When I was corps member, I generally felt that there was a certain self-righteousness that seemed to pervade TFA, and that at times infected me as well. Unsuccessful schools simply results from teachers who are burnt out and have stopped caring. Unsuccessful teachers simply lack high expectations for their students. The educational system itself has…
read more »This blog post seems out of place with so many Institute/Induction/omgTFA! posts, as I’m now officially an alumni going into my third year. However, I’m still allowed to geek out over education. Just the small fact that I received an informative email weeks ahead of starting PD thrills me. This is what my life will be like from now on. I will know what’s happening. I will have my questions answered in a way that makes sense. I will enter a stable work environment. I will be surrounded by positive, inspiring people. I will be happy.
read more »It’s incredible that tomorrow is the last day teaching at my school. On Thursday my 8th graders “continuate” and then I begin a venture into the world of charter schools. I can hardly believe my TFA experience is ending, but of course we all know that it’s just the corps member component that’s coming to…
read more »I found out today that one of my 8th graders is pregnant. She’s 13 and 3 months along. After school I heard her talking to one of my girls from last year, who was with her four-month-old. A mom and a mom-to-be, talking about what pregnancy is like and how to stay strong no matter…
read more »Today was one of those days. The days that I used to have in my first year, when I came home crying and feeling hopeless. The days where my lesson was terrible and no one learned, even after I re-wrote it the night before (staying up late planning is something I had banished all this year)…
read more »We started state testing this week and it’s a more miserable experience than I recall from last year. I did have one bright spot, which was then brightened even further today! I like to write about the bright spots, and this one is a student. To give you some background, S is a brilliant kid…
read more »I had my first “Leadership Team” tonight–the second component of training in year two, at least in my region. I am so energized! It was such authentic, meaningful discussion amongst a group of brilliant, talented, modest, thoughtful peers. I loved it.
read more »Yesterday, I got felt up by an 8th grade boy. It was a definite, two-handed, all-out feel up. Now this was accidental of course, but it doesn’t change the ridiculousness or embarrassment of the situation. Let me explain…
read more »Shooting 2 blocks from school this morning.. so glad none of my kids were hurt! Hoping their families are okay as well.. That being said, the second year of teaching is SO much better than the first. I feel so much more ready to tackle whatever is thrown at me, and confident. Like when I…
read more »I had three different administrators come up to me today and tell me how great I am. You see, we had visitors in our school today, and they observed my classroom. These are the important kind of visitors–the kind hired for the whole area of failing schools to make sure we’re on track. They are…
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