IN MY previous posts, I told you that I found it difficult to handle three year levels, and a total of seven classes a day. It was made more difficult by the fact that expectations are high and that I’m still in the adjustment stage, learning the art and trying to cope with the challenges. I actually appreciate the situation because I am being pushed out of my comfort zone, thus, I get to learn what I need to learn at an optimum rate.

In other words, I’m enjoying it.

However, I worry about my health. I don’t want to continue staying up all night preparing lesson plans and instructional, or checking students’ output, because I have no more time to do them in school. I also worry about losing my energy and diminishing my effectiveness.

So I talked to the new teacher who is almost through her master’s in General Science and talked her into getting the first year science from me. I found out that she also wants it, so it wasn’t a difficult negotiation. We had our department meeting yesterday and the principal agreed to give her the first year science classes. Now, I can concentrate on my third year and fourth year classes.

It’s bittersweet.