First week on teaching prac. This post comes with a promise not to blog about teaching again for a while.
Being TGIF brainfried and anxious for Margarita Night at E’s, not to mention a little shook up by this really sad Mazzy Star song I’m listening to, I have decided to do this in point form.
1) Welcome to your local low-SES high school. Behaviour is an issue, to say the least.
2) I can hold my own, mostly because the children are so damn predictable.
3) Learn it one day, teach it the next. And we’re not just talking the chambers of the heart here: we’re talking addition and substitution reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and benzene with hydrogen, halogens and hydrohalic acids, including the Markownikoff rule for determining the dominant isomer product. I think I deserve to brag about that.
4) It’s interesting to compare the students at my low-SES school to those at the super-exxy private school where I did my last prac. The difference in ability noticeable, especially when it comes to literacy, but still not as great as you might expect. The difference in social skills and task-orientation, on the other hand, is massive. Seriously, alarmingly massive. If I were the sort of person who cared, I would be sad and angry, and I would blame myself. But I’m not that sort of person.
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Learn it one day, teach it the next? I think that applies to most jobs actually.
Comment by James — Friday August 21 2009 @ 10:54 pm
Yeah, I suppose you’re right. And high school children can only learn so much in a week, so they can’t go through it too fast.
Comment by Mark — Sunday August 23 2009 @ 1:50 pm
Which mazzy star song were you listening to? Just curious.
btw, Chuck Norris on your computer is awesome. It should be your background! :D
Also, you look very nice in the suit.
Comment by Julia — Monday August 24 2009 @ 12:45 am
Thanks. Pretty much all Mazzy Star are sad, but ‘I’ve Been Let Down’ is the one I was listening to. Listen to the one they did with Jesus and Mary Chain if you haven’t heard it - it’s my favourite rock duet.
Comment by Mark — Monday August 24 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Cool. I’ll definitely check it out.
Comment by Julia — Wednesday August 26 2009 @ 1:13 am
Hey so is high school stuff easier to learn now that you are all growed up and smarter than everyone? I sucked at year 11 and 12 chem, but maybe now that I am ~mature~ it wouldn’t be so hard?
Comment by Lizzy — Thursday September 17 2009 @ 9:51 pm
Also: hey! I’m stilling reading this when I get a chance! I’m just not very good at participating any more!
Comment by Lizzy — Thursday September 17 2009 @ 9:51 pm