There always seem to be lots of good ideas when we are far too busy to use them, when instinct dictates that we take every "spare" minute to breathe and maintain sanity. The more chaotic life gets, the more places you have to be and things you have to do, the more inspiring input. If there is no output, it's almost like getting clogged. Your brain gets full of too much stuff and you wish you had another day or a week or a year to sort through it all and use the important stuff in productive ways. Anybody know what I mean?

Usually my response to this particular situation is to bring a little notebook with me everywhere and write down every idea, every thought, every item on my to-do-list. The problem being, of course, the exhaustion that prevails once the adrenaline rush of initial inspiration has worn off and you've come home and sat down to begin working. And despite the fact that (yes, I know its ineffective) I tell myself that I will stay up all night every night, I usually end up passing out on a bean bag or some soft things on the floor before I've done more than an hour or two worth of stuff.

There is definitely inspiration.
I still can't shake the feeling that I am dropping every ball. I also feel like I'm juggling in the dark and I can't really tell if this is anything like how its supposed to be or not. I'm guessing no.

For example....
My lesson on DNA structure, function, and replication- a lesson I thought was effective- was followed by a test that all my students failed. It required thinking and problem solving. I explained how to solve the problems, and will reintroduce the same kinds of questions again on the nine weeks exam after we review the material. But there's got to be a better way to do it.

So for the next section on transcription and translation, before giving my students any notes or explanations (though after they had an extensive homework assignment on this chapter), I split up the class into pairs, gave each pair a table or figure from the chapter (since these usually highlight the most important concepts), and made them responsible for summarizing it, describing it in their own words, coming up with a picture (which could be some part of the table or figure) to describe it, and presenting it to the class. The description in their own words, and the presentation are together worth a quiz grade. Each partner must speak. I assigned a warm-up requiring students to copy down all the table and figure titles with 1/3 page space underneath each. While their classmates are setting up to present and while they are presenting, each student is supposed to be taking notes on the presentations and filling in missed details from the table or figure in the book. These notes area also worth a quiz grade. Finally, I am going to give a quiz, without first teaching the material, on the information the students have presented to each other. They are responsible for teaching each other the information and they are accountable to their classmates.

I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. I have no idea if this is actually a waste of class time. It definitely takes some time for the presentations and preparation.

Lots of other big and small stuff but I won't get into everything.

So in other news. Our secretary gave me a message that a parent want to speak with me. I of course got nervous and worried all day until the 3:00 meeting. When I finally met this particular grandmother, I was blown away by her warmth, her strength, her character. She told me stories and shared her thoughts about our student's lives and abilities and needs. We discussed her concern too, of course, but it branched out from there. I don't think I can really explain why I was so affected by this meeting, but there is something about meeting and learning about a student's family, a student who you believe does not like you, that offers insight into their softer side, the person they are when they are not in your classroom, and even when they are.

One last comment on another completely unrelated strand. Our last speaker mentioned that he recognizes our situation as a difficult one in which we are offered very little support. My reaction was...except teacher corps. This would be a thousand times harder if it were not for that. I just thought it deserved acknowledgment.

All this as I guiltily calculate the days before spring break and dread Monday morning because of all of the stuff I will not have gotten done by then...though a little before 11:00 am I am optimistic, just beginning to feel the panic....