along came a spider & I'm under the paper load

o.k., the above title is really two titles in one since I couldn't decide which one is better, I'll explain later.

Gave the first Chem test Monday and now I am *just about to grade*

the moment of truth awaits...

the quiet girl phenomenon

I've noticed (and I want to mention briefly) something I'll call the quiet girl phenomenon. For example, it took one of my students two weeks before she said anything aloud in class! She finally spoke last Friday. I was like, "she speaks!! she speaks!!" and I wasn't sure if its something cultural, or something else, these are freshmen girls, Latinos. But I teach in a poor, poor area, I love it though, it's like I've joined the peace corp--"the toughest job you'll ever love"--only with slightly better accommodations. (and we have a gym here, which I shortly will be joining)

"Ghetto country" kids, the administrators call them.