Tales from the science classroom

First week back from an extended break is always fun. Everyone is getting back into the swing of things. Students are asking why we are learning something on the first day and teachers are counting the days until the next break. Fun stuff. I did feel completely in control this week. I knew what I wanted to do - didn't get it all in - but I was ready. I like that feeling. I like that feeling a whole lot. So it is something I will strive for every week. Truth is, because of our block schedule, I only have to plan 2 days. Granted, it's 2 days for 4 different classes, but still, it's only 2 days. So my goal every week is going to be to have at least an idea of what I want to cover that week. I may work out the details as I go, but if I at least have a general idea, it is so much easier to deal with. That's kind of all I have today. I've been on the go the last 2 days and we had friends over late last night, so I'm a bit tired today. I want to go hiking but that...

After my revelations yesterday, and yes, I believe I have come up with a good system, I sat down to plan. And after a few hours realized I had gotten very little accomplished. So I stopped and I've tried to figure out why. Part of the problem lies in too many choices. I have to pick a resource and just stick with it, I can't keep jumping back and forth. Another part of the problem is that I'm trying to be too detailed. I am not good at pacing. I'm not. Things that I think will take a few minutes end up taking an hour and vice versa. So I'm kind of hesitant to plan too far out as I don't think I will stick to that schedule. So I have a general outline and I think I'm going to have to plan week by week. I just don't see any way around it. I've got the first week back planned, no problem, but when trying to plan the second week I'm wondering if I'll get through everything and maybe want to throw a lab in, etc. So I think that as long as I have...

I need to establish some new routines. I currently have routines, but I don't like them and need to change them. I also need an organization system that allows me to keep track of things. I think I've talked before about my horrible habit of losing papers and not being able to find things I need. It drives me freaking insane. Let's start with the organization because I think good organization will lead to good routines. So let's begin. I have this: It's a 12 slot organizer. I started using it as a place to put papers for my classes for both days (4 each day) and the remaining 4 slots I put in papers I needed for those classes. Initially, this worked great. I would place the papers I needed for each class in each slot and then when that class came around I would just grab them and go. Boom. But things began to go wrong. I would put papers in the wrong slot - annoying. I would fail to transfer papers to the next class. So I would have a chemistry class, then p...