Failing Notices

Failing Notices are due tomorrow. We send them out 3 times per term. It's only 2 weeks into 2nd term, but the first round is due tomorrow. I have 210 students. I have to send out 77 failing notices. That's 31% of my students. I think that means tha I am failing. I don't know. I only have three assignments put in so far for most of the classes and if they've missed 1, there goes the grade.

I'm tired. It's late. I did my USU homework a day late this week. Oh well. I'm not sure what the ramifications of that are. I think none, but we'll see.

I just finished checking off some late/absent assignments and put the grades into the computer. A student complained today that her assignment took 5 pieces of paper to do and I'll I'm going to do is look it over and put a check mark on it. She didn't think that was enough recognition for all of her work. I started thinking . . . If I graded every problem on every students' paper . . . let's say an average assignment is 25 problems and it takes me 1.5 seconds to look at a problem and mark it right or wrong . . . 210 students x 25 x 1.5 = 7875 seconds per day. Add on to that 5 more seconds per student to write them a meaninful note and record their score . . . 210 students x 5 seconds = 1050 seconds per day. 7875 + 1050 = 8925 seconds per day. That equals 148.75 minutes, which equals 2.48 hours.

Two and a half hours every day just simply grading papers? That doesn't include recording their scores, let alone planning, going to meetings, helping kids before and after school, helping kids all class period long. It's midnight thirty. I don't know how to keep up with all of this.

Good night.

On a lighter note - it's FRIDAY!!!

Thanks for your concern.

This e-mail was sent out today from our vice principal:

Teachers,
I know this may seem like a small matter, but we are trying to avoid the spread of any viruses or bacteria in our school. In addition to other good hygienic practices, we are asking you not to lick your finger tips as you are passing out papers to students. If you need a rubber finger tip, see J., and she will order one for you to use.
Thanks for helping us.
D.

A little while later, this one was sent from the office secretary:

finger tips should be in on Monday, if you want one-call first to make sure they have arrived then come on down

Thank for you concern about the education and safety of our students and staff. Finger-licking will cease immediately.

Election Day

Ok, so my blog is really boring lately . . . and sparse. Tonight's exciting headline:

Election Day is tomorrow

- Tuesday, November 3rd -

It's not too late to get informed and vote!

What's on your ballot?

If you live in Salt Lake County, you can find out here.

If you live at my house, your ballot will look like this.

A First

Today was a first for James and me. We actually went to a University of Utah football game. For some reason, we have never been to one of these crazy events in our married life.

I grew up going to these games and sitting on old wooden bleachers in "Rice Stadium." My grandpa played football for the U and 2 of my uncles played football (or at least stood on the sidelines) for the U. I remember my sister puking at a game. I remember just my mom and I going to a BYU game when my mom was pregnant with Willie. We had to stomp down 8 feet of snow to be able to sit down. It was at least 50 degrees below zero. It was crazy. I remember another BYU game when their stupid fans were throwing tortillas on the field. Idiots.

Why has it taken James and I so long to go together? I have no idea. We've been to oodles of basketball games, just not football (not that I'd much rather watch a Utes basketball game anyway). James has been to a game with my dad and Willie, but not me.

Hmmmmm . . . . anyway, today was a first.

Utah is struggling. Alicia was at the game in her Air Force blue. We kept looking over at her and at one point she was dancing beneath the scoreboard. It looked promising for her, but luckily the Utes pulled it out in overtime. It rained a downpour for a while. We were not quite prepared and got wet. Oh well. We dried. We went to Litza's afterward for some foodings. Yum!

Willie's team also won today. They've got one more game next week. The BY is getting killed by TC's at the moment. Ha! Ha! Ha! That's enough football for one day, though. Is it basketball season yet?

Needed a Breath of Fresh Air

Sometimes life gets a little crazy and you just need a breath of fresh air. It has definitely been crazy around here lately and tonight I got a little taste of that fresh air. James agreed to go with me when I bought some show tickets a while ago to see this new band called the WPA (Works Progress Administration).

The band is a compilation of people with lots of experiences in other areas - Glen Phillips of Glen Phillips and Toad the Wet Sprocket & Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. It wasn't necessarily the best show I've ever been to, but it was the best show I've been to in quite some time because, well . . . we haven't been to a show in quite some time and this was really good.

I love music. I love live music. I love it when people are talented and play their instruments well. It was also good because the place we went to - the State Room - still has seats like it did when it was the Salt Lake Children's Theater years ago. I'm glad I didn't have to stand the whole time and was able to just sit and enjoy.

Good music. Good night. Thanks, James, for going with me!

You should check these guys out if you are interested in talented, entertaining, acoustic/eclectric, folksy, wuss-rock type stuff.

(We also went to the Rio Grande for dinner. Yum!)

Utah Game

this is the next game that the U will play

Hello Mutton Chop

I'll probably be in trouble for what I'm about to post, but I can't resist. The photos below are part of some ritualistic male-nursing-student-facial-hair-growing-contest. Be afraid. Be very afraid.