What do you teach? I currently teach Freshman Composition I and II at the university where I’m working on my PhD.
Are you teaching now? Yes, I’m teaching a 7 week mini-mester course, since my munchkin’s due date is during the semester.
Do you like teaching? I LOVE teaching! I started the Master’s in English program with intentions of making myself a better candidate for law school, but when they let me in the classroom all those dreams of a life as lawyer were gone within 2 weeks.
What’s your fav part? I know that most people distaste teaching college freshman, and the past two semesters have shown me why; but more often than not freshman are exciting to teach. They are still so idealistic about their futures and most of them have not become cynics. I also like the fact that I teach at a very diverse university, and I can be a mentor for young students who may not have a lot of role models who look like them.
Has it been harder because of Baby S? Yes, I’ve gone through all three trimesters pregnant, so it’s been much harder than usual. In the beginning, I was just exhausted all the time and my patience level just did not exist at all. Now it’s harder, because he is so active and sometimes I’m in the middle of a thought and he will do a back flip and I totally forget what I was trying to convey to them in the first place.
What about when Baby S comes? Well, I will be done teaching at the end of February and he’s due at the end of March. I am not teaching this summer, but I will be back in the classroom in the Fall. I plan to teach in the evenings once my husband is home from work and we may hire a baby-sitter for a few hours a day if I need to teach during the day. I am also looking into online teaching opportunities, since daycare is out of the question right now.
