Reading Frenzy

Because of school, I've become a reading fiend, grabbing this and that from my shelves until I felt I could teach those same books to the students. This week is the start of much "easier" times when it comes to teaching three of my classes. We're reading novels, so it's just a matter of keeping them motivated and puncuating the lessons here and there with other topics.

This is the kind of stuff I really like to teach, the things that keep kids interested and put the education ball in their court. Of course, it takes some scaffolding to get them to this point, getting them to read smaller works and giving them time to work in groups as practice for continual group work for the next 1.5 months. So far, so good, though I'm afraid I'm not doing 1984 justice. I want the kids to work independently, but I also want them to pick up on the subtleties...but that means I need to nudge them that way. It's tricky, and I'm not an expert with balancing those skills yet. I suppose it's just a matter of guess, test, and revise for next year.

If there is a next year. God and every other higher power knows that I need to be at this school another year so I can boost my resume. Aside from that, I think I actually WANT to be at this school another year. Sure, it has its faults such as some ethnic tension and lack of extracurricular activities, but it's a school where I can grow. The admin seems very supportive of that and they give me many opportunities to take on responsibility and almost leadership. It's such a vast contrast to my last school, where I was the least senior member of my team and therefore was most often just nodding my head to whatever tune my older colleagues were humming.

I like my students too. They challenge me every day. Just when I think I've got it all together, they bring in new ideas for lessons or teaching strategies by the way they respond. For example, one student voiced a concern that we weren't writing enough in class. I thought, wait, that's not true. But when I looked back at the first quarter, I realized we only had one major assignment. My other classes have had more, but this one has been wrapped up in literature, and I really haven't given them a chance to put a voice to their responses and give them room to write their own ideas. That's something major I have to work on with them, and I had best do it soon.

Other than teaching, my life hasn't been too thrilling lately. Thanksgiving was a wonderful holiday, but nothing like real life. I almost miss my family after spending so much time with them. Then I remember what they're like during the week days, and I recall why I'm here and they're there. Naturally, I love them and can't wait to see them again. My parents can be so sweet. And I never see enough of my brothers, sisters-in-law, or my little nephews and niece. Honestly, she's so adorable it makes me wretch a lot less at the idea of having children someday. Stupid beautiful big eyes and drooly smile :P

It was great seeing friends too, although again, it brought to mind that which is lacking (see previous post). And I have a renewed sense of the awesomeness of Scattegories. We brought it back with us. Anyone up for a game?