Last week was a tough one.

The book that I'm using for period 5 seems to be hit or miss with the students. About half of them are interested and involved. The other half is whatever about it. They don't contribute. I'm not sure if they care. I'd really love to have more activities in between readings to explore the themes in the novel, but I really just don't have the time. I feel really bad that I picked such a long novel now. I'm having a hard time figuring out where to paraphrase because everything in the book seems important to hear. I need to cut some of it out. I need to involve the students more and have them take responsibility for the learning. I don't have the time.

I knew, from talking to Russ, that novels are hard to do because of the attendance rate and the number of students who come to class tardy. I don't think that I would choose such a long novel again.

I'm having different problems with my period 1 class. I made an executive decision to include them in the production of the yearbook. Some of them are doing great. Others don't care. I have two new students and that is making it difficult too. The work they're doing is mostly individual. Each student or pair of students has a page to do. Russ has been the class more because Mrs. Austin is back, and that has really helped with this class. I'm not the authority figure that these students seem to need.

I have spent many hours thinking about my classes, the school, and how I would fit in it. I am always torn between supporting the student and supporting the education. This school is lax, but I have become too lax as well. These students need structure and I'm not providing it.

I'm not sure if I would have been able to go through this experience without Russ. I don't think I've ever met a better guy. He's there whenever I need to talk to him. I think about the first time I met him, and I never would have predicted how things turned out. He really does make me feel like I could be a good teacher.