Let The Teaching Begin

I took last semester off.  I was lazy and wanted to avoid the cold, and truthfully, I was hoping I wouldn't miss teaching.  I was wrong.  I did work occasionally, covering classes for teachers who were out and I loved it.  Subbing in the college is great.  The administration only expects me to do my job in the classroom, nothing more.  I teach everything from remedial math to statistics and advanced calculus.  The students are responsive and appreciative and I can make more money in two hours than I would make subbing a whole day in a city school. But, I missed my own class.

Last Thursday was the first day of the fall semester.  As usual, the thought of having to move to get there did not make me happy but once in I felt that old adrenaline rush.  The first thing I noticed was a real black board.  Only old timers like me can understand the thrill of chalk dust flying.  I just have to remember to bring a rag to wash the board down before class.  Although the school does clean boards daily, mine is the last one of the day so it is pretty bad when I get there.  My students seem nice and motivated.  Several remembered me from classes I covered in the past, one remembered me from Packemin and another told me he took my class because his cousin said I was a great teacher.  I don't know how true that is but it was nice to hear.

My teaching day is from 8 PM to 10 PM this term.  I am sure I will be bitching every night as I get ready to go but smiling as soon as I park my car and walk towards my class. I will stop working one day, probably take the winter off again but I won't give it up for good any time in the near future.  It is great dong something I love, having fun and getting paid

In My Blood



I have been enjoying my time off and thinking that maybe it is time to put down my chalk.  While not dreading going back, I wasn't exactly looking forward to my first class and waited until the last minute to open the book and see what I had to teach. 

I got out of my car and felt nothing except for a slight irritation at the woman who took the parking spot I wanted.  I walked into the office, said hello to the secretaries, made my copies and walked to class, still wondering why I was there instead of home.  And then, I saw the students waiting to go into class and something went off inside me.  I felt my apathy slowly change into enthusiasm.  When I put my books down and started talking everything changed.  It all came back.   I was where I belonged.

I didn't care that I was standing in front of remedial students instead of the pre-calculus students I had been promised.  I saw kids that wanted to learn.  I saw kids in need of help and I was ready and willing to give it.  I told them not to be ashamed of where they started.  There was nothing wrong with needing a little reinforcement.  After all, high school taught them nothing and they all agreed. 

I'm not going to get them all to succeed but I know I will get many to move ahead.  I am now looking forward to my next class.