adios, crts

It's over! We made it! No more CRT's until next year! WAH-freakin-WHO!!

The kids, I could tell, were really ready for these to be over today; pretty much everyone in class was done with over 35 minutes left in the period. I had them "double bubble" today, which means that they had an answer sheet for me that we will correct in class tomorrow. Because of law requirements, etc., I was not allowed to even look at the test until after the students were finished taking them. So, today after school, I met with the other 8th grade English teacher and we "took the test," and then together came up with an answer key. It took us about one hour to complete the 87 question test (I know I mentioned earlier that it was a 100 question test, but I lie). It was a cake walk--well, for two English teachers, you'd hope so. I feel quite disturbed, however, knowing that it only tested approximately 3% of what I taught this year; there were two questions, count them, TWO, on the 25 prefixes and suffixes; one lone question about the "commonly confused words;" four questions on smile and metaphor; and about 80 questions were on sentence revision (luckily I did spend a few days on this). So, really, it's any one's guess on how they do. I'm biting my nails in anticipation for tomorrow and hopefully I will have good news to report!

I finally have 10 complete working computers in my room. I had 4 broken ones (real dumb reasons they were broken--sweet 8th graders shove their pencil in the power button and it sticks inside the computer, never to return again....and then two of the computers passed away). The man who does all the computer/tech repairs had the problems remedied in less time than it take to settle down 6th period. (By the by, that's fast!) I asked him an estimate on how much longer these old crappy things would work and he said to me, "Well, if you're lucky, through next year...but here's some better advice: If you want them to last longer, just don't use them." Ha. Right.

The countdown chain on my whiteboard is getting smaller and smaller every day; currently, there are 18 days left of school. 18 days to basically "entertain" the little rug rats; 18 days to "freedom," (according to one teacher that many days away from retirement); 18 days to grin and bear it through 6th period. Think I can make it?