Catching up or barely hanging on...

So close, but still so far! This week is spring break (thank you thank you thank you thank you), which means that I am thinking a lot about how I should be spending my time doing one of the following:
1. lesson planning
2. grading homework
3. grading projects
4. applying for summer jobs
5. applying for teaching jobs
6. perfecting my resume
7. getting my resume professionally printed
8. working on my portfolio
9. catching up on the three MSU projects that I am embarrassingly behind on
10. laundry
11. cleaning my disgustingly filthy room
12. organizing my life

Instead, I am significantly more likely to be doing one of the following:
1. eating
2. sleeping
3. coaching
4. playing hockey
5. watching mindless TV (watched an episode of "Prison Wives" today on Oprah's Network.  Addicting.)
6. eating
7. going on Facebook
8. an assortment of other really important tasks, like updating my blog.

So....I've got that going for me. 

Let's turn away from my own shortcomings and reflect on those of my students.  These are much more exciting. 

• (OPEN NOTE) quiz question: "Define political party".  Student answer: "A party where people talk about politics". 
  
• Worksheet question: "What city would host your the 2012 National Convention for your political party?" Student answer: "Virginia".
  
• Discussion question: "Who did we gain independence from in the Revolutionary War?" Student  answer: "Canada".
  
• Me to student: "Yeah, I remember a few questions on my AP test about Bill Clinton". Student: "Clinton?  When was he President?"
  
• stupid small-group icebreaker activity: If you could be any eating/cooking utensil, what would you be and why?  EX: "I would be a wisk because I like to mix things up." 
• (impulsively autistic) Student A: "I would be a knife...so I could CUT and STAB (shouting) ANYONE who gets IN MY WAY."....this was said to her small group members, so I did my best to curtail my uncontrollable laughter and thankfully watched the special ed coteacher take care of it.
• (class clown) Student B: "I would be a knife...cause I get a lot of cut"....get in the hallway, Student B. 
• (loveable, goofy) Student C: "I would be a nutcracker, cause I bash a lot of nuts"....(death stare from me)..."Should I join Student B in the hallway?"...great idea.
• (pretty quiet) Student D: "I would be a spork"...(his group member, and my least favorite student all day) Student E: "Yeah, cause you go both ways"...hallway.
  

So I went out into the hall and greeted  the idiots with a piece of paper and pen each, told them to write their names on them and title the page "Dear Mom and Dad".  Letters had to include what they said and why they said it.  I then collected them and kept them safe until parent-teacher conferences two days later.

I suppose this is what I get when I expect high schoolers to be able to appreciate silly ice breaker activities, but I'm not too worried.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself seeing those three sweat it out over the next few days.  Gotta love delayed consequences.


So...back to that list of things to do.