Monday, September 6, 2010

Week 2 (Sept 2010): Light at the end of the tunnel.

The 2nd week of school for me is having the students finish their Mini Science Projects (see weeks 1 and 2 from last years posts) and do the Discovery lab. We did those this week. This week is usually the week of procedures and routines being set and the rythem of back to school is well in motion.

My only problem this year are classes with exceedingly high numbers. All of my class are 42 up to 57. Amazing how difficult it is to get work done with that many students. We will be interviewing for a 60% 8th grade Science Teacher position (3 periods) next week. This is the light at the end of the tunnel.

I was asked to attend 5 hours of on-line interactive "webinars" for our new PLC format of conducting lessons. I asked to be removed from those sessions. I felt bad, as if I were not a team player. Between high numbers of students and pay reduction and my consideration of becomming the LEGO Robotics coach I felt that losing 5 hours of my time was too much to give. If the sessions had been on something that would directly benefit my students I would have done it. I feel like a bad guy. I have to push this "feeling" aside but it is difficult and has bothered me much.

Love to teach and teach with passion!