Query: would it be easier after mucho study before course?
Tell us whether the following strategy would have made your CFIlife more bearable these past weeks:
I tell prospective CFI's to gather the library of relevant books in late fall, several months prior to beginning the course (assuming they're not in a tearing hurry), and to spend the grim months of winter writing their own CFI text (draft or outline or scribbled notes, it matters not).
They also should get a little mid-winter dual ground on how to write lesson plans (and Flight Instruction Breakdowns, which have for unknown reasons been discarded by the FAA since mid-70's).
They can then arrive for beginning of CFI course Already Familiar with CFI topics. Far fewer surprises in training.
Would it have helped?