Each day in my career I think "I should take a picture of that..." (and sometimes I do - like when I got asked to Homecoming by a 17 year-old - I posted on Facebook, it kinda made my day, isn't that so sad?) So I decided I will do it. I will show an image that strikes me as the epitomy of my day as a teacher in the trenches. In case there's anyone out there that wonders what a high school teacher actually DOES besides babysit people whose age ends in "teen". I will write about it. Disclaimer: teaching is NOT my passion. But I must say I do quite enjoy it this year, most of the time. But... it is October. Hardest month for teachers. No breaks ahead for quite a while. Haven't had a break since summer. The students are not trying to impress you anymore. Hell, they aren't really trying AT ALL anymore in some cases. The grading has piled up. Everyone is antsy. It's October.
Whenever I meet someone new and tell them I teach high school, I usually get one of two reactions. The most common response is a wide-eyed, "You are so brave...". The other is a sort of sorrowful wince, as if to say (and sometimes they do) "Ooh, I'm so sorry." So clearly there are some misconceptions out there about volunteering one's days to educate and shape these young hormonal minds.
But I am also another kind of teacher. A SUBSTITUTE teacher. I teach 3 classes everyday at one school (stay tuned for more on why this is later, if you don't already know) and then I trot off to another school to teach anything from Kindergarten (Hardest.Teaching. Job. ON THE PLANET! Hats off to you Kinder teachers!) to continuation high school seniors. Now, if I am going to be called "brave" for anything, it would most definitely have to be that. Each day I never know what to expect. This is what leads me to my picture today. Granted it is not that exciting of a picture. But it is what it is.
I arrived at the middle school and to my pleasant surprise, found I had an hour of "prep" time before the students actually came in. So, do you see where it says "Please be firm as this can be a challenging class"? In other words, she has just warned me that they are going to be complete butt-heads. Always a joy. And.... they were.
Also, do you see where it says, "Please give students an example of each word..." Well, that sounds easy, right? Ummmm, ya... I totally couldn't think of an example for a couple of them. They were words that you can only use that word to describe that word. You feel me? It was kinda hard. I am sooooo not an English teacher. But I did get told I was the coolest substitute EVER. That's a lot coming from an 8th grader. :)
It is definitely October. I remember last year at this time having a complete meltdown in my Vice Principal's office. Like the "ugly cry" was going on. #Embarassing. At the beginning of last year I was teaching totally different subjects at another school. Then one day 3 weeks into the new school year, the Principal and a VP came into my room and I basically was plucked out of that school and sent to my current school to teach 2 completely new subjects. Total culture shock. I was numb from the day that happened, until about, oh... OCTOBER. It was very tough. But this year is better, and I can't wait to share some things about it! :)
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