My project (i.e. self-proclaimed long lost son) didn’t do well (or as well as he is capable of!) for the 1st semester. He received an A- in my class the 2nd quarter after stepping up his game, but his GPA was pretty low. He was sitting outside my classroom door when I came back from…
read more »As I pack my things for my Christmas trip home to Minnesota to visit my wonderful family and friends, I can’t help but pause and be thankful for everything I have been given. Among those blessings, I count Detroit and my Teach for America experience. I no way do I doubt that these last 18…
read more »Bad News: Most of my 8th graders did poorly on their Unit 3 Test. Good News: My “project” O. (who I talk about here) got the highest score on the test in the grade! While the positive relationship I have with this student probably helped influence him to come, he was the only 8th grader…
read more »1 week until the Holiday break, and it can’t come soon enough. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying my first own Christmas tree. I presumed that 2nd year would be a lot easier, and I was wrong. While planning, executing, and overall teaching has remarkably improved, it seems that 2nd year brings on the burden of additional leadership…
read more »As the holiday season quickly approaches, I often remember how very blessed I am; I’m so very thankful that I’ve been placed right here, right now. Often times, as I drive to work in the morning, I see the Detroit skyline peeking out as the sun rises shortly before 7am – it is in this…
read more »Today was eventful… 1 broken silly band shot at the woman observing me for my certification class, 2 lab activities ended quickly for behavior, one conversation in which the students were dead silent (an improvement) as I explained how disappointed I was that they did not get to do an awesome lab, 1 parent/ angry…
read more »This Thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for my students. I’m in a much better place than I was a couple weeks ago. However, this may have something to do with a vacation. =) This time of year is known as a big milestone with first year teachers. Despite the difficulties, stress, and frustrations we have…
read more »I have known that race plays a role in how my students act in my classroom. I am the only non-African-American person at my school (students/ teachers/ staff). I’ve gotten the occasional “racist” comment when disciplining a student. But knowing this is different than seeing it on a note left on my classroom floor today.…
read more »Last Saturday was the TFA Detroit Summit, which concluded our First Eight Weeks (this is both a unit of time and our first big PD period where we’re being monitored for growth). It was good to see everyone from the corps, since I mostly just see the few TFA teachers at my school and the…
read more »I asked him what happened and he began with “Mama, it really wasn’t my fault…” then continued to talk about how he didn’t start the fight, just swung at someone… He said, “Mama, they said I could have gone to juvey if he hadn’t moved out of the way.” I try to keep my poker face, but the thought of this actually happening to him or any other student breaks my heart.
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