The life of a teacher
If would like the opportunity to say goodbye to life as you know it, pursue a career as a teacher. Everyone always said to me that your first year of teacher is hell - it was never that I did not believe them, but I suppose I saw it different from what I am experiencing now. And I do not mean to complain (that isn't what I am trying to do here) but there are days when I come home utterly exhausted and want to fall into bed, but a pile of marking, or planning, or something stares up at me. There are times when I feel as though everyone is asking too much of me, and I have a terrible habit of being unable to say no, enough is enough.
And then there are the times when one of my sections averages 89% on a unit test, and I realize they truly understood the material. Or when I ask them to critique the novel, they say it was the best book they have ever read. I feel as though I have imparted that knowledge and passion upon them, and helped to shape their understanding. I started a new unit with my grade 11s on Friday (Death of a Salesman) and in giving them background information on Arthur Miller, I mentioned that he had been married to Marilyn Monroe. Since I am fascinated by the famous blonde, I gave them extra information on her - and the kids were, in turn, fascinated with her background story. Small instances such as that make me love my job.
Parent-teacher interviews are this week - Thursday evening and all-day on Friday. To be honest, I get nervous just thinking about sitting across from irate parents who are angry their child is doing poorly. Confrontation makes me anxious.
So, in news pertaining to the rest of my life, I have adjusted to living in Toronto well. It still feels as though we are only visiting. I am looking forward to the city in the winter... we went to the Yonge-Bloor reference library today to work (marking Gatsby essays for me, while Jordan is participating in NaNoWriMo) and although fall weather is lovely, I could imagine how pretty the city would be under a blanket of snow. Snow also means that it is much closer to my birthday! All 6 of my classes write their exam the day before my birthday - so my birthday weekend will not be as exhilarating as hoped.
Last Tuesday was a day full of mixed emotions. Early in the day, my department head gave me the word that the proposal I submitted a few weeks prior had been accepted. Every year the schools offers an ETS4U course, grade 12 Studies in Literature (English). The subject matter and teacher changes annually, and there was a call to the English teachers to put in proposals if they were interested in teaching the course for next year. You had to indicate what you would teach, the texts, mark breakdowns, etc. I developed a course around Drama of the 20th Century (not the sexiest title, I know) and they chose it to be offered next year. Since I teach two sections of grade 11 English, and I have a special fondness for them, I have been recruiting them for my course. For a new teacher, not only to the school but to the profession, this was a major accomplishment, in my opinion!
Then, later that day, I was on my way home when the car in front of me hit a pedestrian. They ran right in front of the car (we had the green light), was knocked out of his shoes and was airborne the length of a bus. With first aid training, I thought I would be of assistance, but luckily the ambulance was there within a minute, however it did not look to me like he would make it. Such a bizarre event to witness, but what bothered me was that I had just changed lanes moments before the car hit the pedestrian. I could have easily gotten in front of the car, but decided to slow and just pull in behind him. Seriously, the car's entire front window was smashed in. I was on my way to another school in Midtown, near our house, for the first night of X-Play for the Improv Team - needless to say I did not make it, because I ended up having to stay at the scene of the accident for almost 3 hours to give my statement.
My apologies if my life revolves around school but, to be honest, as a first-year teacher I really do not have much else! :)
And then there are the times when one of my sections averages 89% on a unit test, and I realize they truly understood the material. Or when I ask them to critique the novel, they say it was the best book they have ever read. I feel as though I have imparted that knowledge and passion upon them, and helped to shape their understanding. I started a new unit with my grade 11s on Friday (Death of a Salesman) and in giving them background information on Arthur Miller, I mentioned that he had been married to Marilyn Monroe. Since I am fascinated by the famous blonde, I gave them extra information on her - and the kids were, in turn, fascinated with her background story. Small instances such as that make me love my job.
Parent-teacher interviews are this week - Thursday evening and all-day on Friday. To be honest, I get nervous just thinking about sitting across from irate parents who are angry their child is doing poorly. Confrontation makes me anxious.
So, in news pertaining to the rest of my life, I have adjusted to living in Toronto well. It still feels as though we are only visiting. I am looking forward to the city in the winter... we went to the Yonge-Bloor reference library today to work (marking Gatsby essays for me, while Jordan is participating in NaNoWriMo) and although fall weather is lovely, I could imagine how pretty the city would be under a blanket of snow. Snow also means that it is much closer to my birthday! All 6 of my classes write their exam the day before my birthday - so my birthday weekend will not be as exhilarating as hoped.
Last Tuesday was a day full of mixed emotions. Early in the day, my department head gave me the word that the proposal I submitted a few weeks prior had been accepted. Every year the schools offers an ETS4U course, grade 12 Studies in Literature (English). The subject matter and teacher changes annually, and there was a call to the English teachers to put in proposals if they were interested in teaching the course for next year. You had to indicate what you would teach, the texts, mark breakdowns, etc. I developed a course around Drama of the 20th Century (not the sexiest title, I know) and they chose it to be offered next year. Since I teach two sections of grade 11 English, and I have a special fondness for them, I have been recruiting them for my course. For a new teacher, not only to the school but to the profession, this was a major accomplishment, in my opinion!
Then, later that day, I was on my way home when the car in front of me hit a pedestrian. They ran right in front of the car (we had the green light), was knocked out of his shoes and was airborne the length of a bus. With first aid training, I thought I would be of assistance, but luckily the ambulance was there within a minute, however it did not look to me like he would make it. Such a bizarre event to witness, but what bothered me was that I had just changed lanes moments before the car hit the pedestrian. I could have easily gotten in front of the car, but decided to slow and just pull in behind him. Seriously, the car's entire front window was smashed in. I was on my way to another school in Midtown, near our house, for the first night of X-Play for the Improv Team - needless to say I did not make it, because I ended up having to stay at the scene of the accident for almost 3 hours to give my statement.
My apologies if my life revolves around school but, to be honest, as a first-year teacher I really do not have much else! :)