OVERWHELMED

[ginlindzey]

I'm sitting in my classroom, panicking over the amount of work I have to do, and feeling like I don't know what I'm doing.

Mind you, this is my 8th year to be teaching. I taught one year of high school straight out of college, and then the last 6 at middle school.

I've got to prepare 6 weeks of lesson plans.
I'm teaching CLC at double the pace I'm used to.
I'm teaching from Ecce for Latin 2 and 3, and have no materials, though I noted that the test generator was up in the cabinet. Not a thing in the way of files. Oh, I can appeal to the Ecce group, I'm sure.

I have to totally revise classroom policies and devise a course overview. Yes, yes, I can just base it on what was here. So I shouldn't be panicking.

But school starts TUESDAY. I do not have one thing run off. Not one.

I don't even have the room fully labeled. My labels also didn't print well (old printer is dying).

About that labeling.... desks are labeled:

prIma mEnsa
prImus ordO

secunda mEnsa
prImus ordO

tertia mEnsa
tertius ordO

etc. Makes it easy to get all the desks back to the right spot, teaches ordinals, and demonstrates gender/adj-noun agreement.

Walls are labeled pariEs septentriO, oriEns, merIdiEs, et occidEns.

also you will find:
computAtrum
suprAprOjector
tabula crEta
tabula pUblica
etc.

But I can't dawdle here. I'm in panick mode.

I'm sitting here saying WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO???

I know this is the right place to be, but is it the wrong time? I'm so far from home and my kids. If they need me, it'll take 30 minutes at least to get to them, compared to 5 minutes before or less.

If I leave something at home, I'm outta luck.

Well, I'm wearing a button that says, "EST RIDICULUS!" and that's just how I feel right now.

OMNIA SUNT RIDICULA!!!!

Comments

[magistraglacies.livejournal.com]

ginny,

don't worry. all will be well, and i hope you are happy with your new job. i know this is kinda random, but the other day i actually came across a private middle school latin teacher job in austin (st. gabriel's??). obviously you can't do anything about it now, but i just thought i would let you know about it if you didn't already. you can at least have it at the back of your mind if for some reason things don't work out for you and if they still need a new teacher in the future. i know it is gonna be tough going from middle school to high school because they are sooooo different; i don't know what i would do if i had to go back to high school because i have completely fallen in love with middle school, as i think you did. best wishes. jennifer ice

[ginlindzey.livejournal.com]

gratias maximas tibi ago!

Truly, thank you so much. I am such a fish out of water over the English classes; and I have no paperwork ready for day 1! Nor is my room finished.

But you are right; all will be well.

St Gabriel's, eh? Well, word was out that I was available. Something must have just fallen through, I guess. Porter is still lacking a teacher. When I catch my breath, I will email you off blog to tell you something that will have you laughing....

Hang in there!

[(Anonymous)]

Hang in there, Ginny! I will feel the same way the day before school starts here (August 23) and I've been teaching for 19 years! If you need anything (we use Ecce), let me know! -Mark Keith

Re: Hang in there!

[ginlindzey.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU, Mark!!! Oh yes indeedy I need anything and everything for Ecce 2 and 3. I'm not shy. I'll be shameless. AND ALL OF YOU NEW TEACHERS OUT THERE, BE SHAMELESS TOO! Take everything you can get, don't try to be totally creative and unique your first year. It will kill you.

Mark, I'll get in touch with you offblog.