From my minimal experience subbing in middle school math classes: sixth graders are completely different from 8th graderss, more still wanting to please authority figures; and teaching 7th grade algebra is huge big fun. Lots of good luck, Emily!

I am always so impressed with people who are good with junior high kids. I'm good with individuals, but not so much with groups.

IOmememeN, I think I may have mentioned that my supervisor is retiring and I'm applying for the position. I was just asked to publicize the position, and another one. After I indicated that I would be applying. On the one hand, I don't really mind. On the other, this is kind of awkward.

One of those deals where they have to publicize any position, libkitty? In any case, good luck to you, too.

Go ChiKat, go!

You folks have already said what I thought about the Joss post, so - yeah. That.

Meanwhile, in Kids At School news, conversation today in the staffroom:

Colleague: Guess what [5/6 year old kid] wrote today?

Me: Dunno.

Colleague: 'The alien smells like cock.'

Everyone in Staffroom: t dies of laughter

(apparently it was supposed to be 'sock'. Fair play to the kid for knowing about the C making an S sound sometimes.)

I was just asked to publicize the position, and another one. After I indicated that I would be applying.

Which you just did. By announcing it here.

What? We're on the internets. I say consider your duty done.

Jobs ~ma to ChiKat & Emily & libKitty! (plus some extra dense~ma for libKitty... maybe they're just having you post it for legal reasons. I second that it's announced - you're good to go).

ChiKat - I was going to say the same thing as Emily, but since she said it so well, all I have to add is middle schoolers and drama classes - great combo. (I think the age group rocks, but then I also get happy for poetry writing with 16 and 17 year old arts-magnet students ) You can be goofy and crazy and if someone looks in on your class with le raised eyebrow, you can just pawn it off on some sort of experiential theater. Plus, you can give them the great literary experience of actually hearing some fantastic lines spoken, not just read... I have a friend who, when things get completely out of pocket, tells her middle school drama kids that if they get to the end of the task, she'll teach them a mime trick. Sounds odd, but apparently works every time.

Joss' post. Very much that.

My sister and BIL come to visit tomorrow & I cannot wait. They're getting in at 2 am... (no amount of hinting that they should crash at a hotel near Dulles made it through the phone lines)... I think that I will drool on my desk tomorrow while they snooze off the jetlag.

Miss Fay, have you been teaching the wee bairns about S1 Smallville again? Hmm?

Job ~ma to Emily and ChiKat and libkitty! libkitty, for my current position, both of the two main people I supervise applied for this position, and both were involved in interviewing me (and the other candidates).

I'm supposed to have a conference call at 9 a.m. this morning, but there was no reminder from the person who initiates this call each month. Am I a very bad librarian for wishing and hoping that she's completely forgotten?

Also, long meetings at 10:30 and 2:30 today. Blech!

cat toy? [link] Link's work and kid safe if you can keep your brain from leaking.

I've got a long meeting at 11 today. But then I've got the afternoon free -- I'll probably go grocery shopping and cook some seitan. All very exciting.