitely a step in the right direction (no pun intended). I'm signed up for AMP'd again in the fall and it looks like they are incorporating kettle balls this time---that is pretty cool. I'm anxious because I've gained a lot of weight back after dealing with this plantar faciitis so I'm happy at the prospect of getting my body back into shape. Not being able to work out like I used to has put me into a sort of depressed funk (if that is such a thing).

Commitment

With the exception of marriage...I have a difficult time commiting to things. I will not accept an invite to something I'm only half-heartedly intersted in because, well, something better may come along or more honestly---I may not feel like attending the event at the time.

Apparently, I cannot even commit to keeping up a blog! My last two posts were over two years ago. That is so sad! As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, teacher, friend, and neighbor---there is only so much time in the day to give and I need to keep some for myself and sometimes I don't realize I need to do that until the very last minute. (I'll talk more about that later...um...maybe...if I feel like it.)