So let me tell you a little about institute. I work at a high school with about 85 other corps members and we get on the bus to this high school everyday at 6:30 and arrive at 7. We then re-board the buses at 4 and get back to UH at 4:30. So just that is 10 hours! I also spend an hour up in the morning from 5:30 to 6:30 eating breakfast and getting ready to leave. Monday and Tuesday when then had 3 hours sessions that we were required to attend after coming back from the schools. The other nights were pretty free though. Then we have had quite a few assignments that need to be completed and turned into our Corps Member Advisors (CMA) each day. So the first 4 nights I stayed up until 1 and 2 and only accumulated about 20 hours of sleep in a 5 day span. NOT GOOD. Thursday was terrible. I felt like I was going to pass out all day and I felt like I had the flu. My back was aching alot. I think I actually did catch some kind of cold though because my throat hurt for a couple days and my nose is still stuffy. I have never had allergies and I hope I am not just now developing them. I seem to remember though getting slightly sick each time I came down to Houston. I think I may just need to acclimate to the environment.
In all the rustle and bustle I have struggled to make some good connections. It is pretty sad but I think I am going to start getting over it because there is so much to do that we all need to focus and cannot spend too much time getting to know each other. BUT everyone I have met is very encouraging and nice. I have learned alot about how to be an effective teacher and it is really hard to process it all at once and try to incorporate it into your classroom from the beginning. I did get to observe the actual class and students I will be teaching and I am fairly excited. The teacher who I am replacing for the summer doesn't seem to have any type of classroom management plan set in place and doesn't seem to expect much from the students. They tried to teach the class and while the students would be talking to each other fairly loud and just not paying attention in general. They really had no plan of action for that behavior. I did catch a few names so I think it will be really cool if I greet them at the door and call them by name and tell them that I am glad that they are there. I'm pretty excited but very nervous too. I will need lots and lots of prayer for confidence and structure. One thing that I am disappointed in myself is that I am not coming up with my lesson plans soon enough. We have been working on them but I have not fully completed them yet. I need to do this because I need some real concrete steps in how I am going to go about this.
I start teaching on Monday! Im scared...
So this is my life for the next four weeks.
Peace,
MO
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3 comments:
I was sick for a few weeks when I first moved to Houston as I was getting used to the allergies. I would suggest go to the doctor and not suffer through it like I did assuming it would go away tomorrow.
It sounds like you are having fun (although you are rather busy). By the time I arrive in September, you will definitely need a cold beer and to shake the hands of a few astronauts, haha.
-Rachel
Reading the part about 'lesson planning' brings back vivid memories of my older sister, who teaches art part-time, spending long evenings getting ready for the next day. She gets very stressed during the school year, and it's only her first year! Luckily she has chosen to further her education and is going back to school.
From her, I've heard stories of how rude classes can be, and how she dreads certain days when she has to teach art to 30 kids, in less than an hour.
Hopefully, when you get into the rhythm of things, you'll start feeling better and you will get more sleep. It definitely sounds like your body is unable to keep up with the pace of your life, be sure to take breathers when you can.
Good luck on your first day, I hope everything goes well! If you have any questions about teaching, I can pass some on to my sis, who may have some useful bits of knowledge for someone who has just started to teach.
I am so proud of you for giving Institute your all and have complete faith that you will come out of this experience alive and stronger in your faith! I love you and Miss you! And you are going to ROCK that Chemistry classroom tomorrow!
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