Christmas Stress?

TODAY, December 23rd, I finally mailed my last Christmas card.  It is amazing how little chores can seem like huge obstacles when you put them off.  I have to admit, I do procrastinate a little bit.  Sometimes when a project is on my list, I keep thinking I'll do it tomorrow, and then the next tomorrow, and then the next tomorrow.  Don't get me wrong, when I am at work, I am working!  There just seem to be too many projects to fill the day sometimes, and I seem to prioritize in the wrong order, which brings on stress when you are looking at a project due date.  (I bet many of my students do this when it comes to completing papers and other assignments.)

So, when you feel like you are stressed, take a look at what you are doing and what you actually should be doing.  Maybe there are ways to rearrange your priorities that would help you to eliminate the stress!  Or... you could always try some other stress relieving techniques.

Snow days!

Normal schedule?  Lesson plans?  Teaching?  Learning?  It seems like everything is out the window the last two weeks.  I know you all love the phone calls, with the voice, "This is an automated message from Randolph County Schools, Randolph County Schools will be closed."  If the December weather is any indication of what the rest of the winter is going to be like, we are going to have a major amount of snow this year!  As a teacher, it is SO frustrating to miss so much school and have to reteach lessons over and not be able to follow the lesson plans that we have created.  The great thing about Globaloria and our Game Design class?  All of our learning continues, and snow days don't really affect us!

One thing I want you to keep in mind, though, is that the end of the semester is coming quickly... many of you will have to work on your games and team pages over the Christmas break in order to complete them.  If you need extra time at school, I am there from 2:40 until 3:30 most days, and I can arrange to stay later if needed.  (You are also welcome to come in to work on the IS Day December 23, just let me know before you come!)  When we present our games, I want them to be great!  Keep watching the course schedule; if the county board office makes changes to the end of the semester schedule, I will make changes to our class schedule accordingly.

The main point I wanted to get across here is that I want you to stay motivated and keep working.  I am proud of the progress you have made so far in the class.  Some of you have had to be dragged through the class and the results you have accomplished, but most of you have gotten so much done this semester and learned a lot; now is the time to STAY MOTIVATED!  We have almost made it to the end!