Monday, October 06, 2008

I Can't Win For Losing

In teaching the New Testament this year, we were given the choice of teaching the 4 Gospels in order, or combining the similar stories and teaching them together. I chose to do the latter so that I wouldn't teach something in Matthew, then repeat it again 3 more times as I taught the other Gospels. However, this has created a slight problem for my sluggish brain.

On my schedule, it gives me the scriptures to be taught for the day. For example, one day had listed Matt. 5 and 7. I looked through my manual and found the teaching activities and methods that I thought were best. That night, I went to prepare my next lesson. As I looked at the schedule, I saw that it said that I was supposed to continue with Matthew 5 and 7. I'm not sure how I failed to notice that the first time. So I went back and found some things I could teach the second day.

Not wanting to repeat my mistake, I looked ahead to the next two days on my schedule, and found that I was to teach Matt. 8, 9, Mark 1,2,5,6,as well as Luke 7.8. I had learned my lesson this time so planned that I would stretch the material over two days time. I was quite pleased with myself that I managed to cover it amply.

Sunday morning I got up early to prepare my Monday lesson. To my shock, I saw that Monday's schedule said, "Continue with the previous lesson"! I went back and found some more things that I hadn't focused on, and was able to come up with a lesson. What a relief to be able to find something to teach, seeing that I felt I had already covered those chapters.

This afternoon I went to prepare my lesson for tomorrow. It was only then that I noticed that I was yet again to continue with the previous lesson! All I can say is that God is good, because I was able to find a 4th day's worth of things to teach. I hope I have this system figured out now, I don't think my stress level can take this kind of confusion any more. :)

4 comments:

Nene said...

I wonder if you had the same or a different book than I had. One thing I did though. I printed a school year calendar from my computer (I had a Print Shop program), and then took the lesson schedule and the school days off schedule and went day by day and wrote a lesson one each day. I found there were many lessons I had to cut - can't remember now, but maybe as many as 20 lessons? I just cut every lesson that was a 3-part (3 day) lesson and most of the 2-day lessons. Of couse I taught seniors and we finished 2 weeks before everyone else. You might want to do this though, because I know when I taught juniors, we still had to cut quite a few lessons. That way you keep up and don't get to the end of the year and realize you're only 3/4 of the way through the New Testament. You can get the school "day off day's" from the district web site. We only had to deal with one high school, so it was easy.

deputymomof6 said...

I know how you feel!! Keep up the good work, I am sure it will work out for you!!

Max Coutinho said...

Hey D!

"I don't think my stress level can take this kind of confusion any more" LOL how I do get you!

I am thinking that your brain is not that sluggish, cause you managed to find stuff to teach (and appeal) during 4 days...you are pretty intelligent to me! Not to mention a good teacher...I have heard of situations where people actually follow the "continue with the previous lesson" and end up talking about the same thing class after class (so boring)!

I must bow to you *bowing*!

Cheers

JJJ said...

Thats why you should model yourself after many of the fine public school teachers oh wait that be a bad idea. Considering i personally know three youths that passed highschool and still cant read a dr.sues book.
Even though your teaching religion, i give you credit for atleast careing enough about what your teaching to make an effort. so no matter how bogged down you get or lost you think you are, atleast your making an effort.
**applauds the effort**