Two Qs for Your Views

<font color="purple">Q1: How much social activity should a person have?</font>

<font color="green">Q2: How should I feel about not doing as much as I think I should for the class I teach?</font>

1. It seems I don't need a lot of external socializing. I've read, however, that people who have supportive, loving social connections are generally happier. I want to be happy.

I go to prayer once a week. In a week or two, when I have my furniture and clothing, I have a whole list of activities I plan to try out now that I live in a more lively metro area . In fact, I had to prioritize the list -- because I realized that I would not be able to do everything on my list all at once.

I feel as if my life is "on hold". I teach and do my online training course. But given that I'm arranging various renovation activities, have to be here for the service guys, and am living on an air mattress on the floor with my computer, and suitcases and boxes as dresser drawers -- that takes up all my time, period.

Q2: I am teaching at a community college, whereas I used to teach at a 4-year university. The pay is bad. The textbook is boring. I hate to say that I "know" everything that is in it. But it would be pretty sad if I didn't.

The publisher has tons and tons of teaching aids. Videos and exercises, and even the teaching objectives all written out. I scan the chapters to make sure I understand how the info is organized and brush up. I pick a few activities to teach the most important concepts.

But I don't write out teaching plans with learning objective and behavioral goals and how each exercise teaches to that goal. I don't write out speaking outlines. I just go in and do what feels like "winging it."

When I sit down to do the whole lesson planning thing, my mind wanders -- and I find that I have some block to it.

I feel as if I should but doing more. But it's pretty hard to get worked up over it. I wouldn't like to lose the job, but losing a poor paying job isn't the most terrifying prospect I've had to face in life.

Comments?

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Q2: How should I feel about not doing as much as I think I should for the class I teach

Q2: I am teaching at a community college, whereas I used to teach at a 4-year university. The pay is bad. The textbook is boring. I hate to say that I "know" everything that is in it. But it would be pretty sad if I didn't.

The publisher has tons and tons of teaching aids. Videos and exercises, and even the teaching objectives all written out. I scan the chapters to make sure I understand how the info is organized and brush up. I pick a few activities to teach the most important concepts.

But I don't write out teaching plans with learning objective and behavioral goals and how each exercise teaches to that goal. I don't write out speaking outlines. I just go in and do what feels like "winging it."

I feel as if I should but doing more. But it's pretty hard to get worked up over it. I wouldn't like to lose the job, but losing a poor paying job isn't the most terrifying prospect I've had to face in life.

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Lesson planning is one of the worst (bordering on the worst) thing about teaching. You're right, talk about BOR-RING! Now, I am assuming with a college text there is no teacher's manual with lesson ideas and such in it. Why not make it a goal to work in one of the teaching aids a week? Or every two weeks?

I can't do speaking outline either. I don't like outlines, and my plans never go the way I want...so goes teaching elementary school. Plus, I find if I rely on any type of script...I RELY on that script and I make a lot of speaking mistakes. So "winging it" works better for me.

Small, attainable goals. Baby steps.

PM me if you want to talk teaching or bounce ideas with someone. I hope things improve!

1Day -- I didn't know you were a teach! Great. I definitely use the teaching aids. One or two per class. That's why I'm not doing any planning. It's all right there for the pickin.' I dunno. Maybe there's a point at which one has mastered the material and shouldn't have to worry about writing out scripts. One of my friends thinks this all means that I've graduated to being a more relaxed, professional teacher.

Oh, but about the denial stuff: <font color="green">Yoo hoo! Wants2Fly, you there, sweetie?

Have you given any thought recently to GETTING A JOB!</font>

Given that my pay is more like an allowance than a salary -- and money is flying out the door to make this place liveable -- What I SHOULD be doing is LOOKING FOR WORK!

And this little itty bitty concern is so far from my thoughts that I actually forgot about it.

I usually spend unemployment in nail-biting terror or dark depression -- as I did for most of the summer. I guess my itty bitty paycheck makes a psychological difference.

Or lese I'm feelin way toooooo good on the Effexor.

Yep, right now I am a substitute as there are no jobs here. So my pay check can be pretty good...oe it can be nil. I have to actually get out there and work. Not like these teachers who can call off to go shopping and such (oh no, I am not making that up).

So you are using the aids....that's bad? It's what they're there for. Are your "kids" getting it? If they're getting it, it sounds like you are doing something right. I constantly bumble things while I am subbing...and I often find myself thinking...boy am I going to screw my own classroom up. I'm just trying to have faith that once I get that room...my education will kick in...unless I've forgotten it in the 2 years I've been subbing.

Summer unemployment....ahhhh yes. What about summer school? I did 1 session last summer (3 weeks, 8-12) and made really good money. I wish I could have done 2 but the one really helped out monetarily. They have to do summer college courses. I know, I took them.

Hope things get better.

i believe everyone is different. some are loners and are happy with having just a few close friends if only one, others need lots of friends to be happy. neither is right or wrong, it is just you, who you are.

i am a loner type. i am happy with having a close sister, and a best friend. i don't want anymore than that. i know of people who, if they had a party, their guest list would be in the hundreds. that is not me. i am happy with who i am for the most part.

as for the teaching thing, the best teacher i ever had (grade school thru college) was my college chemistry teacher. he never had a plan for the day, i never seen him with lesson plans, he just came in the class and taught from the cuff. he knew his stuff and needed no plan to teach. he was the best teacher because he didn't teach straight out of the book, i always said i can read the book myself, i need someone who knows more than whats in the book and can teach me more than whats in it. i got more out of that chemistry class than i did in almost all my other classes combined.

that's my 2 cents
take care and do what makes you feel good as long as its legal and doesn't hurt anyone. best wishes

Thanks for everyone's input. I've enjoyed reading your ideas about life. It helps.