I know, I just did number 13.

I've been very, very bad about posting. I've been dealing with discipline, mentoring our new, wonderful band teacher and helping her get ready for the Christmas Parade, making bucket drums, designing logos for the marching band and our new step team (The Stunnaz!) so they can have sweatshirts and t shirts and most recently, putting together the Christmas Program so that our tradition can continue on the Early Release day before Winter Break. Not to mention that we have Enrichment Night (a showcase of what we all have been doing in the Exploratory Classes this semester).  I really just want to come home and pull the covers over my head.

 I've also been disinfecting my classroom after nearly every class.  We have been luckier than some schools in my county, but we have had our share of sickies.  Oh, how I wish parents would keep their children home when they are sick.  It is exhausting trying to stay well.  Thank goodness I have sinks with hot water and soap in my classroom.  I think that I have convinced all my darlings that it is in their best interest to wash their hands as much as possible.

I promise that I will be better about posting in the New Year.  In the meantime, I'd like to share this little tidbit from School Arts Magazine about how to earn an 'F' in my class.  It pretty much sums up my feelings about how to earn an 'A' (or not) in my class.  I tell them it's more about their attitude and effort but they just don't believe me.

How to earn an 'F' in my class:

1. Be afraid of new things
2. Be late to class
3. Blame it on a lack of talent
4. Do as little as you can
5. Don't ask questions (or don't pay attention to my answers or keep asking the same question over and over and over and over again)
6. Don't even try
7. Have someone else do your work (I know when you do that, you know)
8. Ignore instructions
9. Ignore people that know more than you (that includes me and your classmates)
10. Imagine that you will get better with out practice
11. Keep ideas to yourself
12. Let other students tell you what is good
13. Make excuses (this is a big one with me)
14. Make no mistakes
15. Miss class and don't make up the work
16. Never fail
17. Perfect it all
18. Sit perfectly still and never make a sound
19. Spend as much time as your can talking with friends (while not working)
20. Stick to what you are good at
21. Not on the School Arts list, but I would like to add: Be destructive and wasteful

http://www.schoolartsdigital.com/schoolarts/201110#pg15 

I hope that you all have a restful, much deserved Winter Break and a Happy Holiday season.