It's a long story, but after having a heated discussion with Poetroad last night, I have decided that I must accept the fact that I will have to be a mediocre teacher this semester. Even though it kills me a little to accept that reality, I know it is the wise decision and the right decision. A person that is trying to sort through a house, pack up the stuff, fix up the house in order to sell it - all the while taking care of her family (fixing meals, doing laundry, paying attention to the children) - cannot be all things to all people. As the old saying goes, "something's got to give."
And teaching is what will give for now. My sanity and my family are too important to me to put them aside.
Will my students even notice a difference? No. How can they miss what they don't even know to expect.
So I'm tucking my creative teaching ideas into my brain files, and I'll save them for a time when I have more time. For now, mediocrity rules!
1 week ago
6 comments:
Many years ago my friend received this fortune from his post-Chinese lunch cookie:
Reduce expectations to minimize disappointment.
Wise words to live by.
Wise indeed! Low expectations and no expectations - this should be my aim. At least until I get settled in Texas.
That's one of my mottos...expect nothing and elminiate disappointment.
I'm not sure this is true of everyone, but I do all my learning on my own. So as long as the teacher is friendly and approachable and gives me a course outline and tells us what chapters will be on the exam, then they are perfect! If you can't use your creative ideas, just make sure the lesson is organized and then you're still a great teacher.
Gawd, "settled in Texas." I hope you like it more than I do. I was once offered the choice of being unemployed or moving to Irving. I chose unemployment. One of the best choices I ever made.
I have to be organized? Oh, geeze - are my students in trouble!
Thankfully, PJD, West Austin looks nothing like Irving does. I doubt if I could convince myself to move to Irving for any amount of money either.
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