- On the up side, economies of scale have kicked in pretty fast teaching three sections of Algebra versus two. Energy seems an even trade – 50% more classes depletes me an extra 50% – but it costs me nothing to run my slidedecks again or to print out an extra 25 handouts. That’s nice.
- On the down side, the fact that I’m here at this dumb coffee shop and have been every day so far, makes me feel like I violated the terms of a contract I made with myself last year.
- Even farther down the side, I can’t seem to plan an hour to save my life. Which is to say, I’ve underplanned every day this week, which would be inexcusable if not for the fact that …
- … I’m staying a day or two ahead of myself this year (big assist from slides I made last year). I just click past the next day’s opener, pick up with the next notes, and no one’s the wiser except you, me, and the Internet here.
2 Comments
Carolyn Foote
August 29, 2007 - 5:51 pm -Hang in there. Every year is different and it is always an adjustment the first few days.
We’ve switched from 7 periods to 8, and I feel like I’ve lost my bearings, just with that extra class period, and I’m not even in the classroom.
Today I didn’t manage to save a lunch period for myself, for example!
Anyway, some years it takes a bit to get our bearings. I think it’s important(and I plan to do this in the next few days) to slow down and regain your bearings and re-set your intentions, so that things aren’t running you, but you feel like you have some structure for yourself.
Hope that makes some sense, as I am tired! Long day…
ken
August 29, 2007 - 6:52 pm -Change is uncomfortable. Someone told me that once.
Consider this:
I have been a classroom teacher for a dozen years and now I am working as a full-time instructional specialist.
I had “my own classroom”, like Andy Dufresne’s ‘one-room Hilton’ in Shawshank, and now I am homeless.
I am Wanderer2.0.
So, take deep, cleansing breaths and maybe read something by Willa Cather.
And besides, not many people can claim to be 2 days ahead of themselves. You’re in Jonathan Edwards territory.