I'm laying low this weekend after a tough week on the teaching front.
We have new email systems and grading programs, inferior and requiring more time and effort than our old systems. Furthermore, teachers are required to use a new system for formatting lessons. I've taken on an extra class and I have 50 more students than I had last year. There are 45 students junior English class. There isn't enough oxygen in that poorly ventilated classroom for 45 adult sized students. I once had a class with 50 students but I was 20 years younger. I know, whah, whah, whah, plenty of people work hard, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to figure out a way to streamline things. This became apparent Thursday afternoon when, totally engrossed in trying to remember why I left the my classroom, I walked into the corner of a door, leaving me with a massive headache all day Friday.
No flash reads this weekend. We'll get 'em next week. I've been invited to give a reading for a Rio Salado Freshman English on November 23. And then there is the October 6th Beer and Cheese Whiz Eight-Fingered Criminal's Son Event at The Book Frog in Rolling Hills, California. A few folks who inspired characters in the book will be on hand to take part in the festivities. Should be a real hoot.
Oh, something interesting happened at school this week. A couple of kids were caught drinking battery acid in one of the science labs. Authorities say they'll be charged later.
.
2 comments:
ok....you're scaring me. I'm beginning to think this mid-life career change might be harder than I thought! Oh well....too late....I start student teaching at Hamilton next week....
Been there, done that. After I moved to Florida from New Hampshire, I gave up teaching full-time at college. I kept a few online classes, because freelance writers can use a little extra income.
After two years, I got itchy to get back into the classroom, so I took a position at the local high school. I am not as good at dodging left hooks as I was twenty years ago. I put in five years and now I am enjoying the freedom of writing once again, without the bureaucracy.
The real shame is that I loved the kids and was very successful. I do have a suggestion for the powers that be - let teachers teach.
Post a Comment