…i’ve gone back to high school. if you’ve seen “never been kissed”, then you know that drew barrymore’s character (fondly referred to as josie-grosie) goes back to high school on an undercover investigative reporting assignment from her job at a newspaper.

unfortunately, my reason for being back in high school isn’t nearly as secretive as drew barrymore’s. i’m back because (drum roll, please)…i’m a student-teacher. i’ve been at it for almost a week…lesson planning and observing, talking with teachers and students, and getting acclimated to the new environment.

the school that i’m at is in Winder, Georgia. check that out on www.epodunk.com, if you want to know more about the area. from what i’ve seen, there’s not a lot of ethnic/racial diversity, nor diversity of political ideology. winder is a small town, with mostly conservative views. i can’t tell you the number of confederate flags i’ve seen on t-shirt since i’ve been here. despite it’s conservativism, the town scores points with me because it has a golden corral; which is definitely more than i can say about athens.

i’m teaching economics to 11th and 12th graders, who are on the “average” track. at the school, there are average, advanced, and AP tracks. from what i’ve been told from my teachers, the average students are those who MAY go to four-year college, but more than likely, they’ll end up at a technical school, picking up a trade; or maybe at a community college. i’m trying not to let that factor really affect the way that i teach them, but i feel that it’s a constant reminder from the other teachers. i’m definitely one who believes that students can accomplish anything with the right amount of love, respect, and attention. that said, i’ma try and open their eyes up to new things this semester.

additionally, i should add that i haven’t studied econ since the spring semester of my senior year of high school, which was approximately 5 years ago (and as a note, i definitely feel old saying that i was a senior in high school 5 years ago…i have a reunion coming up this year…MAN). part of the process has been reading and re-reading material to make sure that i know it enough to teach it to them.

thus far, it’s been a great experience…but i will say that i am EXHAUSTED. i never knew that teaching could be so physically taxing. add in that i still have classes that i’m taking, which makes for 15-16 hour days sometimes. it’s all good, and i love what i do, but sometimes i wonder if i’m truly cut out for this. supposedly, student-teaching is a make or break point in your career…and i’m not about to let this break me and keep me from my ultimate destiny.

“i know that God won’t give me anything i can’t handle. i just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” ~mother teresa.

i’m right there with you on that one, mother t.

be encouraged, all. peace and blessings…