Today, I want to express how hard it is to find time to do all of the things I need to do. First of all, I need to talk about the fact that as teachers, we do have lives and families and need to be with them. Sometimes, we are lucky and they understand the rhythm of the life of a teacher. Sometimes they don't.

I have had to explain to people that we don't work a straight 9 to 5 job. Instead, it is more like 7 to 4, and then a break before putting in another hour or more after supper. Yes, we get the summers "off", but that doesn't alter the facts of our time demands. Right now, I am getting report card comments and marks ready. For teacher's, this is more pressure than a company month end report. End of year report cards can be as tough as corporate year end, tax time, and a root canal all at the same point. Never mind if the teacher has said root canal in late June...

Besides all of what I do as a classroom teacher, I can't stay static. I need professional development. Real professional development, not the time I often spend keeping a plastic chair warm in our school library while somebody drones on about something that may not really even be that important to them. I want to have the time to follow blogs, keep abreast of issues in the world, learn from others, have video conferences, and develop as a teacher. Where is the time in the day for that? I just found out what the acronym for Science and Technology and Math is - STEM. And I am supposed to be teaching in a Science and Technology school.

I remember a time, not too long ago, when I had less paperwork and more time to do it in. Maybe I need to work smarter. I just feel that the day/week/year is not enough for me to be me anymore.

That said, I did score 2 pairs of brand new driving mocs for $23. Yes, that's a deal. I had to travel out of my usual shopping habits to do it. I hope these will fill the bill for new casual shoes to wear with khakis and jeans.

Sick today; we went up to Edmonton on Saturday. I managed to hit the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store off of 106th. Not there for me, I was looking for stuff with a friend. They did have a kind of neat, 1920's waterfall style cabinet. It had 3 drawers and once had two side doors with shelves inside. The condition was about a 6/10. Missing side doors, ink from a fountain type pen had spilled inside the top and stained the felt in the dividers. It had all the original brass and bakelite handles. Overall, if I lived in Edmonton and wanted a conversation piece for a room, I might have spent the $100 they were asking.

Anyway, I am getting the feelings that start to come when report card marks are going to be due. I don't know about my philosophy on grades or no grades, but I do know that spending nearly a month perfecting and polishing up a document that 95% of kids will take home and most parents look for numbers on - and only doing this twice a year - really doesn't do what we do in the classroom justice. If the mentioned 95% take this home, why do I see about 12% of parents at best, and then only when interviews are held. And, there is no interview at year end. That would be a pointless exit interview anyway.

Maybe a weekly email sendout with "Here are the outcomes we have in play this week, your son / daughter has shown full understanding of x, y and only a partial grasp of z." " By the way, could you please stop giving them money to bring energy drinks to school." This might be more valid and engaging for all.