again with the homework!

I've just been preparing for my big Guitar Hero debut. I will be battling a student in character as Pat Benatar. Thank heaven's for the DI, which is where I found some really stellar 80's rock attire. Since my arrival at home at 7:40, I've been practicing my song-Hit Me With Your Best Shot- and have successfuly mastered the song on the HARD level. I'm just waiting for Ben to get home from work so we can practice battle on HARD because at this point, I've only ever battled on medium. I will post pictures and (hopefully) a video of my battle tomorrow...or soon thereafter.

So to be honest, it really, really sucks having homework again. When I was at BYU-I, I suppose you could say I was a fairly decent student. Many of my afternoons and night were spent at the library. As an English major I became quite used to writing papers (and often times, depending on the weight on my shoulders, I BS'd the paper). I didn't have work or a family to attend to; I was 100% completely dedicated to school.

Now, however, I have a job which requires a good deal of my time and energy (especially with the end of quarter grades due by Friday!). I also have a husband who, even though I really don't see all that often during the week, I still like to socialize and spend time with. Not to mention a house which requires cleaning and straightening. Don't forget the laundry. Oh, and the crazy dog.

Yesterday was a super long day of homework. As you may remember, I am currently enrolled in my first class for my master's program. I am also just finishing up (I will take a final next week) my ESL endorsement. Between another 4-6 page paper due this week for my reading class AND 3 "projects" due for my ESL class, I spent from the time I got home from work yesterday, 6:00, until almost 10:30 working on homework.

I did some more homework during my lunch and prep period today. And then spent 2 hours in ESL class this evening. I'm learning a lot but still trying to figure out the balance of work/family/school...OH and PRIMARY! ARGH!!

Tomorrow is the last day of 3rd quarter. For those who don't know what that means: only 9 more weeks of school. It also means that students will not come to school on Friday, but teachers will be there doing grades and lesson planing. I will also be attending a meeting about the CRT testing, which is coming up too soon. This will have been our 2nd 3 day week in a row and I fear that I will feel quite spoiled in comparison to our first full week next week.

I've just been finishing up the 6 traits of writing stuff with my 8th graders. I had them write a 3 paragraph story about one fun thing they did over spring break. I used this to re-teach the traits. You would think that three 5 sentence paragraphs would be a fairly easy assignment. Unfortunately I have many students who, despite this being the 2nd day working on it, still have yet to complete one measly paragraph. Oh. Freaking. Well.

My sunburn from Moab has started to peel and it's quite disgusting. When I talked to students today to help with their assignment, I could tell that they were only focused on the random scattering of peeling skin on my face so I'm going to try to help it along tonight before bed.

Time for more Guitar Hero practice!