The Huck's: Winter updates

Well, as usual it's been a while since I last posted, but hey, that's my pattern. This has been a bit of a busy winter. School is busy as always as I have been teaching a new class this semester, and even though the other zoology teacher shared her stuff with me, I still like to come up with stuff on my own. Finals are the week after this coming one, so the end is in sight. I don't say this as necessarily a good thing, I actually am going to miss quite a few of my students from this semester. I do for the most part have really good kids, just most of them are really lazy too. It really breaks the heart of a teacher to see students who definitely have the ability to do better, but are completely content with that "C" no matter how much you challenge them to do better. AN article was sent around work the other day from a college professor (from some American university, can't remember which one) that said the same thing is happening at the college level and it's causing many students to drop out. The students from other countries are the ones who are working hard, even though they may struggle with the language, and getting the grades in those classes. People continue to say that it's because "they are smarter from over there". No, not the case at all. They are "smarter" because they work harder and value education more, period. I see the same thing with my students who are of a different ethnicity.

Well to get off that rant, as I said, the semester is coming to an end. Next semester I will be teaching all classes I have taught before, for the first time since I started teaching! I will have honors physical sciences (I have not taught it at an honors level before) but it is the same basic information I have taught at the lower levels, just expanded upon. I am really looking forward to being able to spend time developing these classes, as I will not be putting the majority of my focus into a brand new class. On the job front, things are basically as bad as ever. They will be cutting 15-20 teachers at the high school level for next year due to the $6 million deficit. I am actually trying to stay positive. My job would probably be one of the first ones to go because I am one of the more newly highered, but at least I have some warning this time. I am trying not to get depressed because as much as Nashua has its challenges, I love working with the people I work with and it has become home to me. There are always possibilities, such as people retiring and what not, but I'm also in my 3rd year and that is the year they decide to give me "ten-year" or not. So we'll see. In the meantime, I'll be looking for other jobs. Oliver is still working at Radioshack and taking classes. His spring classes start next week I believe and he is enjoying being back at school, which is great. Thank God for his grandmother (and parents) who are so generously paying for it, because we just can't afford any more loans right now.

Yesterday almost felt like spring which was amazing and depressing at the same time. It was wonderful to be able to open the windows and get some fresh air in the apartment, but it also reminded me that we have several more months before spring really does get here. Oh well, we'll take what we can get. I absolutely love New England most of the year, just am not a fan of winter. I'm going to post some pics below of the holidays for people to look at.