backtracking

Once again, I got sidetracked by work and school and life and forgot to update. I'm currently stuck in the Tampa airport on my way home for Christmas, but I think I'll go ahead make this post about the beginning of December instead.

I spent the first weekend of December at a conference at a resort in the suburbs. It was kind of surreal and the entire time I felt that someone was about to realize that I clearly had no business being there. The retreat was for school leadership to learn about how to implement interim assessments, analyze the results, and use them to inform teaching, and to train other teachers at their schools in data- driven instruction. How exactly did I end up at this conference? Someone (apparently with very poor judgment) decided I would be a good person to represent the science department on the Instructional Leadership Team. This basically means that I help make school-wide decisions about things like target instructional areas and professional development, and then I'm somehow supposed to communicate these things to my department without any practical power like being able to call a meeting.

I keep ending up with all these semi-important responsibilities (teaching AP chem next year, member of the science department curriculum planning committee, possible AVID certification, ILT science rep...) mostly because other members of my department never step up and volunteer for anything. On the one hand, this is frustrating because they're probably way better qualified and it should be their responsibility as veteran teachers to work for the good of the department and the school. But on the other hand, it means I get to do interesting things as a first year teacher that I wouldn't have an opportunity to do if I worked anywhere else. So for right now, I'm generally enjoying the added responsibilities... even if I'm dreading the thought of managing all that plus masters classes next semester.

Thanksgiving

It's been an absurdly long time since I posted, but this one's going to be on the short side since I only have a few more minutes to get to breakfast. Last week (was is really only last week?) Pilar and I had our first Chicago Thanksgiving. Kathy came, plus a few TFA friends, and it went surprisingly well. We almost burned the house down when the turkey pan broke and leaked turkey juices all over the oven, and then we almost flooded the house when the pipes under the sink came apart and spilled water everywhere, but somehow it all came together and all the food turned out delicious. It was a little weird being away from home, but being with friends was just as good. And I can't even explain how much I needed those four days of rest.

More updates later when I get back to somewhere with free internet.