+ Time really flies. I keep thinking it’s January. And what’s worse, I keep thinking it’s 2008.
+ I went back to TP today. Oh man. If I could get a job there, I would be so so fortunate. Mr. Williams was talking about how his non-honors students are so unmotivated. The reality is, most students are like that. Even the honors ones. The honors students just hide it better. Hahaha. I don’t know…I was looking at SARC (School accountability report cards) reports for TP and comparing it to Farb and Clairemont. You can see how your school ranks compared to the rest of the district and the rest of the state. It’s really interesting stuff. Some of it literally made my jaw drop. I could talk forever about education and our school system. There’s a lot to say…a lot to fix. But, classrooms are the last place we see any sort of change occur. It has to go from the federal gov’t, down to the state, into cities, communities, neighborhoods, districts, classrooms, teachers, and then finally the students. Ahhh. If I had a trillion dollars, I’d put it all into education.
+ I feel almost completely checked out from school. I still go to all my classes and stuff, but I’m at the point where I can count on one hand all midterms and finals I’ll have to the take in the rest of my undergraduate career. I don’t want to say I’m freaking out, but I kind of am. After this year, it’s going to be a fast fast year of grad school and then JOB HUNTING. That’ll be scary…and probably very demoralizing. Hahaha. It’s ok though. I’ll make it through. 
+ I’m finally returning to Farb MS next week. It’s been a looooong time. Pretty much two full months away from these students. Oh man. I hope I can remember all their names! It’s 60+ faces I haven’t seen in 8 weeks. Oof.
+ My other 100 students at the high school are worse off with this new long term sub than their previous teacher. You may think I’m being overly critical now. Is no teacher good enough? No, most teachers would be good enough. Let me give you an example of what this guy said to a kid. This student was talking to his friend about college and he said he wanted to go to UCSD. The teacher comes over and says, “Oh, you want to go to UCSD?” “Yeah.” “Oh…well, you shouldn’t. You know what you should do instead?…Go to community college and then transfer in. If you went to UCSD right after high school you’d think it was too hard. You aren’t well prepared enough.” AHHHHH. Are you kidding me?!? I almost shot out of my seat to give the teacher my two cents, but I refrained. Then again. During a different period, after taking attendance he’s telling the kids to go do their worksheets for the day but explains to them that he doesn’t want them to have to “think really hard” during his class. And that if the worksheets are too hard, then they should come talk to him so he can find them something easier that they know how to do. Hm…that’s interesting. How about teaching! How about showing the student the math they’ve never seen before. Why leave it a mystery to them? Why keep them doing addition and multiplication tables (which is what he has them doing…but doing even get me start on that! He has TOYS for them. They press little buttons and the answer pops up. It’s a toy for 3rd graders. But again, don’t get me started…)? Anyway, last Friday one of the students suggested that we have Ms. Cheng Days when I’m there on Mondays and Fridays. The teacher didn’t seem too excited when the student asked, but he was willing to listen to what the student wanted me to do. It was funny…the student said, “Teach us.” I go in tomorrow. I’m excited…
+ Private tutoring is exhausting.
+ Updating about my teaching life is exhausting.
