School:
It's great to be teaching. Wednesday and Thursday were spent doing more observations and trying to figure out my schedule. Here's what it looks like I'll be doing:
1st Period - 12 grade Brit Lit.
2nd Period - 12 grade Brit Lit.
3rd Period - sit in on Jill's AP Brit. Lit.
4th-5th Period - planning periods
6th Period - resource room
7th Period - 12 grade Brit Lit.
So, I'll be doing one lesson prep a week (how nice!). The resource room is for the middle school and consists of ESL (English as a Second Language) or LD (Learning Disability) students who need additional help. I'll be helping them with their hw or specific things assigned by their teachers. My goal will be to help them understand their assignments, work through their LD, or help them understand English better.
On Friday I taught a 20 min segment on the Shakespearean and Petrarchan Sonnet Forms. It was great to actually teach! Going into school that day I was not looking forward to it. It didn't seem something "fun" to do. By the time I had completed my 3rd time in 7th period, I was having a blast. By only observing this week, I haven't had any connection with the students. They are used to seeing me now and expect me to be sitting at Jill's desk, but after the first day, I've just become an object in the room to them. By teaching this little section, calling on their names (I've memorized most of them - thanks for the prayers), and showing them some of my personality, I felt much more connection. This is the primary reason, I believe, for why I felt so much more excited at the end of the day. I like to teach English content, but it's relating to the students that really excites me. Making connections with them, seeing them respond to me, and investing in them is more meaningful than any number of books I could read. However, the ideal is to connect the process of relating to the students with the process of teaching literature. My fulfillment as a teacher comes in making this triangular connection between me, them, and the content. That's why I want to do all this; that's why I chose this field.
Home
I am still reminded daily of the blessing the Formans are to me. Jan's b-day was yesterday, and we had lots of cakes, tea, and yummies to celebrate. Jan and Alec left for the week to visit relatives in Switzerland. I'm sure it'll be a little lonely in the house without them. Heidi and Maria are still here, but leave Friday for London. So...I'll have a night in the house by myself. Jan told me to party it up. :)
Today, Maria and I walked to a nearby village to a cafe. The scenary, weather, food, and company were all delicious. Tonight two of Heidi's friends (art teachers at BFA) are coming over and we're having a little girl's night. Lovely. Here is a picture from the walk.
Personal:
I'm still really enjoying my time here. I've gotten into the town a little bit more; I want to explore around. I heard there are some great walking trails in the Black Forest woods. I've been discouraged because after one jog, all of my knee issues and pain came back in full force. So, I'd like to get some regular exercise, but am running out of ways to do it (haha...unintentional pun). Jan offered me the use of her bike, so I'll look into that. I heard there are bike trails to the nearest towns as well.
Well, the "quiet, peaceful life" I was so excited about having here is quickly disappearing. I should have known it was too good to be true. I'm at school from 8-4:15 each day. I get home to check and answer e-mails and unwind. By 6 I have a few hours till dinner at 8 to get things done. As of yet, I'm not able to use this time efficiently b/c I'm still too tired or scattered from the day to "get to work." At 8 I try to go downstairs to help with dinner and am eating by 8:30. We have a tv dinner and talk and watch the British "telly" till 10 where I excuse myself and get ready for bed, answer more e-mails, and other miscellaneous things till 11 when I try to get to bed for a decent 8 hours. Then, to do it all over again the next day. So, though I have a few hours in between times to get things done, it ends up being too punctuated to actually get into my work. I still feel like I'm not spending enough time with the Formans that way, either. So, no time to really relax and read. School busyness is just beginning and will only increase, so I still have to find time for that. I'm complaining now and I don't even have to clean a house or cook meals! I hope to get more efficient as I have more practice, but as for now, I am still feeling pretty rushed. One thing that has taken a lot more time than I think it should is communication with the states. Most conversations thus far have been spent getting the volume right or the video to work or the camera to stop freezing. So...this leads me to some new prayer requests:
- That I'll be efficient with my time and prioritize what needs to be done first
- That my communication with the states will be technically smoother and quicker than it has been.
- That my relationships with the students will increase as I am now beginning to spend more time with them.
- That I will make my personal time with God a priority, placing that before schoolwork and social time.
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