Another Sunday Night Meltdown

I thought I had it all figured out, but I didn't. How do you teach students about something you have no interest in? I hate ancient China, especially the Tang and Song Dynasties. It's so boring and awful. I can't seem to find a way to make this interesting. I also have trouble sorting out the important information, as there is so much boring awful information I could impart about this time period. Now I know why Mark seemed so sad during this unit. It sux. How do you teach stuff that you don't want to learn yourself? I have no interest, I don't care, so how am I going to make them care? In my opinion, having to know something for an exam is not enough of a motivation. I have to somehow make it significant. I will probably be up all night, spending a good part of that time in freak-out mode, and then get it together at 3am. It sux that I have to waste so much time and sleep getting worked up about this. It's like I have to remind myself, yet again, that the world is not going to end, and I'm not going to die as a result of this lesson. Another thing that is weighing on my mind is the fact that Mrs. A, won't be there. She is usually better at getting the kids to settle down. I know there is that added challenge of them freaking out more than usual. I can't wait until I can get a placement of older more mature students, and not have to worry about Middle School behavior. What is bothering me more right now... the fear of them freaking out? or, failing to deliver a winning lesson? I think it's actually the first more than the second. I usually believe that the kids will be more focused if they are engaged. I'm not sure that is entirely true. I'm not sure that engagement is possible with such dry subject matter. I may be better off having many different activities, some variation. There are aspects to this unit that are so complex and boring the explain, I am afraid of losing their attention. I need to focus on the essential facts, and go from there.