A week at RHS

Last week was my first time substituting for a particular teacher. I was the sub for a Chemistry teacher and actually had a job to do. I was to teach them about chemical reactions, which I was originally confident about. The other good part about it was that I was the first call when they found out that this teacher was going to be out for a whole week. Nothing says ego boost like, "you were the first person I thought of" from the vice-principal.

It wasn’t until I saw her class room I was to teach in that I realized how organizationally-challenged this woman was. I walked in and there was paper everywhere, and none of it was in a pile, but rather crumpled up and thrown into a corner. These are her class lists and her students’ grades. ALL OVER THE ROOM!! So I figured I could handle the mess, until I realized that her PowerPoint notes were just as messed up as her room and desk. The slides were out of order, half of them were unnecessary and most of them were too packed with information to keep a decent pace.

So long story short, the kids were bored and tired of writing by the time I was done with the first days’ slides and I am convinced that they were no closer to understanding the stuff than they had been when I had started. (Except for the two classes that had already done that particular chapter already). Which leads me to my next point…Perhaps I am not a good teacher…Allow me to elaborate….

I could not get them to attend to me, which could be because I was a sub, but shouldn’t a teacher be able to get people to attend. Then I thought “well maybe it is because I didn’t study chemistry,” but I have 3 years of chemistry under my belt, not to mention everything else I have studied in my strangely eclectic academic career, and should be able to be somewhat interesting with the knowledge I have acquired. After all, I do no a crapload of stuff, however useless, could I not find something that would grab hold of seniors and juniors in high school.

By the end of the week, the only class I had built a rapport with was a study in fifth period because I knew a lot about Saved By The Bell. Man, it was just one headache after another in these classes. I couldn’t get through this lady’s notes without making comments on them myself….and the kids could see how messed up they were, so I think they were even more confused. But alas, I am rambling again.

The only thing that really bothered me was that I couldn’t teach my own way and that was, I think what the problem was. I would hope so anyway. I have wanted to be a teacher for so long, that if I were to find out I’m not fit for it, I would have some serious soul searching to do. I don’t think I could ever be a physicist. As much as I love physics, it would require far too much lab work to ever be worth it to me.

Other than that, last week was alright for me. It went by pretty fast and my schooling didn’t hold me back too much. I am however, falling behind in my readings for physics but I will work it out. I always do. Until I need to vent again…..