So I'm a math teacher now...

My last winter break here was everything I wanted it to be: plenty of time to catch up on sleep, get away from the students, spend time with the other people my age that know my language, do nothing, get bored, and have ample time to prepare my semester.

And then, about 5 days before classes started, as I was preparing my history lessons for, oh, the next three months, Anne, the principal, came in, and asked:

“How would you feel about teaching geometry?”

I thought she was obviously kidding, but then I found out that me teaching geo to the sophomores was a third back-up plan if the director did not find a new teacher soon. I said, like the great volunteer that I am, that I would certainly be up for it. I just needed to, you know, learn how to do geometry! She said that I would probably not teach it, just to give me the heads up, just in case. I started looking over the geometry book, just in case.

The next few days were not looking that great, meaning, the chances of me being the new sophomore geometry teacher were increasing. The time I was spending not planning for my classes to read the geometry book was also increasing. Finally, two days before the semester – a.k.a. classes – began, Fr. Arthur said I’d be taking over sophomore geometry. I had to give up World History (not only would I have not been able to keep up with 4 classes, but, luckily for me, it was physically impossible for me to teach all of those classes, since I, like most of the other JVs here, can’t be in
two classrooms at the same time).

So I was the new sophomore geometry teacher.

Just to briefly mention WHY I was asked to be the new math teacher: the previous geo teacher, who is now teaching a different subject, was not really making much headway with the kids. It was such a problem that the current sophomores will basically be screwed when it comes to standardized testing. Any of the JVs, or any other teacher, in my opinion, could have taken over. For whatever reason I was selected.

I was very freaked out, but surprisingly very excited about teaching a new subject. It felt like the first few weeks when I first started teaching; the only difference is that now I am a “qualified” teacher and have 3 whole semesters under my belt. The first class or so was mostly review testing, so I knew where the students were. It was also weird since I knew these students as History students. Their grades in geometry were, for the most part, very different. Amazing A++ kids in my World History class were now struggling and not participating. And visa versa.

After a while, the nervousness was subsiding, and I realized how much fun geometry was. First of all, geo is only two things: logic and spatial reasoning. Two things I think I have enough of. Also, it’s a very nice break from those very subjective subjects of History and Writing. There is only ONE right answer, and usually only ONE way to answer the question. No more of trying to decipher very poor English for my history class (which I do miss). The answer is either right or wrong. It’s surprisingly refreshing.

Also, the satisfaction that I think, by making these students work very hard and at a good pace, I can help them catch up is rewarding. The students were very aware of how slow and boring and unproductive the first semester was. They don’t WANT more work, but they do want to LEARN, which makes them a great bunch of kids. So they were both happy that I was taking over, but also scared, because they know I’m a tough teacher.

All in all, the past two weeks of geometry has been amazing. I look forward to those classes, and planning for them is great. It’s also nice to remember all of the geometry I learned. That’s a plus.

As for everything else, my last semester is going very well. Extremely busy, as usual. I think I need to pace myself now, since the first two weeks were done in hyper-drive. But I’m healthy, everyone is happy, and we’re just focused on getting through this semester, week by week, one day at a time.

As for my future, well, it’s extremely surprising to know that I have only 4 ½ months left. That’s nothing!! It was only yesterday I said I have 5 months left. And, personally, I won’t count the month of May, since May will be all Final exams, graduation, end of year partying, and stuff like that. And with the normal busy schedule (especially with the addition of Geometry planning – it’s fun, but it takes a lot of precise work!) I have NO time to think or plan my future. A friend of mine who did a year abroad in Ecuador said, from her experience, it might be better just to wait to get home before thinking about things like that. She has a point: how can I think of resumes, jobs, grad school, the real world and huge decisions like that if 1) I’m still so busy with work here, 2) I want to be totally present with the people and place here, and 3) it’s a bit strange to think of myself in that completely different universe. I think it’s too hard to do (especially since I am not sure of what I want to do anyway).

Point being: anyone have a job for me when I get home?

I’m just kidding.

But not really.

So, I’m psyched that things are going very well so far. I’m just keeping very busy. And I am very excited for going home soon, as much as I love it here. I’m sure I’ll be very sad, maybe even depressed, after leaving this place, but those are feeling I can’t fathom at this point in my life. Right now, I have to make a geometry test. Take care.

AJ