Ok, false alarm

So, perhaps I'm not quite defunct yet. There's still more stuff happening, but not all of it is appropriate to share with the world at large. Which would be all y'all reading this - the world at large. Ah, my grandiose ambitions...



Anyhoo... I continue to be amazed by some of my students. You know, the ones who are actually disappointed that I've forgotten to bring the test to school. I have a whole class full of 'em. How lucky can one teacher get??!!



I have three, yes three, student aides. They are all magnificent in their own way. Chipito* is a most excellent assistant in the helping of confused Level 1 students. He can speak French quite decently, being a French 4 student, and is also fluent in Spanish. He's lively and personable, and manages to be entertaining during first period - which is more than I can say for myself most days. Betsy*, a French 3 student, is a workhorse who grades papers like a demon. She will even do the key. I check her work and put the official grades into the computer, though, as she's much more strict than I am! Plus, she's a student and not allowed to assign grades - duh, that's my job. I'm in awe of her dedication, and grateful for her assistance. She's also willing to help any confused Level 2 (although my regular 2 is more like a Level 1 class than I'm willing to admit) and is a general sweetheart. I'll have Chipito and Betsy for the first semester only.



Bunny*, my third assistant, I'll have all year. He's less motivated than either Chipito or Betsy to do any of the actual "slave" work, but if I have any kind of computer project - a PowerPoint or a puzzle or worksheet to be done, it'll be done and beautiful - as long as I provide the actual French bits. Bunny is a riot, and has always been so, ever since I first met him as a 7th grader 4 years ago.



See, that's a wonderful thing: I know so many of these high schoolers from when they passed through my classroom as middle schoolers. I'm in quite a privileged position now, to observe the changes. Many of them were quite startled at the change in me this year - you know, being smaller and all. A few of them just outright didn't recognize me. The best one - a girl walked in and looked straight at me and asked if I was the substitute for Madame D. I said "I am Madame D." It took her a full minute before she realized I was telling the truth.



Priceless. Absolutely priceless



*obviously not their real names!