Conversation over cards
Today the jr/sr high school softball game was canceled due to lack of participation so we (the 9 of us willing to stay) played cards and ate instead. It was interesting to have some small talk with the people I will soon be working with including my principal.
One part of the conversation went like this:
Principal: So, um, Meredith, have you ever thought about ...... coaching Science Olympiad?
Me: I'm very much interested but with no experience, I don't know if I should be the lead or an assistant with it.
P: Well, that is exactly what Jennifer (chemistry teacher) said. Could you two possible share it?
Me: I can talk to her about it.
Former Chemistry Teacher Now Math Teacher: Science Olympiad isn't hard. The state tells you what to do. You just have to get the kids involved and keep them involved. A few schools even do Science Olympiad as a class to help encourage their teams along.
Me: So when I have to create a class, I could just be "creating" Science Olympiad.
P: Which reminds me, you are not creating a class.
Me: So what am I teaching for that hour?
P: Another Biology section and we are just lowering your numbers in your other classes.
Me: Oh that works out nicely.
So in the period of a 30 minutes I went from first year teacher creating a new class to First year teacher creating a new class and coaching to First year teacher coaching.
I also found numerous copies of an older (only 5 years older) Biology textbook that isn't a complete piece of crap. As long as my department head is ok with me teaching from it and there actually is enough copies, I think this year got remarkably easier today.
One part of the conversation went like this:
Principal: So, um, Meredith, have you ever thought about ...... coaching Science Olympiad?
Me: I'm very much interested but with no experience, I don't know if I should be the lead or an assistant with it.
P: Well, that is exactly what Jennifer (chemistry teacher) said. Could you two possible share it?
Me: I can talk to her about it.
Former Chemistry Teacher Now Math Teacher: Science Olympiad isn't hard. The state tells you what to do. You just have to get the kids involved and keep them involved. A few schools even do Science Olympiad as a class to help encourage their teams along.
Me: So when I have to create a class, I could just be "creating" Science Olympiad.
P: Which reminds me, you are not creating a class.
Me: So what am I teaching for that hour?
P: Another Biology section and we are just lowering your numbers in your other classes.
Me: Oh that works out nicely.
So in the period of a 30 minutes I went from first year teacher creating a new class to First year teacher creating a new class and coaching to First year teacher coaching.
I also found numerous copies of an older (only 5 years older) Biology textbook that isn't a complete piece of crap. As long as my department head is ok with me teaching from it and there actually is enough copies, I think this year got remarkably easier today.