I'm in the middle of my Sunday night scramble and really started to miss this place. I really had great intentions to make this something useful and I've totally neglected it! But, I do have good reasons for doing so...

School is back in session. Well, it has been for awhile. Is this seriously October? Am I really going to have to start working on report cards next week? How does this happen? Life is flying by at such a ridiculous pace sometimes and it only seems to get faster. My mother warned me of this. 

Master Teacher Project. Phew. Three words that elicit both feelings of excitement and exhaustion all in the same breath. This is the little project/second job that has kept me from here (and another little site I try to update) since August. I've been wanting to write about it for awhile now, but that's never happened so here goes:

This summer, while in New York, I received an email from the Ohio Education Association about the National Education Association's partnership with BetterLesson.com to create a Common Core Curriculum. They were looking for 95 K-12 English Language Arts and Math educators who were interested in writing a year's worth of lessons that were aligned to the Common Core State Standards. I was immediately interested, but didn't immediately apply. For those who don't know me, I have a little problem with self doubt and really wasn't sure that my skills were enough to be accepted. So I forwarded the email to my husband and asked, "what do you think?"

He immediately responds, "You need to do this." Which started a volley of back and forth emails where I respond, "But, it's going to mean an entire year of basically a second job and.... and... and...." To which he finally replied, "Do it." Then comes a text from a friend asking if I had seen the email and telling me how I'd be perfect for the project.

So... I applied. And was interviewed. And accepted. School started 8/19, the project started officially on 8/26 and it's been non-stop ever since. In a really short and sweet way, here's what my "second job" entails: 

- a written lesson plan for each day I'm in school (including late arrivals, testing days, etc. oh.. and that week of school that happened before the project officially started)

- a video to accompany each said lesson

- a reflection to support each said lesson

- materials to support said lessons

- student work samples as evidence of learning in said lessons

- 5 "cornerstone" lessons that will be showcased on my site and more than half of which will be professionally videotaped

- revisions of said lessons until deemed "acceptable" 

- weekly virtual meetings with my coach

- bi-weekly meetings with my coach and team

- end result: a year's worth of Common Core curriculum that will be free to teachers across the country

So.... I'm a little busy. I'm coming to the end of my first "milestone" or basically the first quarter. This would be great news except that I'm still in catch up mode and am a little worried that I'm not going to meet my deadline. I have five lessons (with reflections, videos, and work) due by the end of today. The real problem is that I have ten due by this time next week. Just typing that made my stomach flip. OH and did I mention that it's OAA week this week! Ugh... kids and teachers alike hate this week!

I have to admit, I love the project and am excited to be part of it! I don't want to sound as if I feel otherwise. Just a little overwhelmed by the work - especially when added to an already full load of dealing with the beginning of a school year. 

So, unfortunately this little blog will probably be neglected for awhile. I'll check in from time to time and give you updates. Until then, be on the lookout for fabulous, free resources from other Master Teachers on the BetterLesson site.