On Tuesday, I am starting the second semester of my first official year of teaching. On one hand, I'm thinking that this crept up on me, but on the other, I'm excited for the content and excitement that comes with the spring!
I'm going to be busy. While I am losing a prep (I'm not teaching mythology this semester), I am gaining an section in each of my other classes-so I will have 3 U.S. History classes, and 2 sophomore English classes. In addition, I'm co-teaching theater, so I don't have a prep hour during the school day. I will be busy, yes, but I am excited for the challenges.
And to be honest, I am so excited to only have two classes that need prepping (the teacher I am working with for theater is doing all the planning). I feel like I can put a lot more of myself into those classes and come up with some amazing lessons.
Right now, I'm working on creating a display for The Great Gatsby. I'm printing out a ton of pictures, quotes, cartoons, and more that are related to the book and collage all over a wall. I'm also adding in some "20s" themed decorations-lots of glitz, feathers, and sparkles-to set it all off. There will also be a lot of yellow (oh symbolism), and I can't wait to get the rest of it up!
I'm also finishing up a bulletin board for my World War II unit. Right now I have my big Rosie the Riveter poster up, as well as a huge poster of an atom bomb detonation. There are some other things on the wall now, but I'm adding much more. I've found some pictures from Maus to display (since we're reading it), as well as other images of the time period.
I think both units are going to be amazing and set the tone for this second semester!
But I'm really excited about the collaboration going on between myself and another history/english teacher in the building. She is actually the teacher I subbed for two years ago! She is going to come into my history classes to give a presentation about her visit to a concentration camp, and share some of her family's experiences from during the war. In return, I'm going to her senior composition class to talk to her students about the classics and reading them! It's a win-win situation and just really inspires me. This is what teaching should be about!
And if you can't tell, I'm feeling really good. Now that I'm under treatment, I feel like a lot of pressure is off of my shoulders-I feel a bit free, actually. And feeling better physically? Nothing can really top that. :)
For today, I'm going to keep working on getting things ready for the week. I also need to sit down and read some more of Anna Karenina. :)
Your semester sounds really exciting! I would love to be in both of your classes because I love World War II and the Roaring 20s! I think the collaboration with the other teacher sounds like a fantastic idea! And I am so happy to hear you are feeling back up to normal.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling good, and full of excitement for the new semester!
ReplyDeleteYou sound so happy! I'm v glad that everything's going well right now, workwise and healthwise!
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy to hear you're feeling better, Allie. That talk on the classics sounds awesome! xx
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you get to teach some really exciting subjects and that you work hard on your classroom displays. Your students must be so excited.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have some wonderful units for your students and how wonderful that you have the opportunity to bring in another teacher that has so much to offer. I only wish that I had such a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI read Anna Karenina last year. I look forward to seeing what you think of it. I was forever changing the way that I felt about each of the character. The only one who was consistently disagreeable to me was Anna herself.
It's great to get such a positive post from you! I think it's a great thing that you only have two classes to prep for. That's going to make a big difference for you. So glad everything is going well!
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