Teaching, Take 4
One of the best things about teaching, besides summers off, getting out early, snow days, and, you know, dealing with students, is the fact that every year holds the possibility of something new and something different. Basically I get a do-over every year. For example, last year I had a truly horrendous class (and I don’t mind saying so). It was the type of class that makes you consider quitting and doing something completely different…not dealing with teenagers ever again. This year I don’t have that type of class. Maybe there’s some sort of teacher karma…if you can survive certain classes you are rewarded with better ones the next year.
While I was in the shower this glorious Monday-of-a-long-weekend I was thinking about all the different ideas I had coming into this school year and how many I continue at this point. The sad answer is: not very many. You see, I had just finished an education grad school program this summer and was full of great ideas that would help my students and make class more interesting. Then, slowly, they fall off until I’m back to teaching the way I did the first year. Granted, I’m a better teacher now than I was back then, but all the other bells and whistles are hard to maintain. It comes down to planning and preparation. In the beginning of the year, September and October, I used my time wisely, spending free periods making power point presentations and reading guides, redoing old quizzes, and thinking of new ways to present the same old material. Then I get into a rut just like any other student and teacher. The beginning of November is the end of the 1st quarter, which presents a grading crunch, and then the countdown to Thanksgiving. Then the countdown to winter break. I get tired – worn out from teaching – and spend my free period relaxing for once. I get behind in grading. At some point, to save time, it’s easier to use the old tests and old lesson plans. No prep! While this doesn’t particularly help my students, it’s good enough, and it allows me the mental break necessary to keep teaching with energy and excitement.
My friends were feeling bad for me last week as we were out for happy hour on a Thursday. How do I go out on a Thursday and then have to teach on Friday? They would just close the door to their offices and do as little as possible until lunch time. I don’t have that luxury. I can’t tell 30 teenagers to leave me alone for a while. It wouldn’t work. For teachers who care, teaching is hard!
The great thing about teaching is that I can go into next year with my fresh ideas and start to implement them all over again. The good news is that all the stuff for the first 3 months is done already! Maybe next year I can work on the 2nd quarter. Maybe by my 6th year teaching I’ll have all the power points done, all the worksheets made, all the interesting topics tied-in to the class. Maybe then it’ll be easier, because I’ll be one of those teachers who can go into the school year with the entire year mapped out, with no prep needed. Or maybe I’ll still be in the shower in 2012 thinking about all the great ideas I haven’t yet gotten to use. Maybe I’ll still be writing on this blog.
Music: Rilo Kiley “The Absence of God” off of More Adventurous.
