What the hell?!

Once again I'm already becoming tired and it's only 7:30. What is causing this? It's becoming really annoying. I can't keep this up and still do well in school. Falling asleep by 9pm makes it difficult for me to get all the work done I need to do. This has been going on for almost two weeks and it had better stop soon or I'm going to be in serious trouble soon.

Frustration

My teaching has gone fairly well so far. I'm still having a few small problems: Trying to teach too much at once, and I keep thinking of how I was taught physics while in school. The school system here is structured a bit differently, and they focus more on concepts than problem solving. I keep trying to go towards problem solving which isn't how I should be teaching the course because much of it goes above their heads due to insufficient math skills.

My first problem of trying to teach too much at once is something I don't do as often anymore. But I did do it today unfortunately. I completely skipped over a few minor examples I wanted to use, but that wasn't the big problem. As it was pointed out to me, I was trying to teach three major concepts in a single lesson. I went through two and was working on the third. Part of the reason this occurred has to do with my co-operating teacher. I was focusing on how the curriculum objectives are shown, and on examples from a distance education guide. He usually does this part of the section with lots and lots of examples. I don't have that many examples and demos. It's simply an experience issue. With more time in the teaching profession, I'll add more to my repertoire of knowledge. I did well with the examples I used, but I forgot a few things that I should have done and that annoyed me because they were basic things anyone should do at the start of a lesson. I also usually have lots of examples that lean towards too many, but I didn't have any for this topic for some reason. In essence, I messed up a bit which lead me to do the next major concept. I had touched on it in past lessons so I figured I could go through it quickly. I keep forgetting you have to treat the students like little kids at times. What I mean is, you can't assume they did the work and remember everything I told them. So I should have approached it as if they never did it. My mistake due to this being a first time for me. It's not something I'll mess up again.

So, it wasn't all bad, but I just forgot some stuff and didn't add some stuff that I should have. At least I incorporated a few other things into my style to make me a better teacher. I know I can teach fairly well with my usual headaches, but today it just didn't go well. Oh well. My sections of the course are at about the same level as the other sections being taught by other teachers so I'm not doing bad in regards to falling behind. In fact, I'm doing an activity for those other sections since those teachers are not showing them to the students. So it makes me look good ;) Anyway, I still find this to be lots of fun and that's what is important.

Oh yeah

One of the two sections had to hand in their assignment today(the other section hands their in tomorrow). I'm sure they aren't happy about it *ggl* I've got to start thinking about a test for them as well. It should be interesting for them. It'll be the first time I design a test. Well, not true. I've designed them last term on two occasions, but this will be the first time for real. Hopefully they won't be killed ;)