You mean I have to show up every day? With a plan?
So, I have left the realm of the substitute teacher and entered the world of “It’s my classroom, now what do I do with them every day?”
Of course, I’m thrilled to be the temporary teacher for this big high school choral program, but it’s also exhausting to think of all that must be planned/executed/graded/recorded/performed in the next ten weeks…and then to know that I will say goodbye to them forever, since hope of being rehired at that school is almost nil.
Today, the Royal Blues select ensemble clapped for me when they heard I would be teaching them the rest of the year, and later one Concert Choir girl brought me a little single-serving cake with a treble clef and a raspberry on top as a welcome gift. I love high schoolers. Last period of the day was the JV 9th/10th grade choir and they, of course, tested my authority by chatting, taking way too many bathroom/water breaks, and generally being squirrelly as I tried to direct their music. (Ah, young music teacher, remember the groundwork for discipline must be laid early!) Tonight I thank them for reminding me that teaching is about steadfastness and heart.
