Each day here is like it's own marathon, but with only a 30 minute lunch to break up the day it feels like you are running a sprint instead of a steady pace. I teach 7 periods a day (all of the high school teachers do): four core classes, homeroom, directed study and art.
The thing that makes teaching in this school district so different from any other one I have worked in before in that we have a leveled curriculum here. Students are placed into groups, rather than grades, based on their ability levels in reading, writing and math so throughout the day I see a range of abilities in different classes rather than a huge range in one class. Great idea, right? It certainly makes lesson planning easier to conceptualize but it makes social studies a little interesting...
Normally when teaching social studies I would teach one class of students government, one class US History, one class Geography, etc. But because I get a hodge podge of levels in each class that means that I end up teaching world history, Alaska studies and the second half of US history in one class! o.0
Like I said, nothing could have ever prepared me for this. I'm adjusting slowly but I haven't quite found my rhythm yet.
On the flip side, the land is beautiful and since I come in to school at about 6:30 every morning I get to see the sunrise over the tundra. I still haven't seen the sunset since it doesn't go down until about 11pm and I am usually passed out by 9:30.
Our food shipped out yesterday, so hopefully we will see that here in a few days *fingers crossed* The other teachers and the locals have been so kind to us while we've been waiting for our stuff to get in. One of the teachers went hunting last weekend and brought home a lynx, the meat was a little tough but it still made a great roast for dinner last night... it reminded me a lot of rabbit meat. We have gotten in our fresh produce from Full Circle, which was so yummy!! I'm already looking forward to the next box (since I looked at the contents list and know we are getting apples!!!)
Alright, back to lesson planning and vocab-test writing. T minus 7 hours until the weekend- we have an early out today to go cheer on the cross country runners who are racing Hooper Bay and Chevak this afternoon. Go Eagles!
I hear you on the leveled students and social studies. What a nightmare it was to teach multiple levels and contents at the same time. It does get easier. You'll find your rhythm.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are on the Full Circle Farms bandwagon. I couldn't survive without it!