Day Three

I have the alarm set for 4:45. School starts at 7:10, but I have to be here before that. This morning, the alarm went off and I feel asleep. By the grace of God, I woke up again at 5:12. Already running behind by half an hour . . .

I made it to school on time, but not in time to make copies before class. I had to get my ID made today. That took a long time, because the computer wasn't working right. It took up most of my prep period, but I managed to get all my copies made anyway.

My students are fun. I wish I had more time to talk and joke with them, but business is business. I told them all on the first day that I am here for them. I told them that I am here to make sure they succeed and that I really want them to succeed. And I do. I'm finding that to be true more and more each day. I had to tell them several times today, because they were complaining about how much work I'd given them. I told them it was all for their benefit, and that I don't go home at night and plot their demise. I give them work to help them. I hope they heard me. Really heard me.

One of my students has been asking me lots of questions about God. Those questions come up when we read the sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." He kept asking me, was it true? Is God like that? Yesterday, the students were working and talking, I crept over to him, stood beside him, and said quietly, "I don't believe that God is like that." One sentence, but that's all he wanted to know at the time, and it satisfied him.

I am realizing all the things that most non-abstract-random teachers already know. Make a spot for makeup work. Keep account of your absent students so you know what they missed. All this while still not knowing most of their names.

I have a real problem being professional sometimes. It's not a good thing. The kids crack me up. I'm trying to be serious, and they are trying to be disruptive, and I need to maintain my seriousness. But one of the students can make his voice sound just like Andy Dick. It is hilarious. Please ask God to fill me with composure.

So far, so good. Test tomorrow over the elements of a plot and basic literary terms. I'm ready for a week of some group work and not so much lecturing. Lecturing gets so tired. The students need to interact.

I have felt lots of affirmation this week. I feel like I'm doing the right thing here.