Science Teacher Extraordinaire...maybe? hopefully?

As I enter my tenth year of teaching, I find myself less prepared than I have ever been.  School starts in a little more than a month and I have yet to truly plan a single lesson.  In all honesty, it would normally not bother me to be in this state, but this year is different.  This year, I am teaching two new classes. 

In addition to my wonderful anatomy, which I've taught so long now that it basically plans itself, I am now my school's only physics teacher and one of only a few physical science teachers.  I keep telling myself that I'm excited about this change, and a part of me truly is, but who am I kidding?  I have a degree in BIOLOGY, I only minored in chemistry because it only required taking one more course and I needed the elective hours anyway.  Oh and physics, dear physics, I took those two courses in the Summer so I wouldn't have to deal with them for an entire semester! 

Am I insane? 

I have a newborn at home, a toddler, and I've now agreed to teach a course that not only have I not taken in years, but that has also changed significantly in terms of how it is supposed to be taught.

On the bright side, I have some wonderful colleagues from other parts of the state who have jumped right in to help bail me out of my sinking ship.  My goal for the week is to use their materials to make a life raft that will help me survive the first few weeks, then maybe I'll be more confident in myself.

I've always said that a good teacher never thinks of themselves as such.  I guess a blessing and a curse that forces us to search for new methods of reaching our students, if simply for the sake of our consciences. 

Well, I guess I better start fishing through the material on the desk in front of me.  Thankfully, I have about another week of summer school left that can be used as planning time. 

Until we meet again,