busy week(s)

I have been running towards multiple goals all week, and not making much headway, or if I am being really positive (which I suppose I am at this moment), I am making huge strides in some spaces while other spaces are suffering.

Successes: I am doing well with my eval of my student's journals. In fact, I have been pleased with most of them. I think they are far more open in their writings than I would be. What is really helping me with these is that I can see them as individuals rather than papers that have to be graded. When I stand in front of the class, it is easy to forget that each one of those faces staring at me rather blankly at times, is an individual. Between the journals and the conferences this week, I am seeing the students as people, and that is satisfying. I suppose, If I could, the one-on-one kind of teaching is what I would prefer to do, with the material that each student works on being designed specifically to help them meet their goals.

Failures: Last week I made a pact with Carol. No movies unless I put in ten hours of thesis work, and she put in 100 hours (ok, geez, 20 hours) of lit review. So far this week I have managed 2 hours (or 1, I have not looked this morning). I should manage some tomorrow, and definitely more Saturday, but the ten this week is not likely.

I also have to finish working on my CV and get that live. I suspect I have other things I should be working on as well, but I am afraid to go look.

The weather has turned miserable. We won't get back to 80 until maybe Monday. Cold and rainy weekend. Though I suppose the wetness will help the plants grow a little more.