Some of you may have noticed three horrors the past month or so: 1) I'm not updating on a regular schedule, and instead posts are going up all willy-nilly; 2) I'm not responding to comments in a timely fashion - or at all in some cases; and 3) I'm not commenting on your blog posts often. I must apologize - at least for the second and third.
As always, life drops giant unexpected surprises into your lap. My job tends to dramatically reduce my reading and blogging time, primarily because as a composition instructor, I spend hours and hours every week reading and grading student papers; and as a literature professor, I spend hours and hours (re)reading books and plays and of course grading student papers; and as a film professor, I spend hours and hours (re)watching films and of course grading student papers. See the problem here is definitely the student papers. With 125 students writing papers which are on average 6 pages long and doing so five or six times a semester, it's roughly 4000 pages of reading, commenting, and assigning value. I should definitely add that in to my yearly page count.....
This semester, I have one extra class to teach, a composition class, and I've agreed to co-chair the Retention Committee. I also work on formal assessments for a developmental writing course - that's even more papers to read - and I'm trying to formulate a plan to address key issues in developmental instruction at the college as well.
Now that I've totally bored you with my job, back to the apology. I am definitely still reading your comments, so please don't think they aren't appreciated just because I haven't been responding to them! As for your blog posts, I am most definitely reading them even if I'm not responding. For some of you, there probably has been no change, as I am a horrible lurker 75% of the time anyway. I even joked at BEA/BBC that I was going to start posting He-eyy on every post I read just so the blogger would know I was there.
So for now, here is my "I-swear-I'm-still-reading-your-blogs"
HEY-EYY
lol I almost never comment on the blog posts I read, only if I have something specific to say. I do like the idea of saying just hey though!
ReplyDeleteHello there! Just popping by to say that I love your blog, and that I've given it an award!
ReplyDeleteTake a peek, and thanks for blogging:
http://subtlemelodrama.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-say-shotgun-you-say-wedding.html
Bethany x
Don't feel bad--I have been pretty absent this week and I feel like it is only going to continue as I recently got a second job. I feel bad when I don't get to blog as often as I'd like, but life gets in the way I suppose!
ReplyDeleteTrisha, I feel your pain...I just received 4 sets of new essays Thursday and Friday myself...it can be daunting for sure. I have colleagues who can just mechanically grade till they are done. I think too much, make suggestions, write comments, etc. and offer revisions to my students...Oy.
ReplyDeleteIs that the Fonzie Hey-ayyyy? Please don't worry girlie. I don't sweat that small crap. All that reading would put me out too. I review medical records on the computer almost all day, so when I come home at night, there's no way I'm reading AND commenting. Lurking is an art form, I say. Hang in there and talk to you later.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are busy! Teaching so many different classes would really make it tough.
ReplyDeleteYour 3 blogging horrors sound like my, uh, blogging normal. I just probably don't have as good a set of excuses. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSometimes you just have to believe the elusive Megan is out there even when she is not showing her face on her blogs or the blogs of others. I changed to a job that demands much more sitting at a computer, and now, despite my love for blogs and blogging, the last thing I want to do on a weeknight is sit back down in a desk chair and gaze at the glowing screen, much less hammer out a post or one of these freakishly long comments I prefer leaving.
Anyway, I try not to worry about it too much and advise you to do the same. ;-D
Everyone has times like that ... I'm not envious of you at all. I can't imagine after all of that you even want to read or write at all.
ReplyDeleteHeyy-eyy! We've all been there, in one way or another. (Still, that amount of papers to read and grade IS kinda daunting. I have no idea how you have time to do anything else, much less read books and ramblings on our blogs.)
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm speaking for myself, but I don't think many of us are going anywhere, so no worries. :)
That is completely understandable. I am the same lately and I cannot really help it, but I still feel a little bad about it because I'd love to be able to respond to other bloggers more.
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty as charged of 1), 2) and 3) as well, so you have my complete understanding! But you would even if I weren't, of course. I've come to realise that if I want blogging to continue to be a part of my life (which I VERY MUCH do, of course), then I'm going to have to approach it in a more hectic and less regular way. I do feel guilty about it, but hey, it's better than nothing, right?
ReplyDeleteWow!! All of that reading must be tough. You have a better excuse than I do. I am guilty of all three and sometimes I think I lack the discipline needed for successful blogging. Oh well I will keep at it.
ReplyDeleteWe understand Trish; many of us have lives that put blogging and sometimes reading on the back burner. I've felt that way lately. Take Care
ReplyDeleteNo feeling bad allowed. Sounds like you are super busy! I hope you are having fun :)
ReplyDeleteI only have 25 students writing weekly papers and it, along with other things, knocks the wind out of my sails. I haven't managed much reading lately. I don't know how professors, and other classroom teachers, manage it all.
ReplyDeleteWe know you're here! We completely understand and love you to bits even if your posting is more sporatic. :)
ReplyDeleteI check in on blogs but do not always comment, I also only reply to a comment on my blog if it makes sense to do so. Don't feel bad! You are very busy and I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone should post "He-eyy" (or the variation of his or her choice) on every post they read. What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI know I certainly understand super-busyness. It's fun to know what it is that keeps you busy when you're not blogging. After reading your post, all I can say is holy cow! That's a lot of pages. Maybe you could start reviewing student papers (anonymously, of course) on eclectic / eccentric... :-)
Funny - I just wrote an apology on my own blog! Good luck with work! Hang in there, and don't worry about us :) We still love you!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is I think that stack in the photo may be smaller than what you actually have to read. Take it easy, lady!
ReplyDeleteOh my! It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate right now! I hope that things aren't too stressful for you and that you are able to get at least a little relaxing and good reading in there!
ReplyDeleteHeyyyy back atcha. I think we can all totally relate!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! That is quite a load of reading; you've definitely got your hands full. What great classes to be teaching, though.
ReplyDeleteHeyy- eyyy!!!! You are one busy chick! I had no idea you did all that and oh you can bet I would be adding a page count line for all that bonus reading you do :)
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ReplyDeleteDude, you just convinced me to continue teaching middle school. Hahahaha.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on everything!
ReplyDeleteI need to get away from this country, the people, the weather! I need to see if its where I am in life thats making me be like this....
ReplyDeleteI once (way back long long ago) told a professor that if she would assign fewer page/word counts then it wouldn't take her as long to grade papers and I was doing her a favor for suggesting it. I think I got a dirty look.
ReplyDeleteYIPPEE for awesome educators!!!! Hey-eyy
I feel your pain! As a daughter of two educators, I saw how much work they had to do at home grading all of those assignments. I always suggested that they assign less work because it meant less grading, but they never listened to me. Good luck with all those papers!
ReplyDeleteOh Trisha--I can't even imagine. As a grad school student I graded composition papers each semester--for my last semester I had two classes in addition to the grading. I can't fathm teaching all those classes and grading and researching. Hope things smooth out for you a bit, but we all know you're still here or there or wherever. ;)
ReplyDeleteHey :)
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