Bleh

If you don't like venting, skip this one.

A full day of professional development, basically classes on how to be a better teacher, was mostly a waste. The speaker on parent communication was late, and his talk boiled down to "go to the parents instead of waiting for them to come to you." Which is fine if you are a black man (which he was), but isn't going to be a very successful (or healthy) strategy for me.

That day out of school kind of set me back, plus this is a short week - half day for students on Friday. Normally a good thing, but the pressure is on for TCAP tests (standardized tests that kids take annually - the scores also affect the measure of how 'good' a teacher you are) so I am feeling more behind.

Lots of hospital visits daily, plus a bunch of afterschool junk - open house last night with 24 hours notice (the administration got the date wrong the first time, so I cleared Tuesday night to find out at lunch on Tuesday that the day was actually Wednesday), more professional development tonight (Positive Communication). Mother in law is in a home now, for physical therapy. The home is probably the best one in the city, so we are lucky. Maybe a couple of weeks there.

To top things off, to add to my incipent depression, my cold is coming back. Been sniffling and coughing all morning so far.