Is it bad that I am already looking at grad school applications and I am barely keeping up with my teaching licensure class right now?

So far in contention are....

University of Texas at Austin

UC Berkeley

CUNY

Arizona State

Northwestern

I should be spending more time on "continuously increasing my effectiveness" as a teacher RIGHT NOW in DPS!! But instead my mind is wandering to the future.

Lots of stress from administration on us to get our kiddos prepared for the CSAP (standardized test in Colorado coming up in March). Historically, our school has done very poorly and we are in danger of being shut down if we don't do better this year. While I care about Noel's reputation and achievement, it is difficult for me to get my students invested in data and in difficult test questions. They don't see the importance of it, and quite honestly, to me the test seems tailored to students that are learning things that my students may never be able to comprehend. (not students that come from our demographics at Noel, and certainly not sped students) It is a battle but it is one that I feel I just have to succumb to and try my best to make other people happy, while the wrath of my students' frustration about the inaccessibility of this test gets taken out on me.. :(

Things that make me smile as of lately:

upcoming visits from friends from college and high school

a new paddle plant I have brought to liven up my classroom

my new car, Rosita and her CO license plates

my amazing friend Joanna Polacek

keeping myself healthy by:

trying yoga at 24 hour fitness

running on the treadmill (in the high altitude! hell yeah!)

considering myself a new vegetarian :)

only staying late at school 2 nights a week

talking to good friends on the phone at least one night a week

keeping it all in check,

C