Teachers are not supposed to have favorites. And I really don't have one i like more than the rest. But, well, there is one student I just have to write about. I have one particular student named Adalberto whom I adore. He is a precious and shy little slightly chubby Latino boy with a blockish head, big square glasses, and quiet bright eyes that shine from behind them. I am sure one of the main reasons I adore him so much (other than i never have to deal with him in classroom discipline) is that he reminds me of my older brother, Chris.
On the first day we had them decorate a little name tag for their desk with their name, their big goal for the summer, and any design they wanted. Adalberto scrawled his name in mostly legible block letters. Then he wrote: "Be gud. get smart" He spent most of the time with the design, he drew little stick figures all over it. The stick figures were involved in complex machines, maneuvers, and landscapes. Most of them were also busy shooting little dashed lines at each other. Anyone that ever got to see Chris's school folders would probably recognize the genre of art.
Adalberto is generally quiet in class, but when called on will quietly and shyly answer questions with short and sometimes hard to decipher answers with amazing accuracy; he is not very confident in his English, but my thought is that as it improves Adalberto will start talking more and more. When he is right his eyes light up and he smiles a big smile. This piercing and happy quietness really is a pleasure to have in the classroom, but hardly noticeable when not focusing on it. The thing that makes him really the center of this post is his passion for writing. This boy will chew through books and write with a fervor that is astonishing, especially given his trouble in speaking English. He like the rest of my fourth graders is obsessed with Goosebumps Books (cute, trite, pseudo-scary chapter books for kids). But he has stepped it up a notch.
My class is working on the writing process and editing, and I am going to publish their book of myths that they are writing at the end of the summer school. I have been pounding into them (or at least trying to) the importance of the writing process and we have been brainstorming, (struggling with) outlining, writing rough drafts, editing for coherence, editing for spelling, and focusing on Showing the reader- not telling the reader- as in adding adjectives, adverbs, metaphors, and similes. To invest the kids I have been focusing on the difference between a writer- which anyone that can write a sentence is, and authors- who have the duty and honor to share the greatest ideas in the world with other people through their writing. Adalberto jumped on the train and is standing at the front of the engine begging me to make it go faster. I have him go home every night and write an extra short scary story. He comes first thing in the morning smiling into class and begging me to read his 2 page long, cute and barely legible horror story (which without fail to date forgets to include a conflict written down. for example the first one had a man go into the house and get scared- he forgot to write the man fell into a pit and couldn't get out) and tell me if i was scared. It has been a great and humorous way to work with his English, and writing at the same time. His passion and energy for "becoming an author who writes books with real covers not just paper" has been inspirational and energizing for me.
There is something inspirational about each of my students. Some are especially draining as well, but each has something amazing that motivates me to keep lesson planning at 2:30 in the morning on a Thursday night. I wasn't aware how attached to the kids I would get. I want to so bad to get good at this teaching thing, because I want THESE kids to have more doors opened for them, it is no longer some intangible statistic like by 4th grade my students in low income areas come in 3 grade levels behind. Or that a person's likelihood of going to prison in a US city can be reasonably predicted based on their reading levels in 3rd grade and 10th grade. They are now real people, tiny people who don't hold still well, tiny people who use a ton of Kleenex, and tiny people who inspire me to become the best teacher i can be as quickly as I can.
I have been struggling with teaching my students the concepts of outlining this week. Friday when i was reflecting on their assessments and overall low scoring on them was a rough one, but I will get better, and I will get better because of Adalberto, Chatty Carlece'a, Moody and charming Grace, Juan my fighter, Wendy with the big smile, cute and polite Taylor, bouncy Jeronimo, Brilliant Nicole, Insightful Jacquline (who speaks nearly no English and yet got the answer "fossils" when the rest of the class couldn't figure out how scientists know about dinosaurs), and the rest of the students I have had and will soon have.
Thursday 28 June 2007
Tuesday 26 June 2007
TFA Day:
So, this morning we woke up and went to school like we have grown accustomed to doing. I taught a raucous class of kids the importance of brainstorming and outlining to come up with good ideas. The kids were chatty, but invested. Tomorrow I have plans for trying to find ways to minimize their chatter. Keep informed, I will tell you if they ever work. I have been working on my "Teacher Look". However, unlike amazing people- like my cousin Sally, I have no teacher look to this point. I do have a proximity and posture trick that works out since i am much bigger than my students and after years of talking shit to my mirror, I have some experience in trying to look tough. Fortunately, to an 11 year old, a semi stearn looking 245 pound dude standing next to him/her with a serious tone generally operates in a similar way as a teacher look. It is just less cool and less efficient. Teacher looks are scary.
Anyways, the afternoon came around and we were scheduled to have another marathon Curriculum Specialist Session for 3 hours in a hot dark library. When we got in there the core was pretty frazled. A lot of the classes had been really chatty, we hadn't been making the academic gains we wanted, or sleeping enough. So there were some people on the verge of tears. I was actually in a pretty good mood since i had spent 8 minutes at lunch throwing a ball back and forth with my Corps Member Advisor- Katie. The monotany and simplicity of it was theraputic.
The session began with the preface that it is time for us to look at time management again and examine our values. We were supposed to write "What does TFA mean to you?" and "What is one not work related thing u are going to do tonight?"
I wrote: TFA means never being good enough- always having room to improve- closing the achievement gap. It means frustration, relentlessness, overcoming obstacles, and rejoicing in small successes. TFA means seeing Jeronimo smile and understand what an adjective is. It means not just having big goals, but living them. TFA is an organization. It is the No Fear folder of my life. TFA is the reason I know my next two years will not be wasted. It is a job, a dream, a paradigm. It means work hard, get smart. It is my opportunity to serve the country without a gun in my hand. It is a long shot and hard work, it is a step towards a better tomorrow. And it is the main reason I could really go for a nap right now.
They picked a few students and had them read theirs out loud one girl started crying as she reflected on being frustrated that her students have hardly been learning apparently, and she feels like it is her fault. She talked about being worried that she wouldn't improve their learning and was wasting every one's time. She talked about being exhausted.
Then the CMA's and CS's (our teachers and administrators) talked about what it meant to them. one group made an acrostic poem- the first groups talked really touchingly about what it has meant to them in their lives. How it touches them still now as they are alumni of the program just involved with helping train us. Then the second group of kindergartner CMA's spoke and said it stood for TOTALLY FREE AFTERNOON!!!!!!
They gave us the afternoon off and loaded us on the busses and had games and snacks and stuff waiting for us at the dorms. Everyone was in such a great mood. I got a group of 6 people and we went and played volleyball with a kickball. It has been raining constantly for about a week and so the sand was (no exaggeration) 10 inch deep mud. It was a mess and them 6 more people came and played and like10 came and watched. It was a great way to relieve stress and have fun without worrying about not making enough of a difference.
After the Volleyball game I met up with Flora, Ashleigh, and Kristen and we drove to Mario Garcia Elementary School. Those are my CM's that are going to teach there with me. Someday later i will write about what my school looked like. I just wanted to reflect that i had some down time and the TFA people are clever with morale.
I love all of you, and miss those of you reading this (whom I know).
Anyways, the afternoon came around and we were scheduled to have another marathon Curriculum Specialist Session for 3 hours in a hot dark library. When we got in there the core was pretty frazled. A lot of the classes had been really chatty, we hadn't been making the academic gains we wanted, or sleeping enough. So there were some people on the verge of tears. I was actually in a pretty good mood since i had spent 8 minutes at lunch throwing a ball back and forth with my Corps Member Advisor- Katie. The monotany and simplicity of it was theraputic.
The session began with the preface that it is time for us to look at time management again and examine our values. We were supposed to write "What does TFA mean to you?" and "What is one not work related thing u are going to do tonight?"
I wrote: TFA means never being good enough- always having room to improve- closing the achievement gap. It means frustration, relentlessness, overcoming obstacles, and rejoicing in small successes. TFA means seeing Jeronimo smile and understand what an adjective is. It means not just having big goals, but living them. TFA is an organization. It is the No Fear folder of my life. TFA is the reason I know my next two years will not be wasted. It is a job, a dream, a paradigm. It means work hard, get smart. It is my opportunity to serve the country without a gun in my hand. It is a long shot and hard work, it is a step towards a better tomorrow. And it is the main reason I could really go for a nap right now.
They picked a few students and had them read theirs out loud one girl started crying as she reflected on being frustrated that her students have hardly been learning apparently, and she feels like it is her fault. She talked about being worried that she wouldn't improve their learning and was wasting every one's time. She talked about being exhausted.
Then the CMA's and CS's (our teachers and administrators) talked about what it meant to them. one group made an acrostic poem- the first groups talked really touchingly about what it has meant to them in their lives. How it touches them still now as they are alumni of the program just involved with helping train us. Then the second group of kindergartner CMA's spoke and said it stood for TOTALLY FREE AFTERNOON!!!!!!
They gave us the afternoon off and loaded us on the busses and had games and snacks and stuff waiting for us at the dorms. Everyone was in such a great mood. I got a group of 6 people and we went and played volleyball with a kickball. It has been raining constantly for about a week and so the sand was (no exaggeration) 10 inch deep mud. It was a mess and them 6 more people came and played and like10 came and watched. It was a great way to relieve stress and have fun without worrying about not making enough of a difference.
After the Volleyball game I met up with Flora, Ashleigh, and Kristen and we drove to Mario Garcia Elementary School. Those are my CM's that are going to teach there with me. Someday later i will write about what my school looked like. I just wanted to reflect that i had some down time and the TFA people are clever with morale.
I love all of you, and miss those of you reading this (whom I know).
Sunday 24 June 2007
RENT
Before I begin, anyone that has facebook should check out my photo album "Summer School" it has pictures of all of my kids from this summer.
"How do you leave the past behind
When it keeps finding ways to get to your heart
It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out
Till you're torn apart
Rent!"
-From the musical RENT
Neat. I found a quote that captures both of the biggest emotions I have right now. This weekend I signed the lease on a brand new three bedroom apartment in a region of NW inner Houston. At least 21 other TFA corps members are living there as well. I will be living with a guy named Austin and a girl named Christina. They seem like a lot of fun and we really enjoyed spending our Saturday driving around looking for apartments. We found this place and couldn't wait to sign the lease. It is much much nicer than anywhere i had hoped to live. It comes complementary with a gym, a pool, in unit washer and drier, brand new applianced, a patio, 3 indoor parking spots, and a really nice communal entertainment area. It also comes with complimentary wireless internet!
It is sooo nice to not have to worry about finding a place to live for the rest of the summer. The day I am moving out of institute I will be able to move right into my new apartment and start being a real grown up. I get to pay rent. Not like college rent, but real rent.
That is the really exciting news from this weekend. Other than spending almost all of Saturday apartment hunting I spent my time lesson planning, wrote some poetry, played friesbee, and relaxed with some of my fellow corps members. It was a great break from the amazing hustle that has been institute. The rumor going around here is that 37 people have already dropped out because it was too hard. I haven't confirmed that yet, but I have seen fairly regularly people leaving with all of their things boxed up driving away or hopping in a Taxi. It adds a wierd combination of morbedness and pride to my day. Those of us left here are trying to see if we have what it takes not only to become teachers (an amazingly difficult proffession), but to become above average teachers in only one summer). Everytime someone leaves it seems like it is a dare going across the common room. "I dare you to become a teacher. I dare you. Do you really think you are strong enough?"
It seems like the majority of people take that challenge to heart. I have never lived with such a driven group of people. It is like finals week all the time, without management majors, and instead of grades we have the future of somebody's kids in our hands... It is daunting and exciting. The people are so nice, so diverse, so driven. We represent so many different world views and walks of life. The main thing that connects us is this sense of urgency that the educational gap needs to be closed. It is fun to finally be in an enviornment where the locus of control is placed right on us, and we can band together against the social pressure that says the problem is too big to fix.
The enviornment also makes me miss my home, my family, and my old friends. The people here are amazing. But I haven't yet found a niche of people that have either the biting sarcastic wit of many of my MN connections (Nina, Baits, Flynn, Yea-High, etc) or the overwhelming sense of hyperbole (Hawk, C-B, Cuz Anne, Doc Phil) or are just wonderful to be with (Cody, Girl-Kyle, Donut, my whole family, Tessa). I have met some very cool people, but since i hardly know them, and since things have been so challanging two things have been keeping me going- thoughts of home, and thoughts of my students.
I cannot overemphasize how amazing the kids are, and how tragic it is that since so many of my kids came from a low Socio-Economic place they aren't normally even ever given high expectations, or someone outside of their home that cares about them. it breaks my heart. These kids are so smart, and so much fun, and mostly lacking a sense of hope even at 11 years old. We are really focusing on that hope idea in my class. I can only pray that it will take hold.
Anyways. I just wanted to write to say I Love all of you. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. You are all my strength and inspiration. I thank God everyday that I came from a background that had SOOOO many people that supported me so much.
Keep it real.
"How do you leave the past behind
When it keeps finding ways to get to your heart
It reaches way down deep and tears you inside out
Till you're torn apart
Rent!"
-From the musical RENT
Neat. I found a quote that captures both of the biggest emotions I have right now. This weekend I signed the lease on a brand new three bedroom apartment in a region of NW inner Houston. At least 21 other TFA corps members are living there as well. I will be living with a guy named Austin and a girl named Christina. They seem like a lot of fun and we really enjoyed spending our Saturday driving around looking for apartments. We found this place and couldn't wait to sign the lease. It is much much nicer than anywhere i had hoped to live. It comes complementary with a gym, a pool, in unit washer and drier, brand new applianced, a patio, 3 indoor parking spots, and a really nice communal entertainment area. It also comes with complimentary wireless internet!
It is sooo nice to not have to worry about finding a place to live for the rest of the summer. The day I am moving out of institute I will be able to move right into my new apartment and start being a real grown up. I get to pay rent. Not like college rent, but real rent.
That is the really exciting news from this weekend. Other than spending almost all of Saturday apartment hunting I spent my time lesson planning, wrote some poetry, played friesbee, and relaxed with some of my fellow corps members. It was a great break from the amazing hustle that has been institute. The rumor going around here is that 37 people have already dropped out because it was too hard. I haven't confirmed that yet, but I have seen fairly regularly people leaving with all of their things boxed up driving away or hopping in a Taxi. It adds a wierd combination of morbedness and pride to my day. Those of us left here are trying to see if we have what it takes not only to become teachers (an amazingly difficult proffession), but to become above average teachers in only one summer). Everytime someone leaves it seems like it is a dare going across the common room. "I dare you to become a teacher. I dare you. Do you really think you are strong enough?"
It seems like the majority of people take that challenge to heart. I have never lived with such a driven group of people. It is like finals week all the time, without management majors, and instead of grades we have the future of somebody's kids in our hands... It is daunting and exciting. The people are so nice, so diverse, so driven. We represent so many different world views and walks of life. The main thing that connects us is this sense of urgency that the educational gap needs to be closed. It is fun to finally be in an enviornment where the locus of control is placed right on us, and we can band together against the social pressure that says the problem is too big to fix.
The enviornment also makes me miss my home, my family, and my old friends. The people here are amazing. But I haven't yet found a niche of people that have either the biting sarcastic wit of many of my MN connections (Nina, Baits, Flynn, Yea-High, etc) or the overwhelming sense of hyperbole (Hawk, C-B, Cuz Anne, Doc Phil) or are just wonderful to be with (Cody, Girl-Kyle, Donut, my whole family, Tessa). I have met some very cool people, but since i hardly know them, and since things have been so challanging two things have been keeping me going- thoughts of home, and thoughts of my students.
I cannot overemphasize how amazing the kids are, and how tragic it is that since so many of my kids came from a low Socio-Economic place they aren't normally even ever given high expectations, or someone outside of their home that cares about them. it breaks my heart. These kids are so smart, and so much fun, and mostly lacking a sense of hope even at 11 years old. We are really focusing on that hope idea in my class. I can only pray that it will take hold.
Anyways. I just wanted to write to say I Love all of you. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. You are all my strength and inspiration. I thank God everyday that I came from a background that had SOOOO many people that supported me so much.
Keep it real.
Friday 22 June 2007
Happy Hour
Wow. Apparently teacher happy hours are "off de chain".
Here is to a great week of teaching, learning a lot, and passing out at 9 pm.
Here is to a great week of teaching, learning a lot, and passing out at 9 pm.
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Content-ment
So, it is three days in and I am alternating between utter contentment, total passion, lip splitting smiles, finger twitching frusteration, and the type of fatigue that makes everything seem okay -because if things go wrong enough maybe everyone will just leave me alone and let me sleep.
My class is incredible. I have 21 fourth graders (ESL students hoping to go into 5th grade) for two hours a day. I co-teach a math/literacy hour with 3 other TFA trainies from 8-8:55 every morning. Then from 8:55-9:30 I teach reading alone. After an exciting exploration of root words, fact vs. opinion, and passion for learning and work I line my students up and bring them to the bathroom. Then I bring them back into the classroom for another 22 minutes of reading work.
So far I have been having so much fun. Our room name is the Ready To Learn Champions (RTL Champs). The kids have been really invested and I have been keeping my energy level up (when in the classroom) and they have been very interested. Most of their vocabularies are VERY limited, but I am doing everything in my power to expand them. In an effort to do that I have modeled our summer reading units with a detective theme. This allows me to talk about everything they learn as a great gain into unlocking and solving the greatest and hardest to solve mystery of all time: The English Language. Instead of notebooks (which many of my students can't afford) we made case books where they have to write "clues" which involve words, definitions, pnuemonic devices, and word charts. They seem to be eating it up, and, truth be told, I am really enjoying the whole thing. Whenever I get the overhead projector I yell "To the Fact-Symbol!" and i they all start chaotically na-na-na-na-nan-na-nan-na-na-ing until the Class manager throws her hands in the air and everyone sings "knowledge" instead of batman. This keeps their energy up. They also have a class cheer which they scream with such vigor it makes me hope I am not bothering the dead let alone the classroom. But after the cheer the kids are out of breath and enter the Ready to Learn position: hand clasped together on the desk, both feet on the ground, looking at me and trying to smile even bigger than i am smiling.
So basically I am saying I am loving the whole teaching thing, but i am struggleing to cross the language barrier with the content, but WE WILL get there. The kids seem to be having fun and most of them have already read a book since we started!!!!
I have to go to a lesson planning meeting, where I will hopefully get better at teaching content that is age and knowledge-level appropriate (during the first day I got so excited I started talking about the progression of the english language as a germanic language and how Latin and Greek influence it. I had 21 very intregued, totally lost 4th graders). I wanted to just reflect real quick on how amazing everything has been. And to ask everyone to pray for a snowstorm so school is canceled, the humidty goes away, and I can finally sleep more than 2.5 hours a night.
Peace
My class is incredible. I have 21 fourth graders (ESL students hoping to go into 5th grade) for two hours a day. I co-teach a math/literacy hour with 3 other TFA trainies from 8-8:55 every morning. Then from 8:55-9:30 I teach reading alone. After an exciting exploration of root words, fact vs. opinion, and passion for learning and work I line my students up and bring them to the bathroom. Then I bring them back into the classroom for another 22 minutes of reading work.
So far I have been having so much fun. Our room name is the Ready To Learn Champions (RTL Champs). The kids have been really invested and I have been keeping my energy level up (when in the classroom) and they have been very interested. Most of their vocabularies are VERY limited, but I am doing everything in my power to expand them. In an effort to do that I have modeled our summer reading units with a detective theme. This allows me to talk about everything they learn as a great gain into unlocking and solving the greatest and hardest to solve mystery of all time: The English Language. Instead of notebooks (which many of my students can't afford) we made case books where they have to write "clues" which involve words, definitions, pnuemonic devices, and word charts. They seem to be eating it up, and, truth be told, I am really enjoying the whole thing. Whenever I get the overhead projector I yell "To the Fact-Symbol!" and i they all start chaotically na-na-na-na-nan-na-nan-na-na-ing until the Class manager throws her hands in the air and everyone sings "knowledge" instead of batman. This keeps their energy up. They also have a class cheer which they scream with such vigor it makes me hope I am not bothering the dead let alone the classroom. But after the cheer the kids are out of breath and enter the Ready to Learn position: hand clasped together on the desk, both feet on the ground, looking at me and trying to smile even bigger than i am smiling.
So basically I am saying I am loving the whole teaching thing, but i am struggleing to cross the language barrier with the content, but WE WILL get there. The kids seem to be having fun and most of them have already read a book since we started!!!!
I have to go to a lesson planning meeting, where I will hopefully get better at teaching content that is age and knowledge-level appropriate (during the first day I got so excited I started talking about the progression of the english language as a germanic language and how Latin and Greek influence it. I had 21 very intregued, totally lost 4th graders). I wanted to just reflect real quick on how amazing everything has been. And to ask everyone to pray for a snowstorm so school is canceled, the humidty goes away, and I can finally sleep more than 2.5 hours a night.
Peace
Monday 18 June 2007
The first day of school.
Well, after 3 hours of very heavy sleep and many more hours of lesson planning, investment planning, group work, diagnostic preperation, and writing of procedures I am up, dressed in a tie, listening to my party mix with my roomie, Adrian, and getting ready for day one in the classroom!
I am excited and nervouse to start learning how to teach and make the enviornment needed to get these kids the best education possible. Hopefully soon I will get more sleep.
Wish me luck.
I am excited and nervouse to start learning how to teach and make the enviornment needed to get these kids the best education possible. Hopefully soon I will get more sleep.
Wish me luck.
Sunday 17 June 2007
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day Dad!
I am in Houston today because of you. As I reflect on all the skills, values, and attributes TFA found in me and wants to foster I look back at you and realize how many of them you taught me by example. Our core values are the source of all we are doing at Teacher Boot Camp and they are:
1)Relentless Pursuit of Results
2)Sense of Possibility
3)Disciplined Thought
4)Respect and Humilty
5)Integrity
I wanted to thank you for blessing me with such a model. I will be teaching my children about Atticus Finch as a model of relentless virtue. But I could use you too. Thank you for everything you do.
I am in Houston today because of you. As I reflect on all the skills, values, and attributes TFA found in me and wants to foster I look back at you and realize how many of them you taught me by example. Our core values are the source of all we are doing at Teacher Boot Camp and they are:
1)Relentless Pursuit of Results
2)Sense of Possibility
3)Disciplined Thought
4)Respect and Humilty
5)Integrity
I wanted to thank you for blessing me with such a model. I will be teaching my children about Atticus Finch as a model of relentless virtue. But I could use you too. Thank you for everything you do.
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