My adventures as a teacher

I can not believe we are in mid February already.  Seriously, Christmas break just seemed like yesterday.   I had a bit of a rough time at the beginning of this semester.  I think that the gild had worn off the lily, the newness of it all had passed and some of the realities were starting to sink in.  Last semester everything was new and exciting.  Then this semester I began to realize some of the things I was doing wrong.  There are definitely some things I want to change next year and to realize that I made these mistakes kind of bummed me out.  Also, the real enormity of the job started to hit home.  I am responsible for teaching these students chemistry.  Wow!!!  Granted most of them will never use it again but I would like them to have a basic understanding of it.  And it really hit me what a huge responsibility that is.  But, it’s getting better.  I’m realizing I am knowledgeable and I am a good teacher and I do have a lot to learn but it’s all good.

I was wondering today, as I sat planning tomorrow’s lesson, why this stuff is so easy now.  I not only can do it, I completely and totally understand it.  Why?  What has changed since I took chemistry 13 years ago?  Why do I understand it so well now when I didn’t then?  I remember stoichiometry being the most confusing thing ever.  Now it is so clear to me I can hardly believe it. Why is that?  Is it because you are not worried about trying to learn it and pass a test so you can relax and really just understand it?  I don’t know but if I understood chemistry half as well as I do now I would have aced it all.

Anyway, things are definitely getting better.  The days are so full and busy.  I am constantly moving from one thing to the next and before you know it the day is over.  I love being that busy and I really love what I’m doing.  I really believe that teaching is what I was meant to do.