Getting ready for the new school year

I am two days into the school year, twelve days before I first have students, and seemingly a million things to do beforehand. It's going to be a busy fall for us this year (and forevermore?), and will be busier for me than I've ever been before, I think. I'm starting my second year at South St. Paul, but unlike last year I am starting at the beginning of the school year and I will be spending most of my time at the high school instead of the CLC (Community Learning Center, our district's alternative learning center).

Being at the high school has pluses and minuses. It's great because I get to meet more people in the district, network more, and have other social studies teachers that I can use for resources. I am also able to teach more rigorous classes, which I am excited about, but it also means much more prep time. Though students were difficult at times last year, the pace we went and the fact that any class we taught down there was ours alone and we didn't have to reach any benchmarks by X date made things quite a bit more laid back than they will be at the high school.

I can handle a change of venue. I can handle putting together more rigorous lessons. Since I've got four different preps, though, it could be a struggle to stay afloat. For fall trimester I'll be teaching one Cold War section, a Geography section, two sections of World History, and one section of Area Studies. One of the World History preps will have ALL of the 9th grade ELLs (English Language Learners). Since I have an ELL staff person working with me - for resources, instruction advice, etc - that will be easier than if I were on my own. I'm just hoping that the two history classes will be able to do pretty much the same things.

So it'll be busy at school this fall... and before too long it will be busy at home as well. I just need to get into good and productive routines to keep on top of everything, especially for when the baby comes.

Maybe some drug company will develop a drug that allows a person to not need sleep. That would be great.