I’m about to start my 8th year of teaching.

This is utter madness, considering how it feels like yesterday I was scared I wouldn’t last a week of student teaching.1

By some strange twist of scheduling voodoo, I’ve somehow managed to have a different opening2 class every single year.3

2006-07:4 Algebra I
2007-08: Pre-AP Algebra II
2008-09: Algebra II (regular)
2009-10: DB Geometry
2010-11: Precal
2011-12: AP Stat5
2012-13: Stat (regular)

Opening Day #7 kicks off on Monday with AP Statistics.6 This will actually be only the second time that I’ve had a 1st period Pre-AP/AP class.

The first was opening day #1 — August 27, 2007.

I was pretty freakishly über nervous that day and I don’t remember a whole lot, but I do remember that the kids in that first period class looked nervous that day — maybe because they could tell that I was nervous :). I also remember that day for forgetting to teach half of the notes to that 1st period class… they forgave me — eventually.7

That day started an incredible three-year run with Pre-AP Algebra II that I feel was the foundational arc8 for my career. While I feel that that was the most difficult of all the courses that I have taught,9 it was incredibly fun to teach from a pure subject-matter perspective, especially in the NCLB age where “Algebra II” isn’t really Algebra II anymore.10 11

It’s amazing how much our campus has changed since that first year. I sometimes think we have more turnover with our staff than we do with our students — and not just teachers either, but principals, counselors, office assistants, you name it.

The last time I taught Geometry, this happened:

Five days to go~~~

1. that is a whole other story, for another day — maybe in September [↩]
2. in the years when I had 1st period off, 2nd period [↩]
3. I think that’s worth repeating: I have had a different first period class every single year [↩]
4. couple of things about the first year: I started teaching mid-year, which is why next week is opening day #7, and not #8… but also, I didn’t start teaching the Algebra I classes until the 2nd week of the semester, so the first class I actually taught at McNeil was DB Alg2 [↩]
5. I had 1st period off that year, with AP Stat 2nd period [↩]
6. so there goes this trend… sort of. Getting to teach the 4th year of a class is new as well [↩]
7. I don’t think it was until year 3 or 4 when I stopped screwing up on opening day [↩]
8. along with those first two years of regular Algebra II [↩]
9. when you take into account sheer amount of material, pace and speed and demands of the course, along with the number of good students that at times were almost ready to crumble — especially in years 2 and 3 — it’s not even close. Yes, I teach AP Statistics. I’ve taught Precal. Again, not even close [↩]
10. On a somewhat related note, I usually find it misguided or disingenuous when people suggest that Pre-AP or AP classes are “easier to teach” or “less work” than on-level classes. I’m not gonna write what actually goes through my head whenever I hear someone say something along those lines. Of course, I fully realize that not everyone teaches in similar subject areas or academic environments, so if your perspective as a teacher differs from mine, I totally respect that. [↩]
11. On another related note, I wish that fewer people would equate “easier” and “less work” with “more desirable”. I know, work smarter, not harder. But very few good things in life come easy. While I won’t get into the politics of it all, I really feel like the advent of the 10% rule have really messed things up. Sitting on the bench is “easier” and “less work” than getting playing time. Nobody wants that. [↩]