Blogging and Keeping Up

It seems as if many have forgotten that the blog is part of the grade. While I just don't have enough hours in a day to reply to the posts, I do read. And as I read, I notice that the dates start becoming further and further from the current date. For example, many of the blogs have a last post that is dated back to February, and some even to January! I mean, c'mon people. We're at the END of March. Not only that, but I'm noticing that the responses to posts has been slacking, too. I know it's a PITA, especially for those that aren't used to this, but it's still a requirement.

Now, for those of you that keep up with your blogs and your replies - thank you. I truly enjoy reading them and sometimes find myself either laughing by myself in the office (or at home) or remembering quite vividly being a freshman or sophomore in college (among other reactions).

Anyway, this was really just a reminder that the whole blogging thing is mandatory, and if you haven't kept up or you haven't started, your grade will suffer. It was also a thumbs up for those that are keeping up and contributing worthwhile posts and responses.

Harry Potter

So my newest obsession is Harry Potter. I finally read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in preparation for the film's release this July, and now I'm finding that I have to re-read the last book of the installment: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I started backwards, if you will, with the whole Harry Potter phenomena. I had never read the books when I was younger, and instead found myself fascinated with the movies. Both my husband and I love those types of movies. So, after the 5th movie, The Order of the Phoenix, I couldn't wait any longer and bought the last book of the series. That was the first Harry Potter book that I actually read. Then, I bought book 6 and read that one. I'm now anxiously awaiting the release of the film because I love comparing films and books, and I will finally be able to compare Harry Potter. Up until now, I've only been able to talk about the films. Now I can talk about both!

Other than Harry Potter, I'm looking forward to the rest of the semester! I hope to be able to keep up with the grading (not like I have much of a choice, now do I?). We get into interesting territory now, in both 1101 and 1102 classes! And before we know it, the end will be here and we'll be on our way into summer! Hip, hip, hurray!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and dry weekend, and I'll see you all next week!

Spring Break is Here!

Okay, so it's been here for the last few days, but only now do I get to blog about it. I have to say that I think teachers look forward to Spring Break just as much as students do! It's either a chance to get away and take a much needed break in between a semester or the chance to play catch up with grading and school stuff. For me, it's the latter. I have been growing very acquainted with Grademark, a grading software from turnitin.com that allows me to grade papers online, with comments and symbols just as if I were writing on the actual paper. That allows you guys to see your essays and grades as soon as I finish your essay; you wouldn't have to wait until I finish everyone's paper. Of course, it's purely online and I'm new to it, so I'm still working out glitches and working on speeding the process, but so far I like it.

Other than that, I'm still nursing my son back to health. Thank goodness it's Spring Break because otherwise I'd be having to take time off! He went back to daycare 3 days last week only to get sick, again. This time, his ear infection from last week did not respond to antibiotics and got worse. He also got another cold which developed into croup. Ironically, I remember talking about croup recently to one of you. :) It really does sound like a barking seal! As a result of being out part of last week and now this week, he missed his class pictures. :( I know it's silly, but I was looking forward to getting a picture of him with all his little friends from school. We missed it last year because he hadn't started yet, so I was eagerly anticipating this year's class pictures (and anyone that knows me knows that I am a sucker for pictures). Stinks.

I am, though, getting tired of walking into daycare only to find kids with green boogers hanging out because that means my son is going to get sick. There's supposed to be a "sick policy" in place but that doesn't seem to be getting upheld. In the meantime, my mom, my husband, my mother-in-law and I (in a new job!) are all having to take time off over a month and a half period because of him being sick. If my son is sick I don't want him a) getting other kids sick and b) getting worse. Sigh. That's part of life in daycare.

Well, I hope you are all enjoying your time off. Hopefully, you can actually enjoy the break and do something fun. If not, well, at least enjoy having some time off from going to classes. ;)

See you all next week!