Spring time and the living is fast

There are some long, hard, busy days at school right now. It’s just that time of the year when so much has to get done as we head quickly for the finish line.  I’ve been working with my seniors on their portfolios and business plans.  The multimedia kids are working on their second video and we will start their portfolios this week, too.  Portfolio Day is a big deal in our department.  It will be here at the end of April.

The yearbook class?  Eh, making me crazy.  The majority are sitting around like we have another year to finish this book.  All we really should have left is spring sports, but even I did  a spread today so we could get those nonsports pages to the printer.  A couple of the kids are scrambling after me, not wanting my wrath to overflow onto them.  Book and ad sales were so bad this year that I can’t make the payment for the book.  Maybe the government will give me a bailout.  After 115 years I would think we are too old and important to let die.  (Ha, ha, it is to laugh).

Tonight I was able to come home and fix a lovely dinner and enjoy it with my very wonderful husband who helps take care of me around here.  What a pleasure to spend some time around the table, just the two of us, having a really tasty meal with no distractions.  Tomorrow I go back to the lion’s den.

It’s final time

This week is much more relaxed for me because I only have to check what my kids have done, I don’t have to teach anything new.  Today begins presentations in my marketing and multimedia classes.  The seniors will present their business plans, using PowerPoint, to a small panel, including me.  One of my outstanding students has come home and will sit in and give his opinions of their work.  This young man has just lost his job as a head buyer at Mervyn’s so he brings with him a whole repertoire of information about running a business. 

This afternoon the multimedia students begin presenting their websites.  These are very small, only 4 pages, and are about themselves.  It will be a chance for the others in the class to see what everyone else is doing.  They have been so intent on their own website that they are oblivious to what others are doing.  A few have done some good work that I want to show off.

Seeking help

This semester I am teaching multimedia for the first time.  I have two sections, one right after the other.  I learn from the first section and do a better job with the second.  So far, I have taught the class about target markets, fonts, layout in PageMaker (that’s what is on the computers although I use InDesign CS2 in yearbook class) and PhotoShop.  

I am definitely not the expert on PhotoShop or design of layouts and fonts so I am on the lookout for any help I can get.  Today I found a great website that sells fonts.  It’s quite fascinating to look at all the fonts out there, and I gather more are being designed as I write.  I plan to show the students some of these on Monday to inspire them to perhaps design their own font.