Two Weeks in...

I've survived! I have officially made it a whole two weeks into my teaching experience. Honestly, it's been pretty fun. I'm fairly sure I'm doing something I won't mind continuing for awhile as a career. I don't yet think that teaching is the worst thing I could have ever chosen to do, and I don't suspect that I will anytime soon.

Some great things:

First, teaching physics has been just about my favorite thing about teaching. You know why I like it? Because I can see them thinking. I can empathize with the process they're going through to comprehend the same things, and I can see the look of understanding on their faces when the concept finally dawns on them. The last thing is definitely the most fun. I love when someone says, "Oh! I get it!" Especially after I've been working with them for a bit before it happens. Then, I love seeing them explaining it to their friends, and seeing them get it. It's like a whole bunch of lights being turned on in a sequence.

After physics, Astronomy is probably my favorite thing to teach. The class is fun, but they still work, and the subject is really interesting, so I don't mind studying it to teach it later. The textbook defines astronomy as the study of the Universe. It defines Universe as "The entirety of matter, space, energy, and time." Occasionally I stop and tell some side story that has little to do with what we're actually studying at the time, but I always relate it back to the fact that Astronomy is the study of...well...EVERYTHING. It's nice that it's low-key, and there aren't any end of year tests to worry about.

Meteorology is a bit of a challenge...mostly because I don't really enjoy knowing everything about it. The weather is something that I really like to know about...insofar as it will effect my life. The fact that I don't love the subject makes it slightly more difficult for me to be as into it. I need to work on it, and make class more entertaining for myself as well as the students. Hopefully, that'll work out.

Overall, it's been great. I'm so tired when I get home at night, but Nate's been fantastic. He cooks! He cleans! He gives me back massages! He's patient with me even when I fall asleep while he's talking to me. I got me a good man, I tell you what.