Teaching

Today I was observed by my principal-to-be. Things went ok I think. My first class was kind of shaky (I got 5 hours of sleep, after all, and it was like 8:00 and I was lecturing on the rise of the Islamic empire which entailed two dynasties and two invading peoples...and tenth graders) but I was the sub and not that concerned.
My ninth grade class, the one I was observed in, went well. We talked about the Odyssey--the account of the underworld and how the Greek perception of the afterlife influenced norms of Greek society. Yeah, I did kind of bs my way through it. It was lovely. But the kids really got it and it was so fun.
Also, we talked about Hades, how it's bad because you can't do the things you love best. Achilles, for instance, was disempowered completely. This hulking man of action is stuck with a withered, ephemeral body, and he can't do anything. Really wicked idea I think.
In my last period I was on fire. On fire=talking really fast and being really animated. I roasted through my lecture, leaving me with an entire hour to spare. With a little care I probably could've stretched it out, but what do you do? We focused more on the pattern of conquest and domination: some spark begins a revolution, the movement gains power and money, too much money and power facilitate mass corruption, which leads to a power struggle and eventual split. Anyway. That's probably enough for today.