still (apparently) not much to say

there are things to say. they just don't seem nearly as interesting as a single thing that happened last year.

today was a great day. here's an example of why:

i had just collected most of the calculators towards the end of math. i had two under my arm, 2 in one hand, one in another. i had stopped to talk to a kid who wasn't working. only moments later, one of my students comes up to me and, without interrupting, just takes the calculators out of my hands (and ... armpit?) and puts them away.

last week, they voted 7:1 that they'd rather stay for an extra hour of school every day than have any homework at all.

this is *not* to say that it has been all sunshine in room 403a. the last two months have been among the worst. but the very worst day - the very very worst one - this year does not even begin to compare to a mediocre day last year. the good days this year happened like 4 times total last year. and the days that now are boring and kind of suck because the kids weren't good, but they weren't positively miserable - those days last year were the days i walked out rejoicing.

it's amazing what a year and a little perspective can do. i don't know that i will stay for another year. it's what i keep telling people - it's the only plan i have yet - because if it continues improving at this exponential rate, why not?

why not? well, a lot of reasons. but, for now, i had a great day.