Teaching with Tim

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks making copies, writing unit plans, and going to professional development conferences, but I still don’t feel completely ready for September 5th.  Nonetheless, when I compare the way I feel right now to the same date in 2006, there is a world of difference.  The type of stress I feel right now is manageable, digestible–whereas last year the most I could hope for was to make it through the day without any kids strangling one another.  A lot has changed: I am in a new classroom, a new apartment, and I am equipped with a year’s worth of new tools.  More importantly, though, I have confidence.  Last September my students were sharks that had spotted a red plume of blood in the water; they pounced on my fear.  They were good kids, but I didn’t know how to teach them, and they sensed it, so they found other ways to use their class time.  It won’t be that way this year.  At least… I hope not.  Next week will bring a concrete answer.