Well, the semester is almost over and I have about 60 essays to grade.  Instead, here I am, writing my first blog post. Again.  I say “again” because I’ve been through this before.  Twice, actually.  I’ve had two blogs before.  Each one started with a list of goals for myself.  Things I wanted to accomplish with my blog and with whatever else.  A few of my posts were pretty good, I guess (you can find them here and here) but those blogs are old news.  I’m moving on.  Out with the old, in with the new.  So this post isn’t going to have goals (but yes, I still think goals are good).  I’m just going to write some stuff.  How ’bout that?

I actually just went back to read the posts on those two blogs and I kind of liked them.  I forgot that it was kind of fun to share my life in this medium.  I think in the past I’ve tried too hard to be focused, but let’s face it…I’m not.  So this blog doesn’t have a focus. It’s just going to be stuff that I feel like writing about.  So there.  Sometimes school, sometimes horses, sometimes food.  Who knows?  Sometimes I’ll go for weeks on end without writing anything at all (probably more often than I’m hoping).

My thoughts on this rainy Friday afternoon as I type this on my new, school-issued chromebook:

• School is almost out and I don’t feel like I’ve been “on” all year.  I know we all have off years, but sheesh.  I’m assuming it had something to do with my crazy busy summer, hosting the national debate tournament, getting married, etc., but I’m ready for a chill summer and a normal school year (okay, I’m not really ready for that yet).  As usual I had so many things I wanted to change or do this year that I don’t feel like I did.  After eight years I’m still struggling with how to fit everything in.  Does that ever get better?  
• This year I was a mentor teacher for an awesome new, young (goodness, I can’t get a handle on how old I am) teacher named Hannah (@hanzarz).  She helped breathe a more life into my teaching this year and I’m thankful to have had the chance to work with her.  We have so many ideas for next year and I’m excited to start planning.  But I have to grade all of those essays first.  
• I also had a new prep this year: Pre IB English 9.  It has a been a BLAST to teach.  I’ve worked with an incredible teacher who has designed an awesome curriculum and I forgot how fun it was to teach the young uns.  I’m going to miss them a lot, but I’m excited to teach the curriculum again. 
• Next year I’ll have a new prep: Public Speaking.  I’m both excited and terrified about this.  It’s a semester course and it’s considered an academic elective.  I’m excited because I think it will be fun to switch it up and I think public speaking is SUPER important but I’m scared that it will become a dumping ground for kids with no other class to go to.  It’s hard to have a public speaking course full of kids who have no desire to be there.  Also, my department head and a few other teachers have made me nervous by saying things like “good luck” or “you’re crazy”.  Gee, thanks guys.  That’s super encouraging.  😦

Well, this is already turning into another blog where I just talk about random stuff.  Apparently I just can’t help it.  So, I’m going to sign off and at least try to gather my thoughts before I write again.  Off to grade some essays! 10 school days ’til summer…