One step ahead

The fact of the matter is that I tend to be a procrastinator. It's just one of those things that's part of my personality. It is ironic to the core that I ended up teaching middle school, i.e. procrastinator central, although many of them do not know the meaning of the word. I try very hard to enrich their vocabularies knowing full well that many of them do not hear words much beyond the 4 letter variety.

My fab. teaching partner, she and I are like two peas in a pod when it comes to lots of things - especially organization and procrastination. Every year, at least 4 times a year we make new resolutions about those two topics - once at the beginning of the school year, once at New Years, again a few weeks later at the end of the sememster, and yet again at the end of the school year when we announce that NEXT year we will be so much more organized and on top of things. And so goes the circle of life. But, I have to admit . . . I *think* that I am finally getting somewhere.

Now, it's been a long road - this IS afterall my seventh year of teaching. SEVENTH. Wow! Unbelievable. But there are some things that have worked - binders; binders are my friends. I've abandon the file cabinet concept for binders. Each unit, each chapter, each book gets its own binder. This is the first year I've done that and so far it's working smashingly. Now, putting things back IN the binder once I'm finished. . . Well, I always say that's what Friday after school is for - to re-file all of the lessons, worksheets from the week, but the raw truth is that by Friday at 3:00 I'm ready for my weekend to start. So, that leaves me with two VERY stacked paper files - one for English and one for social studies. If it doesn't get done before break then I guess that will be a project for the end of the semester.

Planning ahead is also good too; I've been mucho better about turning away from the computer by 7:50 every morning and actually using my planning time to, well, plan. Currently we are reading a book and all of the chapter questions/assignments are copied and available for those students who read faster than others. Two headaches killed there - work for me done and work for them to keep them ontask. FABULOUS! So, I'm planned up until Christmas break which begins December 21st. In English anyway, I plan to finish my planning tomorrow during planning time. ;) Say that 10 times fast. Afterall, something had to be sacrificed in order for me to get my progress reports done. They're due tomorrow which means that I'd usually give them out the following Monday. *blush* BUT, not this time, oh no . . . I got them all printed today (along with my social studies test for Monday) and even included REMINDERS about the upcoming semester reading projects that will be due. REMINDERS! Wowee! Actually, I just learned how to add notes so that's really only spectacularly exciting to me because it's a novelty. By next marking period I'm sure it won't be so cool.

So that's where I am . . . one step ahead! Works for other things too. Christmas. I am SO ontop of Christmas this year it slays me. Cards? Addressed and ready to be sent out (but I decided to use my new AL stamps on the envies before they go out). Presents? All purchased and under the tree. Stockings? Gifts - check; Candy - check. Goodies? Well, hubby's a chocoholic with a big ole' sweet tooth so no goody making has begun yet, BUT all of the ingredients are purchased and recipes chosen. Handmade gifts? Okay, you got me there. That's what I'm planning on doing this weekend. I have a gift for my niece to work on and a calendar for my mom that I'm making. After the one manic Christmas I've gone light on the gift MAKING. Still have to figure out something for grams too.

Right now life is good. Being ahead feels good. Knowing what to expect on a day to day basis, at home and work, is good. Schedules are good although adjustment takes time. I'm working on me and that's good. Time off, away from places/things/people is all good. Sometimes I feel slightly guilty that I'm not scrapping but the truth is there is NO need to feel that way. It's a hobby and if I don't feel like doing it, oh well. As it turns out, the world does continue to rotate even when I don't scrap. ;) Who knew? I know this down time is just another cycle and soon I'll be motivated to scrap again. Afterall, I DO have a lengthy break coming up Dec. 21st through Jan. 2. I'll need SOMETHING to do, right? Alright, all this being so fantastically on top of things is exhausting and I am taking advantage of no Grey's tonight to curl up under my flannel sheets and down comforter for a long winter's nap. Be merry!