More Coffee, Please

It’s been awhile.

It often is, after summer, though it’s been harder getting going this year. Partly because some of the reasons that I originally started writing have dissipated—things are getting better in the Monadnock district, both in the building and in the individual classroom.

But—well, I could easily find things that need to be worked on, things that strike me as needing improvement. I can certainly find things that are laudable and deserve recognition. So there’s plenty of things to write about.

I’ve just not much urge to do it.¹

So I might shake things up a bit here—do something a little different. If Twitter can be successful with 140 character posts, then perhaps I can do something that requires a little less time and a little less effort than the hours a typical post tends to take.²

So I’m going to try that for awhile—see if doing something different will re-spark some of the joy that first accompanied writing. And—if not—well, then something good will come.

In any case, the year has started off well. Unlike last year, there was not a half hour of introduction of new staff—one of the best signs I know of that things are heading in the right direction. Last year’s first day was depressing: There’s nothing wrong with new faces, but it’s depressing when they’re filling holes left by fleeing teachers.

None of that this year. Only one or two new faces, and a few shifts. Retention is important—we can’t do what we do without experienced people to do it.

The first two days went very well, from what I can see, and from what I’ve heard from the more important people in the building—the maintenance staff—it’s going well outside of my particular wing of the building.

Dr. Kaplan successfully demonstrated the importance of eye safety to his chemistry class, courtesy of a can of silly string and John William’s Imperial March.

Advisories seemed to start off very well—at least, the one I share with Jay Wibben had a pretty good meeting. This Wednesday will be meeting number two, and should be good—and given that my advisees are seniors, a good chance to check in about the changes and updates that were thrown at them this Friday.

And, most importantly, Snow Leopard fixed the issue I was having getting MRHS email at home, and the IT folks wired my classroom—which is rather helpful.

So thus far, no complaints. What’s well begun is half done…

1 As a bit of defense, I’m also going to argue I’ve not much time. I’m helping coach soccer (not doing much, but helping). I’m teaching an SAT Prep course after school two days a week. I’m teaching night school on the other two nights. I’m remaking everything I ever did before and trying to make it fit what I now know and believe. So I’m busy, too. ↺

2 To develop and think about. Like I tell my kids, once one knows what should be said, the actual writing is easy. It’s the three hours of thinking for every hour of writing that kills me. ↺

Gregarious

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