School has started

Only four days have passed (with only 176 remaining...but who's counting, right?) and I feel like I'm running in a million and one directions already.

Until I can formally update, this will have to suffice...

• My classes are B. I. G. (last year I had a total of 95 students per semester...this year I have 135 students)!
• I'm getting used to collaborative teaching with two of my English 10 classes and one English 11 class. It is an adjustment having another educator in the room the entire class period. What used to be mine to do 100% is now expected to be divided in half. This isn't a bad thing, but I do miss teaching "alone". I'll explain more later.
• My grading load is up now 40 papers compared to last year. I feel swamped, and like I said, it is only the four day of school.
• As of Wednesday, September 2, 2009, all five of my classes will have turned in a writing sample to me. That is 135 papers to grade...Oy Vey!!!! After 11 years of teaching you'd think SOMEONE would remind me to not schedule papers from five classes to be due on or around the same days.

Now the good things, as I am trying to remain positive this year, even when things get me stressed out:

• I like my English 10 students (so far). They are classes of students with great sense of humor and decent work ethic. Ask me how they are in another month! ;-)
• My 8th period English 11 is wonderful. I have seven former students in the class of 28, and what a difference that makes. Aside from my seven former students, I have four students who took an Honor's English class last year and for whatever reason opted out of the honor's program this year. It is so nice to have such talented writers and readers sprinkled into a class like English 11.
• The Adoption Academy starts in just one week (September 14). A friend from my local internet chat board and her husband will also be taking part in the Academy, so it'll be so nice to have a friendly face in the classes with us!
• John and I will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary on Friday! :-)

Okay...now I must take Cider out and head to bed. That alarm at 5:30 is just brutal after a summer of waking up around 9:00 each morning!