Praxis and Teaching

"Homework used Literature! Student is already asleep..."

I am taking the Praxis II exam for English Literature this Saturday, June 9, at 10:30 AM.  I am pretty sure I will pass it; I've taken 3 practice tests and I only got a few answers wrong on each of them.  The Cliff Notes' one was somewhat more difficult than the official tests, but I still did pretty well on it. We'll just have to see how it goes on test day.  I am still planning to take the Latin Praxis Test Thingy, but I have to schedule that still.  I'm pretty sure I'll be fine on that as well, so long as I brush up on my Roman history, and maybe some Greek history... anyway, the Saturday test.  It will be 2 hours long with 120 multiple choice questions (math majors, do the math... yes, 1 min/question).  Prayers are always appreciated!  

Studying for this Praxis has helped me even in small ways to see how to be a better teacher.  I'm excited to be doing a program where I will actually LEARN how to be a teacher.  There's so much I don't really know yet, but I am eager to take on the challenge so I can help my students more effectively.  All I really want to know is how to do my job really, really well. I never have gone at anything in life that I have really wanted halfheartedly.  

About why I want to be a teacher (good to know, right?).  I have always loved studying.  I know, that's weird.  I was that kid in third grade who was sad that we didn't get more homework than we did - that's how much I loved homework.  I was especially fond of spelling homework for some reason, but that's kinda besides the point.  When I was younger and people would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, I only ever said I wanted to be a teacher of some kind or I wanted to be an author (still two things I hope to be).  I didn't want to do anything else - some kids want to be doctors or lawyers or whatever, but I really wanted to be a teacher.  I didn't know what else I'd do with myself (not that I couldn't find any other options - I just wanted to be a teacher and I didn't want any other career).  

When I got older, I wasn't sure entirely if that's what I wanted to do - I was very shy growing up, and people from my high school can tell you, I was voted most quiet because I never talked. Going to college cured that, as many people can attest to!  Then I explored a few options, but teaching was still the ultimate goal, which has become especially clear to me this year while I was tutoring and looking for jobs for next year.  However, my primary reason wasn't the kids at first - I was afraid I couldn't relate to them. I really wanted to be a teacher mostly because I loved learning about my subject areas, and I was really passionate about them.  I still have a dream to get my Ph.D one day in Classical Philology (ask me about what that is later) - like I said, I love to study.  I can't see myself never being in school at all.  Now I see that kids are not really all so bad; in fact, they're pretty awesome.  They're just learning things, even the older kids.  I found out that when the kids start to really get my subject areas and appreciate them and learn about them, everything is great in the world. I love it when a student comes up to me and thanks me for teaching them about commas or thanks me for helping them understand how to read better in school. Kids are great to work with. Teaching really just makes sense in my head. 

Teaching isn't something you do to get promoted and make more money; you know you're not going to be making 6-digit numbers when you get into it.  You don't go for a steady job and regular work environment.  You have to LOVE teaching to be a teacher.  You have to have creative passion for your subject area, and you have to be willing to pour yourself into what you're doing for these kids.  You cannot be a half-hearted teacher.  Your teaching style is an art and is self-expression.  In some sense, a teacher is a professional artist.  Or such is my experience.  It's really something your soul gets a lot of good out of.   You really put in a hard day's work, but it's good work.  You have to metaphorically dig in the dirt and get to the roots of things.  

Anyway, I've babbled long enough, once more.  See? This is how I can write 15 page papers... I don't know when to shut up!!!!!!