* Passed the anatomy test, find out score in the AM when I go to class.* Still haven't started grades (eek)* got in one practice massage this evening after training will get one, possibly two documented massages done on Sunday, hoping for three, need five.* finished take-home exam, need to proofread, think I can do that in the AM if I get to class early the rest of the list still applies...  coulda maybe got some of it done yesterday, but I was so tired I fell asleep on the sofa next to George, woke up at 8 and went to bed, slept right through to 7 this morning. Which means I have to cram more of it into the weekend, see y'all in a few days.  ++++++++ And might I just add, sometimes when I go leave school on Fridays, not always, but sometimes, I think: "some of it went in."  Dunno if I can take credit for much of it, but here's what I saw this week: * Little J in kindergarten looked less like a pre-schooler this week, maintained focus for longer stretches  * 5th grader B did something gracious instead of his usual sarcastic thing, giving up a recess he really wanted so his group could finish their composition.  "you're a good man," I said.  Another voice "he's not a man."  Third voice "some day he'll be a man."  and what I WISH I had said after all that "well, just now he behaved like one, in the best sense of the word." * 4th graders M (a boy) and J (a girl), who are in different classes, both PERSISTED in the face of their frustration (playing the recorder) and made observable progress that THEY felt good about.  * 5th grade is taking the Greek folk dance we're learning a little more thoughtfully and starting to look pretty good at it.  5th grade girl was trying to talk to me while we were dancing.  I can't do both at the same time, good thing I wasn't chewing gum.  "Don't talk to me right now, C," I told her, "I'm dancing."  Later she said she thought that was a good Mr. H-M quote: "Can't tallk - dancing." * 5th grader D (standing next to me in the circle) was frustrated with the boy next to her who wasn't getting it, called him a "retard."  In my quiet but firm voice I explained how people near and dear to me have disabilities that are described with the term "retarded" and that I found it personally offensive to hear children use that word to insult each other.  "Please don't say that again in my presence."  The room was very quiet, and D was especially still.  I think she heard me.  You know, as in "let him who has ears to hear" sense. * Student teacher is really starting to get it about kindergarten... and continues to make astute observations about childhood * 5th grade boy, C, as class is settling in and we're about to start: "Mr. H-M has an inner child.  You can see it in his eyes."  Me: "that's why I work in an elementary school."  * 3rd graders doing the troika.  With smiles on their faces. * 4th grade boys, C and B, in the same class, were the role models for a change today... making a genuine effort to clean up their act.  Both of them can be so hard at times, I felt like I was actually teaching them today.  It's been a good week.