after 12 days off. I figure it will take a couple of days to get the students back into focus. Given that tomorrow is the Iowa Caucuses, at least part of tomorrow will be, in my AP classes, a brief discussion of what it going on, etc. We also have some work turned in just before break that we will have to go over.
Wednesday at least part of the day will be discussing what happens tomorrow, and what possibly it means.
Which is appropriate, since we are starting the executive branch right now in AP.
Normally I am excited, impatient to get back to my students and my teaching.
This year for some reason I am less so. Recognizing that, I wonder how much of that is because during the break I have done some serious thinking about what else I might do after this year. That may be, but as soon as I am back in the building my entire focus will be on my students and helping them make sense of their world.
Sorry I have not been around much this weekend. Transitioning back to being a teacher. Including doing notes for every single one of my student - perhaps something they need to focus on, or thanking them for effort and for taking intellectual risks.
Still, looming over everything else is this - I look at what is happening and I am not sure what it is I am teaching my students. Imagine, a Democratic president who ran as being someone who teaches the Constitution and respects the Constitution signing a law with something he believes to be unconstitutional but then saying he will ignore it through a signing statement. Somehow that really gnaws at me.
Our school year goes to the week after Netroots Nation. I actually have a very exciting panel to propose, that will have to be on Friday. Wish I could tell you more about it.
Since i realize this may well be my last year, I intend to spend time savoring it, as well as taking even more risks in my teaching, in the hopes of lighting some fires with my students.
And for the rest of this final evening of break, I think I will let the cats crawl all over me. They have enjoyed having me home during the day. I enjoy their having me.
Peace.