Teaching and Sisyphus

As I reflect on the end of another school year, I realize that teaching has a lot in common with the curse of Sisyphus (or Syphilis as my oh-so-mature juniors like to call him).  Just when I finally get my students to some level of mathematical maturity, the year ends and they move on to another teacher, while the ball rolls back down and I have to push another group up the hill.

I don't really consider this to be a curse (if I did, I'd be in the wrong profession!).  It is just that the contrast between August and May is particularly clear for my IB juniors who covered two courses in that time span.  Their final papers are generally excellent and reflect a variety of skills that none of them possessed at the beginning of the year.  I am thankful that I will get to see the fruits of my labor in the 5 students who are going on to the senior IB class.  And I am thankful that I can see such growth - it is far more gratifying than reaching the end of the year and wondering if I accomplished anything.  (Seniors who drew pictures on your final exams, I'm looking at you!!)

I'll post a few more stories from the last 2 months of school before I head off on vacation.  Thanks for reading!