But, I figure I'll let y'all (now sporadically a part of my vocabulary) in on a little bit more of my life as a teacher. The first week was crazy. The most nervous I had ever been in my life was last Monday before school started. I felt so completely unprepared to teach my inner city kids here in San Antonio, let alone felt like I actually didn't even know what I was going to teach. But, somehow, I made it through the day, surprised at the amazing behavior of my students. Of course, I was warned that it was only the first day and that my students will begin testing me as the semester goes on.
I realize at this point that my writing is lacking any kind of coherency due to my mind racing all over the place with lesson planning, due dates, grading, reading student surveys, classroom management, dinner, and on and on. So, I have decided that I will continue this blog with a list of highlights/notable things from the week:
- The first day was incredibly nerve-wracking, but rewarding.
- I went to my first high school football game since I was in high school.
- My principal was impressed with my ability to get one of my "older/troublemaker" students to be active in class.
- The same "older/troublemaker" student asked me to wear his football jersey on Friday at school (the tradition at Edison is that football players ask their teachers to wear their jerseys on game day).
- I went to a Hawaiian-themed pep rally before school on Friday.
- I was asked by my students to be the guys soccer coach.
- I get called sir on a regular basis.
- I was asked questions such as: "Are you married? Do you work out? Why did you come to Edison? It's ghetto. Are you going to be a cool teacher? Are you going to be strict? Are you wearing Abercrombie cologne?"
- I love that my students actually listen to my instructions and empty threats (hope they don't find out!), such as no one leaves from their desk when the bell rings until I dismiss them. It's so fun to watch them squirm in their seats as I wrap up the lesson and remind them of their homework.
That is all I can think of right now, but the bottom line is, teaching is hard. This is going to be a very hard 2 years, I hope it gets easier!
My new e-mail is alexander.eldon@gmail.com if anyone wants to get a hold of me these days.
