My muse

Yes, we're still here. Matt's been working hard on his writing. Just the other day he said: "I've written 46 pages for a chapter, and I still haven't gotten to the heart of what I really want to say!"

I will never utter that kind sentence. 46 pages for an intro?!?!?

For me, there are 4 weeks left of teaching, 1 week of exams... it's nuts here. Kids are itching to get out of here: there's prom in 3 weeks, the volleyball net has gone up, everyone is outside in the evenings (I even saw kiddy pool with water and teenagers in it... it was 75 degrees today), kids are hyper, seniors are totally checked out (and AP exams start next week), seniors are playing assassins, and there are SO many spring events on campus! We're all trying to hang in here.

Meanwhile, as a 6th year teacher (3 here), I've felt the most inspired this year to do grandiose things: in and out of class. My muse? Matthew! He is the most inspiring non-official colleague I have. Together, we would do make a great team for the French department.

Since I have my CDL now, I'd love to take the French club and/or classes to a French restaurant. Their lunch menu is $32 with 3 courses. This is on next year's agenda. Next, I've been inspired to create a French film class, although I know nothing about cinematography. I've organized more French club events: a school-wide April Fool's Day prank (that fell through because no one did it), and coming up Tuesday, a "petanque" tournament (bocce ball) with team names... winner gets exam snacks (crepes, eclairs, etc...). So far, no one has signed up except us, the "non merci" (no mercy) team. Basically, our French club members are losers who want events to happen, but who never come to them (even when it's their own ideas... arg! teenagers!!). Next year, I'm going to invite some Francophones to speak to us about their countries (Belgium, Canada, France). I'm also trying to get a pen-pal exchange program started up with a high school in France: we work on our French writing, and they work on their English. If the pen-pal thing goes well, it would be great to set up a visit with traveling!!

There are so many great opportunities out there, but we just need the motivation and drive to do it.

If only my classes (and grading) could just magically take care of themselves so that I can work on the fun stuff....