I see it's been since April 18 that I last posted, and the same length of time since I've done much blog visiting. My Google Reader has 365 posts for me to look at. I fear I won't get many done.
I graded 25 papers in that time, 26 essays, and 26 tests, as well as figuring out extra points and various other grading related efforts. I'm not done. I give a final exam today, one tomorrow, and one Thursday. So though I'm going to post today I still won't get a chance to visit many blogs.
The main thing I need to do is to announce the winner of the drawing for a free Gramlich book. These were individuals who had reviewed or commented or supported "Chimes" on their blog. And I much appreciate it!
The drawing included.
Randy
Rick
Kate
Gary
Mark
Clare2e
David
The winner, by random selection from a hat, was David Cranmer. Congratulations to David, or sympathies, depending on your point of view. I'll drop a note over to David's blog for him to contact me about the book he wants.
Thanks to all.
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April has felt really busy to me too and I don't expect May is gonna change for us either, eh?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very busy month. Good reason to stay away from blogs.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats to David.
Since idleness is the Devil's workshop, your soul should be safe. :)
ReplyDeletegrats, david!
ReplyDeletehave 'fun' with the exams, etc.
Great you're back - not been the same without you
ReplyDeleteNo one minds, Charles. You've had a heavy, heavy load in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteI bet that's going to feel so good when it stops...It's okay, Charles, don't let Google reader haunt you.
ReplyDeleteDavid J. West, well it should change for me since I'm not going to teach summer school. After the first week of May I'm going to become full time writer man.
ReplyDeleteRandy, indeed, on both counts
Bernardl, at least for the moment that is true.
Laughingwolf, Yeah, I will
Archavist, at least temporarily. But after Thursday I'll be much more regular.
Bernita, thanks. Yes, it's been a bit heavy this spring.
Charles, I suspect that soon your schedule will be lightening up. Or do you teach summer school? Either way, when you have your time back, you can read and write with new fire!
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back, bud! :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the land of the adults. :D
ReplyDeleteI can probably picture what your study area/den looked like while you were grading those final projects.
Egads!!!!
Hey Charles,
ReplyDeleteI'll be sending you lots of good energies to finish out the semester! Here's to a relaxing, peaceful and fun summer. You and Lana deserve it!
jodi, No, I haven't taught summer school in several years. Lana encourages me to take the time and right and it's been very productive. "write with new fire." I like that. :)
ReplyDeleteSteve Malley, thankee.
G, there were indeed quite a few scattered papers, although in the modern day, I actually graded most of the papers via mSword using the markup program.
Michelle, thanks. the summer should indeed be pretty restful. I'm hoping so.
Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, you're nearly finished with finals and soon will enter the write-like-mad portion of your year.
ReplyDeleteSo yay for that.
oh, i have missed this competition :S
ReplyDeleteis there a chance to get to see the entries, or at least, the winning one?
congrats to all and to the winner.
sounds like you're keeping busy. good luck!
ReplyDeleteDavid Cranmer, congrats. Hope you enjoy.
ReplyDeleteTravis, very much looking forward to that for sure.
SzélsőFa, It was just reviews of my story. I was trying something different for promotion. There are some links back on my blog but I'll try to put up a link to David's review this week.
Greg Schwartz, thanks.
For what it's worth, you've been far more consistent than I've been :) Good luck with finals and grading all those exams!
ReplyDeleteThen comes the days of deck sitting and languishing in the summer heat for you to write. Time after all does move forward.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations David.
A draw as in random selection, not make a picture. Silly me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations.
Lauren, that's probably because I'm old and boring.
ReplyDeleteMark, I feel the need, for slowing down.
Ocean Girl, it's a strange language for sure.
Glad to have you back. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, David!
ReplyDeleteCharles; Did you call my husband old & boring?!?
No worries, it's been busy. I certainly know the feeling. My posts have been less thorough, since I just don't have as much time to put into them at the moment with other stuff going on.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back. That's the trouble - life gets in the way, doesn't it? Please don't mention marking books and exams...
ReplyDeleteAh! Good for David C.
ReplyDeleteYes, you've accomplished a LOT of close work and certainly deserve a break like Lana shows over at her luminescent site... sure hope your sweet place will be untouched by the oil.
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
welcome back... it's busy here
ReplyDeleteHarry Markov, I'm looking forward to being more regular.
ReplyDeleteLana Gramlich, No, I think I would remember that. Unless I'm getting so old I'm starting to be forgetful.
Voidwalker, being busy is a growing business.
Leigh Russell, it's my life at the moment.
Cloudia, yeah, that's kind of worrisome, although it won't get this far. But it'll still do damage.
sage, that seems to be going around.
Congratulations to David!
ReplyDeleteMay has always been the busiest month for me. With school coming to an end, it always seems like there are more school activities for my kids, and that means more for me too. I always look forward to June and sleeping late :)
Take care Charles!
You had 365 entries on your google reader and still got around to visiting me? I am so honored -- seriously!
ReplyDeleteWish I'd entered your contest. We're up to our necks here yet again and it will be a whole month before I have any kind of free time again. (Still, I'm here, aren't I? That's the important thing!)
This is a strange time of year for a teacher. I always get a bit melancholy. Especially when I see students (high school) driving around with their windows and sides of their cars painted. Ah, nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteAs for the grades...It makes me crazy when students wait until the last minute to turn in large projects as opposed to taking advantage of the earlier window afforded them.
One thing I've decided on is a group approach in teaching writing. Experience has it for me that students are rather slow to read or internalize extensive teacher comments on a paper. It seems to work better for me when I have the students set up expectations and from there we analyze the work as a group.
Just thinking out loud.
fudgejennifer, Yes, at the end of the school year everyone wants to get in a last meeting, or banquet or awards ceremony, or something. It's busy busy.
ReplyDeleteMary Witzl, today I am basically off, although I give a test tomorrow. I'm going to enjoy today.
Stewart Sternberg, We did several group evaluations on material in class, although I find that students are scared to death and very resistant to having their material evaluated that way. I do find it helpful, although not a panacea.
Congrats to the winner. Hang in there, Charles :)
ReplyDeleteOmigod.
ReplyDeleteI graded 25 papers in that time, 26 essays, and 26 tests...
I used to get my wife to do that.
...No wonder she divorced me.
In the suit, I think she said, "I got tired of grading his papers." Egad.
L.A., thankee.
ReplyDeleteIvan, Lana helps with the multiple choice stuff but not with essays or papers, which is the major stuff I was grading this week.
Congratulations, all winners.
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back.
X-Dell, thanks.
ReplyDelete