futurebird's Diaryland Diary
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Me? A teacher?!?
Just down the street from our apartment is a wonderful community garden. There are thousands of tulips in every color.
I got the letter from New York City Teaching Fellows and I’m in! I also told my boss I was leaving (quitting? Is it still called ‘quitting’ if you give almost two month’s notice?) I have a lot of wrapping up to do at work. I happen to like my job and the theatre organization I’m working for so I want to leave things in order for them. That will take some time, I have tons of undocumented code. (Gulp!)
I feel very cheerful about starting something new. I’m also scared to death! To calm myself I’ve been reading weblogs of other NYC public school teachers. I know this will be tough, I’m going to be teaching mathematics (I hope I can teach geometry… but you don’t get much choice when you start out) The only thing that scares me more than the thought that I’ll be in a classroom in front of 20-27 middle school or high school students in only a few months (four, in fact) is the thought of having to learn how the whole public school system works. I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on and it’s so complicated. Especially since Bloomberg just changed the way the districts are set up. I haven’t even had the time to form an opinion on the reforms, I’m just trying to understand how they work!
I get to meet with a bunch of the other fellows next week. That should be fun. From what I’ve read the fellows tend to be a touch idealistic about teaching—and this can work both for and against us when we start. I have to admit I’m looking forward to a job where I can tell that my work is meaningful. Programming databases can feel a bit detached—even if it is for an organization that I care about. I bet after the first few months I’ll miss how quiet my job at TCG has been!
I’m going to write about the whole process of becoming a teacher. I’m inspired by people like:
upthedownstaircase
teacher (year 1)
another teacher
lupa land
By the way… anyone with any… advice… or books I should read please let me know!
12:45 p.m. - 2003-04-16
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