So, today I did my first few hours of in-class observation. It was odd being on the other side of the fence like that, especially because I'm observing at my old high school - where I attended for eight freaking years (grade 6-OAC [grade 13]) and where I graduated with, like, six awards and stuff. It's weird, purely and completely weird.

Anyway, the kids look so young! I don't remember ever being that young. Heh. The kids are fantastic though. I'm so completely impressed with their motivation, how they interact with each other, their participation and preparedness for class, and so much more. The things these kids came up with when they were analyzing a section of Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" was... astounding. It would be an honour to teach these kids. Anyway, both the classes I sat in on today were grade 11 university-prep courses - two sections of the same English class, actually. The dynamics of the classes were so hugely different, even though they were learning the same thing with the same teacher, it was like two different classes. The second class was much more... "enthusiastic" I guess would be the word; they participated in the discussion and the activities completely, though they weren't the most academic of the two classes, it was ultimately much more rewarding to work with them because they were willing to try harder. The guys in the class made me crack up - they have such personalities, though they know to respect authority and they're willing to work hard to delve deeper into what they're supposed to be discussing as long as they're given a little guidance in terms of what questions to ask and where to ask the questions.

Anyway, I am loving these kids and I'm excited for four classes tomorrow - three grade 12 classes and one grade 12 Writer's Craft class (my favourite class all through high school). This is definitely the grade range I want to teach. :)

Now, for a little TV talk. I'm woefully behind on most of the new shows, but I have been watching Studio 60 and catching up on Gilmore Girls.

( Studio 60Collapse )

( Gilmore Girls: Season 6Collapse )