Teaching Diaries 2

It is 3:51 AM, Idaho time, or the start of 5th period in Minsk. I’m extremely grateful that I only have one class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have four blocks in a row, and it is not ideal. I’m trying to keep a relatively normal teaching/work schedule. I feel guilty about not earning my keep, but so far no one has complained. In fact, they have been quite compassionate about the time difference. Synchronous teaching is not super fun. I call in at the beginning of class, lecture a bit or introduce the content, and then sign out. I’m not going to sit on a screen for 8 hours. I do sit at the computer, though, and keep a chat open in case kids have questions. So far, the kiddos have just gotten on with things. The sophomores seem a little squirrelly, but that’s pretty normal, and the seniors and juniors just...work.

But let me tell you — kids are pretty amazing in general. I keep a file of writing prompts handy. They’re great for emergency sub plans, and this year I used one as a get-to-know-you activity with the sophomore writing class. One of the prompt choices was to write about receiving a mysterious package on their birthday. A couple years ago, one of my 8th graders spun a whole tale of betrayal and murder out of that prompt. This year, I got a story about a surprise puppy and one about a cursed doll. The kids, as they say, are all right.

GYWO Update

Happy September! We're two-thirds of the way through the year. Probably. Who knows what time even is any more? While I generally have to think really hard about what day of the week it is, the checklist I made for GYWO has been really helpful to at least give me some proof that time still moves and I'm doing things. I've almost met my goal of writing 240 days this year. Some days, I only manage to eke out a paragraph or two, some days I just write out plans for a story.

At the end of August, I'm at 192 days of doing something related to writing. Last night/today/again, what even is time?, I hopped on undeadrobins's 50 Kiss Prompt List, so I think that will be a fun way to see the year out. You can check out the series here if you're so inclined. It will be multi-fandom, based on my whims, just like all my writing.

I hope you're all having creative successes, however small they might be, because we need every bit of creativity and joy we can get.