Testing ... one, two, three ...

Tea: Pu Erh Dante with vanilla

Music: Bob Walkenhorst, "Jan Vermeer"

Time: Night

Just over six months into my volunteer teaching gig -- working with fourth graders once a week on creative writing -- I'm about to find out what kind of an instructor I really am.

That's right. I'm giving my first real test: on poetic language, haiku, cinquains and limericks.

We reviewed last week, and everyone seemed to do well. But in a way, I may be more nervous than they are about tomorrow's exam. I want them all to succeed on it, but I also don't want to set the bar so low that succeeding isn't a challenge.

So once again, I'm reminded what a balancing act full-time teaching must be. Here's hoping I manage to strike the right balance tomorrow.