I should be grading papers ... but I'm so far behind

It's Friday, and I'm exhausted. I've had a fairly productive day, up until about 11:15 or so. That's when I just lost steam. So, instead of grading papers or doing something else productive (cleaning lab), I've just been sitting at the desk, thinking about all the ways I could be productive, without actually being productive.

Classes have actually been going well. However, now that 4th quarter is upon us, I'm starting to freak out a bit. Yup, I haven't covered nearly enough material the past three quarters. So, now I'm trying to figure out how to get "caught-up", but without going to fast. About the only class that is actually on track is Earth Science, and I think I'm actually ahead of schedule.

So here's what we are presently studying in my classes, and what I still need to cover, in 9 weeks. (And because of track, Easter, and other activities, it's more like 7 1/2 weeks.)

Earth Science

• Currently studying

Chapter 9 - The Atmosphere.

• Still Need Cover

Chapter 10 - Weather
Astronomy

(So this isn't that bad. I think I can spend 6 weeks talking covering astronomy. I will probably need 2 weeks alone just to cover the planets.)

Chemistry

• Currently Studying

Chapter 13 - Molecular Structure (Which we finished today.)

• Still Need To Cover

Chapter 14 - Polar Molecules
Chapter 21 - Solutions
Chapter 24 - Acids, Bases, & Salts
Chapter 30 - Classes of Organic Compounds

(Not quite too bad. Although I probably won't have time to cover chapter 30, I should have enough time to get through acids and bases.)

Life Science

• Currently Studying

Chapter 11 - Simple Animals

• Still Need to Cover

Chapter 12 - Complex Invertebrates
Chapter 13 - Vertebrates
Chapter 14 - Heredity
Chapter 15 - Animal Behavior

(Well, I still have about 1/3 of simple animals to cover. Animal behavior will definitely not happen this year, unless I really rush through vertebrates.)

Physical Science

• Currently Studying

Chapter 11 - Chemical Bonds

• Still Need to Cover

Chapter 12 - Elements & Their Properties
Chapter 13 - Organic & Biological Compounds
Chapter 18 - Waves & Sound
Chapter 19 - Light
Chapter 20 - Mirrors & Lenses

(Well, it looks like I'm going to have to eliminate chapters 12 and 13 this year so that I have enough time to get through waves and light. I guess if there is enough time at the end of the year, I can go back to chapter 12. Perhaps I'll just assign a group of elements to a student and they will have to do a powerpoint on it. Only if there is time ...)

Biology

• Currently Studying

Chapter 30 - Arthropods

• Still Need to Cover

Chapter 31 - Chordates
Chapter 32 - Fish
Chapter 33 - Amphibians
Chapter 9 - Basis of Heredity
Chapter 10 - Chromosomes & Genes
Chapter 11 - Human Inheritance
Chapter 12 - Applications of Genetics

(Crap that looks like a lot to cover. Well, it looks like Fish are OUT. I'll have to cover Chordates in about a week. Then I'll cover Chapter 9 in detail. After that, I'll combine chapters 10, 11, and 12 into one. Hmmm... I guess that would be the condensed version.)

Advanced Biology

• Currently Studying

Chapter 15 - The Intestines and Other Digestive Organs

• Still Need to Cover

Chapter 20 - Blood
Fetal Pig Dissection

(Overall, not too bad of shape. Past years have showen that the pig dissection takes about 4 weeks to do properly. So, it looks like I'll have enough time.)