Another Sunday night. I wonder what this week will bring? Will students implode? Will parents flip out? Will the kids be so jazzed by the aspect of a four-day weekend that little real work will take place? Will I lose my patience? Will I get H1N1?

This will be the first time in six years that I am not actively sitting in parent/teacher conferences. I will try to help everyone move smoothly through their rotations, and I may have some shortish conferences for a few standout cases, but I am not sitting in the typical English teacher spot, talking to parents about their children's writing and reading and homework. Wow, that is actually kind of a big deal. I wonder if I will miss it, or if it will be a relief?

The antibacterial soap at school hurts my finger tips.