I won't respect myself in the morning...

I know I'm probably fucking myself over, especially as I realized earlier today that both this week and next, I have to make up time in Advisement, so my usual big chunk of time on Thursday mornings has just vanished. I have so much to wade through, I am not at all sure how I will manage to do it; I just know that I will, in fact, manage to do it.

As for the change in the schedule for the 101s, I split the difference with today's class: I did run it past them first, but I let them know that this is not a democratic process, so I would make the executive decision. Most of them are happy with the "one and done" option, and I should be able to accommodate the few who actually want to conference with me. I'll distribute the handouts to both classes the next time I see them--and I am delighted to know that I will now collect essays much earlier than originally scheduled, at least for the 101s.

I'm still a little panicky around the edges about the 102, but I did go over the essay assignment and research requirement with them today--and I told them that conferences will be optional. I really hope a lot of them opt out.

I had a long talk with the Train Wreck student after class. He'd left his book in class on Thursday, but of course it never occurred to him that he might check with me to see if I'd retrieved it--and in fact, I sent a class email stating that I had found "someone's" book (I knew damned well whose it was) and would  be leaving it on my office door. It's still there. I told him where he could find it and let him leave class to go get it. He came back in and told me that it wasn't on my desk. I reminded him that I had said "It's on my office door," and while I grant you that both words start with D, there is a difference--and to get to my desk, he had to walk past the door that has a large envelope with a big sign saying "Prof. Payne's 102 student" on it, which he clearly didn't see at all. I can't fully fault him for that; we often don't see what we're not looking to find. But this is a pattern of disorganized and undisciplined behavior from this kid, and I'm more than a little over it. I was very kind and compassionate when I spoke to him after class, but I told him he really should withdraw. (And he really should.) He finally agreed that doing so would probably be in his best interest--but he wants to see his grade on his second essay before he does. Dammit. That means I have to grade the fucking thing. Ah well.

I've also been stewing all weekend about a student from the T/Th 101. I think I mentioned her last week: the last time she came to class, I gave her a withdrawal slip--but I realize she probably thinks I "dropped" her from the class, which, in fact, I cannot do. (And I will only bitch about that by saying I could bitch about that.) I've sent her an email about it, but of course she's the kind of student who doesn't check email. So I'll call her tomorrow; I hope I can reach her. If not, well, I've tried all I can try. At some point, the responsibility for the outcome really does rest with the student.

But sometimes it is my responsibility. One of the students in class today asked if I still had a lot of work. Yes, I said, I do. He said, "Like, a lot." I again said that he is correct, and I said, "I'm drowning." He said, "Take your time"--which clearly is just him being nice, as he obviously wants the stuff back. And he's right: I've had it a ridiculously long time. So the plan at the moment is for me to come in earlier than usual tomorrow to see how much I can crank through before class and Advisement. There was a lull in Advisement today, when I first got there, and of course I hadn't brought any work with me, anticipating a constant influx of students. So I walked back to the office to grab stuff to mark--and, again of course--shortly after I got back, the influx began, so I didn't get anything marked. I know I can't count on such a lull tomorrow, but this time, I will take work with me, just in case.

Shifting gears, but when I got back to the office after today's 101, I copied the revised schedule for the final two weeks and the revised assignment handout. I have sorted those into the appropriate folders, and I have put all the student work I have collected into the proper stacks. I quickly made corrections to the P&B minutes for last week (I'll probably write up this week's on Thursday, as usual). And now, I am catastrophically tired. I am heading home, hoping for enough sleep that I can do that early morning start. I haven't been terribly successful with that plan so far this semester, but hope springs eternal.

And with that, my cherished readers, I am off. I'm also leaving.