Accomplished

Got through all the composition books today - every student has a little note in their book to show I looked at it. Starting next grading period I will check them weekly and take a weekly grade. Also got all the tests graded today, so all that is left is to input things into Teacherease and let it calculate grades.

This just means more paperwork, as I have to create a STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Report, I think) folder for each student who has a D or F. Thank you NCLB. Which really means less competent teachers will inflate grades so they don't have to fill out any paperwork, but kids won't be learning any better.

School has seen a slight rash of gang graffiti - probably one student, but it was up in two different boy's rooms, and replaced within minutes (across an entire tile wall and the doors of the bathroom stalls) advertising Grape Street Crips 103rd. Likely the scribe doesn't belong to a gang, just imitating what they think is going to shock or impress. A quick Google reveals these are LA gangs, so probably our imitator has discovered a lyric or something about a favorite "artist" and has little or no clue.

Next week should be chaos. Grades are closed, so teachers will be scrambling to enter things into the school's computer system - naturally no way to import things directly from the OTHER system we are required to use. Plus school pictures are Monday - required for students to have their picture on their new ID badges (the temporary ones are breaking off the lanyards because the plastic is too thin. Hopefully the permanent ones will be more sturdy, but I doubt it). Add to this Homecoming week (again, a ridiculous idea in Middle School, but it is all about glorifying sports), plus a required standardized assessment (not the company hired for millions over the last two years, who recycled the first year's test for the second, and whose contract was not renewed) to take place this week. Teaching and Learning? I seem to remember it. Check back the following week.

On the heels of the disturbing "hot ham drink" - at the Kroger (local supermarket) saw a giant can of Bud Light (maybe 24 oz. - didn't want to get TOO close) mixed with Clamato juice. Um, yum? Bloody Caesar ( a drink popular a decade ago in Toronto when I used to go there for business - a Bloody Mary but with clam juice with the tomato) for those without access to a liquor store? Nasty. But funny.