Now I have a week to think about what I did and how I can make it better.
Success?
Maybe.
Failure?
Sure.
I mean I knew I was going to make mistakes going in, I just tried to make sure none of those mistakes were game changers, if you will.
Luckily, I had a ton of help from the teachers I work with on curriculum.
Unfortunately, they aren't with me in the classroom and managing a class is most of the real work.
So how did I do?
I suppose my successes and failures are all in the numbers:
Which as expected are in a sort of bell curve.
Okay, not really.
My results are top heavy which I suppose is good thing as opposed to being bottom heavy.
We, the teachers I mean, are supposed to be thinking of the two Rs, relevance and rigor, and our curriculum is to reflect the two.
Let's face it though, this is art and not rocket science.
On the other hand, it's not supposed to be a walk in the park.
Anyways, there's still a lot to learn and a lot to do.
I have to find time for more individual conferences and I have to set some time aside to make calls to home.
I have been blessed by five classes with mostly good kids, but there are the ones that are trying hard to fail.
I admit though that most of this quarter has been a bit of a whirlwind, implementing the lessons and navigating my way through all the paper work.
I can see where I need to work on some things, things that I can no longer set aside for later.
I try to manage my class time well, but I need to do better.
So is it what I expected?
Yes and no.
The good part is that I really enjoy showing up for work. Everyday is different, new challenges and problems and rewards.
Lemme tell you, that makes a difference when you wake up in the morning.
On the other hand, there's like tons of paper work and meetings and other non teaching stuff to take care of. I'm not complaining mind you as that's all part of the job, but they do get in the way of the primary mission.
If you know what I mean.
I gotta say though, it's a bit different doing something where making money is not the bottom line. I mean in a way you are producing a product, but you don't always have control over the product you produce.
You can lead the goat to the grass, but that doesn't always mean it will eat it.
The grass I mean.
No matter how great a shepherd you are, not all the herd is going to follow and you will get some strays. I suppose it's how you deal with them strays is what matters.
Anyways, I got a week off now to think about the next quarter.
Which will probably go by faster than I'd like.
So many kids, so little time.
Or something like that.
