ONE YEAR WITH AN ENGLISH TEACHER

Day 10, September 16

I notice that two boys always just stay in their seats during breaks. The other kids can't wait to go outside or in the hall, but these boys simply sit quietly and read. I guess everyone relaxes in different ways.

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Oddly enough, I continue to struggle with staying "on track" during class. I make detailed lesson plans, but for some reason, when I'm in the middle of class, I often become a bit befuddled about exactly where I am in the lesson and what the next step should be. It seems like it's almost a case of nervousness, as though, after all these years, I still get butterflies when I'm in front of my students. They're all looking at me, waiting for me to say what the next step is, and sometimes I almost freeze up. I look down at my meticulous lesson plan and it almost swims before my eyes. What I have to do, I think, is develop a better way of diagramming my plans, so that I can systematically check them off as I go along. I'll start working on that immediately.

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The cast for this year's musical was announced today, and I noticed that many of the same kids that have had good roles in the past will be starring again this year. I think that's just and proper, and I'm glad the directors handle it that way. Some of our students are exceptionally talented actors and singers, and it's fitting that they get the best roles. I put only the best writing up on the board in the hall, and our theater people put only the most talented kids in the lead roles. Each of our students has talents that will shine, one way or the other, at one time or another. The musical is a chance for a few kids to be in the spotlight, but all of our students (if we teachers do our jobs) will, at different times throughout the year, be front and center and taking a bow.