Beginning of Week Four

Today's lesson took awhile to take off, if it did at all.  We began the period by discussing the importance of names.  The students completed a writing prompt from a list of three selections.  I did not think ahead and complete writing for the prompt beforehand.  During students' writing time, Mr. S asked that I pass back quizzes, so I could not do the writing with students.  This left me without a sample from which to read.  It also made me seem somewhat unprepared.  The students and I had a short discussion of names and the importances of names.  I was happy to hear more about students and their families during the activity.

Students then began continuing to work on their conflict cafe menus.  They were confused regarding my expectations for their rough draft.  They struggled to get every small detail onto the rough draft.  This held the class back from beginning the final draft of their conflict cafe menus.  While I'm excited that students are putting so much time and attention into their rough drafts, they badlly need to begin the final copies of their menus, so that we can move on and begin writing.  I disagree with even beginning with a rough draft copy, since it worked out fine for me not to have one.  Now, students have a rough draft due tomorrow with confusing expectations.  Students need more structure than I'm giving them. 



Mr. S mentioned that I'm doing "really well" at student teaching, but also added that there are more things I could take on if I quit my job and dived more fully into teaching.  I wanted to cry.  I'm not sure a) how much I'm willing to put myself in debt, b) how much more I could or should invest here, and c) fear going completely insane.  I do believe quitting my job might be a good idea both for teaching and tennis, and also because I find that it is a bad influence on my behavior.  On the other hand, well what about money???  I'm already struggling.  I called out of work today.  I've never been such an unreliable employee. 

How much  more do I have to invest?