Then I might cast you a spell, look at what came in the mail.

[lithiumlaughter]

TITLE: Too Low To Dig
FANDOM: Avengers 919
CHARACTERS: Nikolai "Atrax" Romanoff,  Colleen "Hawkeye" Barton, Brenda "Bee" Barnes
RATING: All Audiences
SUMMARY: When your past invites you for a cup of tea, do you answer?
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Why yes, it HAS been a while. Should probably have left a forwarding address -- I'm on tumblr under lithiumlaughter

Comments

[vikingprincess]

This is just such a beautiful, understated piece of multiple character studies!

[lithiumlaughter]

1) I do indeed live!

2) D'awwwwww! Thank you! This had been sitting around for a long time, I had a snow day and a flash of inspiration, and presto. I'm so glad you like it!

[vikingprincess]

1. YAY!

2. This was an excellent use of a snow day!

How have you been? How's school? Writing? LIFE? I really miss the people who fled to Tumblr, you and Katt most of all....

[lithiumlaughter]

I've been pretty decent, actually

[vikingprincess]

I'm so glad to hear that the requisite exams were hurdled without bad student behavior this time around - I remember how upsetting last year was! And lucky you, to have a TA every day - that just makes a world of difference in the classroom environment, because every child feels more as though she's getting the attention and help she needs

[lithiumlaughter]

My TA is great. She's only there for my English 9 and Socials 9 classes, but they're the ones that need it. She's fantastic for backup when it comes to behavioural issues; we have some students with behaviour based IEPs (Individualized Education Plans), and some kids that just need to learn to play nice with others in general. She's a godsend

[vikingprincess]

Honest to God, in our school, most of the kids on IEPs can't be told, behaviorally, from the kids who aren't. So, we probably all need aids! :) Things will change hugely next year, as the district will actually live up to their promise to let any kid with any set of needs from mild behavior IEPs to total immobilization go to any school (we have about 80,000 kids in our district). I think it'll be harder to serve them well, but maybe I'm overly pessimistic? (Maybe I know that one elevator in a building from the thirties that's six floors tall will have logistical issues?) Fingers crossed, though, for sure

[lithiumlaughter]

I don't blame you for the pessimism. A huge change like that warrants some worry, I think. Let's go for cautious optimism...though emphasis on the caution. Accessibility is a huge deal both in terms of the mind and the body (mental/physical disabilities/challenges, or whatever language you use; I've heard so many variations on the terminology it's ridiculous).

You can't see it, but I'm spinning around with glee. That is the sort of class I dream about taking, never mind *teaching*. I am jealous beyond words right now and just want to roll around in the knowledge that this is a course that exists and is being taught.

Standardized tests: arguably THE bane of teachers' existences. My sincere apologies; I know those feelings well.

I think I may have seen those maps, can't quite recall. I remain happy as ever for you and your farm! Your passion for it is beautiful, and I'm glad you're able to pursue that. Seriously.

[vikingprincess]

Our district is pretty awful about preparing for big changes. They just... start them, and then get mad when they don't work very well. No tools for online testing, but online testing is now required. That kind of thing.

I do love the Shakespeare class, but only when the people who actually signed up for it outnumber the ones who got shoved into it for no reason! That kind of class can be pure hell.

Thanks! We're putting up the barn this spring, one way or another... and we need to hurry up and get the house and water and power lines taken care of, before our ever-intelligent government changes the rules and banks no longer want to offer thirty-year mortgages....