Teach For America teacher blogs are on Teach For Us

Yep, I Teach Art...

kd-elta — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:09:29 +0100

...and I'm a teacher, I work hard, I spend my Sundays triple checking lesson plans, I grade papers...etc. I do everything you do. I had to fight wanting to study art in college. Now I feel like I have to fight for being an art teacher. Since school began in August whenever I meet someone new or even speaking with someone I work with everyday I get this "oh, you're just an art teacher." When someone is telling me about all the work they have to do and I respond with "oh yeah man me too." I get a funny look and a "yeah but thats different work, I mean come on, it's art." I once had a co-worker tell me that my work wasn't as important as his because all I do is teach kids about how to use scissors properly. While what I really want to do is get frustrated right now I'm going to be channeling my energy into a new project. When you teach PBL there always has to be that real-world connection and this is the real world connection my art students and I deal with everyday. Updates to come as the project unfolds.

Little Moments

kd-elta — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 01:39:29 +0100

It is the awesome little moments that come completely out of the blue that make me excited for Monday mornings. 1. Grading drawings this morning from my 7/8th grade art class. The students did research about Superheroes and are now creating their own with a power they think would benefit their school. Some of the most creative ideas have come out of this project and it has been great to see but in particular one Superhero has stuck out. That Superhero has the power of mind-reading. Seems pretty typical. Then I read their explanation for why that would help the school. The students wrote that if a Superhero at the school could mind-read they could find the kids that were thinking about bullying and talk to them before it happens. They then would educate the person about why bullying isn't a good thing and why they shouldn't do it. I don't know about you but this 8th grader is my Superhero. 2. Lunch duty. I love being on lunch duty. Sometimes I just go to lunch duty even when it's not my day. I like talking to my students while they wait in line. One day last week I am speaking with a student of mine who started telling me all about his plans for after high school. He wants to go into the army. He told me that he knows he has to do better but if it doesn't happen this year he is done. He has failed so many times that if he doesn't pass this year he won't be able to finish high school because he doesn't want to be a "20 year old senior." So I asked him what did he need to make sure he passes. He knew the answer. I asked what are you going to do to make sure that happens. He again knew the answer. He then had a question for me. In order to pass he needed 30 AR points each semester and he just couldn't find a book he was interested in. I asked him a few questions and said I'd go to the library and try to find a few he might like. He was absent the next two days but on Friday when he came to my class I showed him the books that I pulled. He looked at me completely dumb founded and said, "you actually looked up books for me?" I told him yeah I did and I was going to read which ever one he picked so that we could talk about it, to make sure he passes that AR test. Walking away from that conversation I couldn't believe the excited but shocked look on his face when I did something to help him. He told me he had just been shuffled along because he kept failing, he didn't think anyone was really watching. 3. My advisory kids. If I end up staying here longer than my two years I can guarantee it is going to be because I want to stay with my advisory kids until they graduate. That is five years by the way, they are 8th graders. Oh boy. Well it is that Sunday night, time to get some sleep for that Monday morning.

Two Weeks In

kd-elta — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 01:51:20 +0100

So I remember that one time that I was like "yeah I am totally going to blog through institute." That did not happen. My last post was me finding out I was officially placed and now here I am two weeks in. It is amazing to me how fast you learn a school and the students that fill it. I have about 120 students that I teach- which is just under half the school. I thought I would share insights on what I've learned so far based off of the statement "I used to think....but now I know." Which is what we use as a staff for reflection at the end of meetings...and oh yeah the countless times we used it in professional development. I used to think.... Teachers went home after school and did nothing I would blog all the time All students wanted to be in Art because it was an elective The arts were cared about I would have an apartment by now My classroom would always be clean and organized Data was a pain I was going to be a regular instructional teacher But now I know... Teachers work all. the. time. That I am only going to blog when I am really trying to avoid grading assignments on echo Many students are forced to take art to graduate and they would rather get credit for watching paint dry then actually painting That administrators and many of my co-workers really just see me as an extra body in the hallway because my subject isn't tested That I still have two weeks until I move into an apartment and get furniture My desk will always have stuff on it no matter how many organizational systems I put in place Data is extremely important to know where each student is at That teaching at a New Tech school- I am a facilitator which is a completely new concept Until next time...or at least until I again am trying to look for something else to do besides grade these reflections.

Not Gonna Lie...

Eddie — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:17:29 +0100

I don't feel stressed. Actually, I feel exhausted, caffeinated, overworked, jealous, dirty, and underfed. But I don't feel stressed. Why am I breaking out like a pubescent teenager then? I am sure you heard things like this when you were growing up: "In Middle School, they make you write in pen and cursive. No pencils and no erasers." Or: "British Lit AP is seriously the hardest class you'll ever take." People with experience always seem to make mountains out of mole hills, so when I heard 2011 Corps Members say things like, "Institute will be one of the most difficult things you've ever done," I took it with a grain of salt. I was kind of saying to myself, "Really?! REALLY?!" Seriously though, this is real, folks. I feel like that "David After the Dentist" kid. "Is this real life? I can't feel anything." Imagine wanting to go into a professional career that takes years to develop the necessary skills, smashing the accumulation of knowledge of it into five weeks, and tacking on two aptitude tests. Stressful, right? Not gonna lie... it's been pretty trying, but I saw something today that completely changed me. Something that made me forget the tedious lesson planning and vision creations, the sleepless night before or the lack of quality exercise. I saw Caesar's face.* Not the, "E tu Brute?" Caesar, but another kind. I saw Kira, Evan, Amy, Tony, and Missy's face. I saw Julie's face. These 2nd graders in Avondale, AZ are real kids. They have real dreams and they have real struggles. Some of them have parents who have been "gone to Mexico" for months while others are struggling to read at a Pre-School reading level. Somehow they're excitement to meet me and their vivacity to live their tiny little lives make me forget about my personal struggles to keep up with an ever-growing work load. They inspire me to get through those lesson plans and make sure that everything is in perfect working order by the time I enter the classroom. My life has suddenly gone from a revolution around my success, to one around these student's success and furthermore, our country's success. No, not as in the "It takes a village" sort of way, but in a way that we are all stewards of our country's future. Did I mention that I forgot how it feels to be the coolest person in the room? These 2nd graders can either make you feel like everything you're saying is golden or that what you've just said makes them, "Want to rip their eyeballs out." (Yes, a young boy actually said that about a math objective) I love 'em and can't wait to teach music in the fall! *All the names have been changed for privacy.

Closin' it down

curley-girly — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:11:30 +0100

We have officially moved to Salt Lake City! We arrived May 30th, and are still waiting for the movers to show up with our stuff.. eesh. It's not been too bad, as we've had our trusty blow-up mattress, and belongings we've lived with for the past month with the in-laws. Hopefully our stuff will arrive THIS WEEK, since today is the deadline. ;) Salt Lake is indeed beautiful! We have spent lots of time already at Liberty Park, and driven around Sugar House and the 9th and 9th area quite a bit. This past weekend, we spent time with Brandon's family up in Jackson Hole- hiking around and relaxing. Brandon is beginning orientation on the 15th, then we head out to Zion National Park with the University of Utah that weekend, can't wait! Residents and their 'significants' are invited to enjoy the beauty of Zion together, as a way of bonding everyone before the real work begins. I've decided to find a new means of 'blogging' (check out my new art website, http://ecgart.blogspot.com/ ) so this will be my last official post on this site- especially since I won't be teaching full time this upcoming year. I'm currently looking for jobs with art and/or kids here in Salt Lake, but nothing has popped up yet! I know God has a perfect plan for me, 'job' or not! :) Now, my main job is taking care of my hubby and our soon-arriving puppy, Okie May- a Bernese Mountain Dog! She comes home with us next month, and we can't wait!! Thanks to those of you who have read or commented on here. I hope this blog has been informational, encouraging, and interesting for you! Signing off, Emily Curley Geister

First Post

millerrl — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:51:13 +0100

Well, Hello y'all (I need to start working on my southern accent since I am going to be moving to Mississippi in less than four days). I can't believe that it is already here. I am trying to enjoy my last few moments of home and calmness before my whole world gets turned upside down. I think I have read every single post on tfanet that is remotely related to institute in the Delta, but I still feel like I have no idea what to expect. These past few weeks have been a complete blur. At the beginning of May I returned home from a semester of student teaching in Chicago, that weekend I graduated from the University of Mount Union, then I transferred from the Metro-Atlanta region to the Mississippi Delta, I switched my placement from early childhood to art (thank the lord!), then I had an interview, got hired, and now I have to get on a plane and head down to Mississippi for a summer that is going to be far from relaxing. Even though I am nervous and I know that this is going to be the most challenging experience that I have ever taken on over the course of my short life, I am excited. So excited that I keep catching myself getting sidetracked and day dreaming when I have essential things to do like starting to pack. Writing this blog post is a perfect example of my extreme procrastination. Anyways, I just felt I had to write something to get the blog rollin'.

48 hours

kd-elta — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:46:05 +0100

In just 48 hours it is crazy what has happened. Originally I was placed in Elementary Ed, got everything ready for that. Finished all the Praxis exams my January, started to gather materials...had what felt like way to many skype interviews. It began to get exhausting having a skype interview then hearing nothing...and I began questioning whether I was ever going to be placed! Last week on the Mississippi Delta FB there was a post saying they needed more art teachers and if you had a background to think about it. I did just that. I love art. Always have. Didn't major in it in college- but took art classes all the time. I had an internship at the Georgia O'Keeffe museum...I love art. After a day of soul searching should I consider changing my placement I sent out an email saying I would be interested, just had a few questions. I never got a response from that e-mail so I just assumed my art background wasn't extensive enough. But on Monday night I recieved an e-mail from a principal asking if I was interested in the open art teacher position. It was a high school art position. Very opposite of the elementary position I had in my head since November. I decided since it was to late to call I would sleep on it and decide what to do in the morning. I woke up eager as ever to call the principal and for me that was enough to know that I needed to call and set up an interview. Since I was little one of my aunts has always talked about signs and looking for signs and I couldn't help it when this came up. It was stupid little things like the Principals last name being my moms maiden name or the name of the town being the same name as the town I worked in all through college. So I set up an interview that morning...for three hours later. I did the interview and knew I loved the school and what they were doing and that I thought I had a good match. BUT I had interviews before where I felt good about it so I continued on my day without getting my hopes up. I drafted a thank you e-mail but didn't send it until early the next morning. At about 10am I got a call that they wanted to hire me! I was so excited (still am)! I really do think it's going to be a good fit and while art wasn't what I had origionally been placed in the more and more I think about it the more excited I get. Now the stressful part....another Praxis exam!! Oh and I have to take it on June 9th. Thats 16 days to prepare. So a little panic has set in...since 10 of those day's I'm on a road trip down to the Delta and 4 I am at induction. But I'm excited for my placement and ready to do whatever I can to pass this exam! I just wish I could nap first.

Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

Eddie — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:31:29 +0100

I live in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. Among the beautiful sunsets, exotic desert landscapes, and sun-filled environments, live a whole lot of Jackrabbits. Jackrabbits are peculiar animals. Most nights, it isn't uncommon to see at least three or four of them scurry into your headlights before realizing they've made a grave mistake. They quickly turn around and jump back into the desert landscape of Joshua trees and mustard weeds. But there are those few brave rabbits that instigate a game of "Chicken." The ones that see the headlights and stare, much like a deer except much smaller and whole lot cuter. You silently think, "Oh no bunny! Run away! Stop looking at me and run! I might hit you," but they don't flinch a single muscle. "No, no stupid human. You're going to move for me." Ultimately, I cave and swerve away from the rabbit as I watch its ears hop along the horizon of the bushes. "You win again, Jack. You always do." It is at this crucial point in my life that I feel very much like those brave little Jackrabbits. I am staring a huge obstacle in its face and telling it, "No, no. You'll move if I tell you to move." Being a classical clarinetist for a majority of my life, I've learned to never back down from a challenge, even if it means humiliating myself. There are those rabbits who see the dangers of failure, the headlights, the mechanical girth and inner workings of the car, and refuse to budge. Ok, so I'm not necessarily putting my life on the line to join Teach For America, but about 460 children are putting their education in my hands. Seems just as significant. Let's just hope I don't get ran over.

My "kiddos"

kd-elta — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:01:25 +0100

One of my favorite things about TFA is the various background stories, here is part of mine.... It turns out I really freak people out when I call the kids that I watch for my job my "kiddos." For 10 months now I have been a babysitter, nanny whatever you want to call if for 9 different kids. I don't watch them all at the same time - I might go insane if I did that but there are 9 kids that have now become my "kiddos." Elayna, her brother Mason and friend Max were the first three and last summer the four of us did everything together. In October Max got a little sister Maddie and since mom was home with her, I watch the two of them every few weeks when mama needs a break. (They were my new years dates and let me tell you if that day was how my 2012 is going to be, I am going to have an adventurous year!) In Septemper I met Braylon and his mom who was expecting a daughter, Grace, in November. While I don't see them as often they have recently become my Wednesday night dates and we have some of the best pajama parties! In January I started watching on a regular basis during the week Lily, Ellie and Rye. The Next door neighbors to my summer buds Elayna and Mason I already new them but spending the last few months with them is where I really got to know these three amazing kids. My Facebook is full of albums of my "kiddos" and my twitter frequently pops of pictures of the kids doing their various funny things I try to capture in a photograph. I have been asked by friends from high school, even college if they are my kids. They are in fact not my kids but they will forever be my "kiddos." Elayna who just turned eight is so confident and I love to see her dive into her various activities with all her heart. She is going to be a strong leader someday I know it! Mason became my little nugget man and best friend after we have spent the most days together. He has got the best personality and when he lays his not yet one year old head on my shoulder my heart melts. Maxer who is two is a firecracker who thinks he is a super hero and I hope he never changes that. I am thrilled everytime I get to see him because he makes my day! Maddie is still so tiny and a cuddle bug, she loves to be held all the time! Braylon is one of the most gracious two year olds I have ever known. I already know he is going to be such a great person because of how much he loves. We have the best pajama parties! Grace is one of the best babies I have ever met, she is so peaceful and adorable. Lily is the strongest eight year old. She is a celiac diabetic who once wrote she "wishes she could be like all the other kids." Beyond being strong from that Lily is incredibly smart and I admire her in many ways. Ellie makes me smile so much my face starts to hurt, the five year old runs off the bus to hug me and "squeeze the stuffing out of me." She is so excited about everything she does and her imagination is amazing to see. Rye is one sweet three year old. As we play games, read books or are watching a movie he will just lean over and kiss your arm. It's so sweet and sincere. When I leave for Induction I will have been with these kids for a year. When I took the job I didn't think about how hard it would be to leave. Ellie keeps asking if I can just stay here and teach first grade- becuase that's where she will be! I can't wait to start teaching and get to know my students, but I sure will miss my "kiddos!"

Making Each Moment Count

kd-elta — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:40:26 +0100

It's been one year exactly since I had to pick up my cap and gown for graduation and where I am at now is totally different then where I thought I would be. Since being an accepted 2012 corps member I have been anxiously awaiting getting started! Since September I have been volunteering at my little brothers school in a third grade classroom. The school is a private catholic school, very different I imagine from the Delta. It has been nice being in a classroom and gathering ideas for my classroom. One of my favorite things about college was taking field notes and I never really stopped writing them once I graduated. So I thought I would share some of my thoughts here with you! 2-15-12

While currently I am not a certified teacher and I have never taken an education class while in college I have spent about 400 hours observing different classrooms over the last year and a half. While learning in a classroom is great the technique of observing is one that has been a successful tool for my preparation for Teach For America.

Since September I have been volunteering every Monday in a third grade classroom to help with reading. I am there for the first two hours of a 35 hour school week. I have been struck in the past by how the transitions of the classroom work. Many times as an observer I feel like I am watching viable learning minutes slip away. This week I decided to count and add up the minutes where students were not engaged in an activity, this included some times where the teacher told them to "get out a silent reading book" but the majority was not focusing in an effective manor. Twenty minutes total of the two hours I was there, or out of an hour and forty five minutes due to their 15 min recess. That is about 30% of the time at I was there, wasted. If their school day is about 7 hours of learning and about 10 min are lost every hour- the school day might as well be shortened, or the week ending Thursday, or school might as well just end at spring break! It seemed to be a lot of time was slipping away.

Now I don't want to seem like I know everything at all I certainly don't, that is not my intention, I just want to think back to some other classrooms I've been in and how the time was used differently. The two schools that I have primarily worked in are complete opposites. One is a school where 97% of the students below the poverty line, the other a catholic private school that costs thousands of dollars. Can you guess which school was using their time effectively and which wasn't? If you thought the private school was the effective one you would be wrong. A school that parents are paying for was wasting so much time and time means money.

The main areas I noticed where time was being used ineffectively were at transitions: bathroom breaks, drink breaks, snack, getting in line, changing groups.

The bathroom breaks at this school are whenever the child wants, they are allowed to roam the halls by themselves, where as the other school I worked at this was a huge "no-no." Having the students all go to the bathroom at the same time took about 5 minutes for the whole class but it saved learning time. Students wouldn't be missing different parts of the lesson and with 20 students each missing three minutes during different lessons that is a lot of time you are going to be spending reteaching something. If all the students go to the bathroom at the same time then they are all getting the same lesson. If the breaks are built in then they probably won't have to go all the time. Also tacking on bathroom breaks when students are already lined up and in the hall saves time as well, so after lunch, around a recess, or around a specialty class like gym, art, computers or library.

Getting students to line up I also have seen as being a time waster. If there is an effective way to line up then it happens in silence and more efficiently. So having the students line up with numbers, math problems, colors of shirts, birthday months..etc. This will require them to listen and to stay quiet while the rest of the students line up. It has always been frustrating to watch a teacher say ok students line up and then have them get upset when the kids are loud, talking and not focusing on getting in line. Just like there are rules in the classroom there should be rules for how students behave in line. No talking, hands to themselves, focus on the destination and know that if these are not followed they will be sent to the back of the line.

Snack is a big one where there is a ton of time wasted. At the private school snack time is 15 minutes in the morning and in the afternoon. The students grab their box of snack and eat however much they want and can shove in their mouths in that time. There are no rules about being quiet at this time and even sitting at their desks, its a fifteen minute free for all. During snack the students would either listen to a story being read, or watch a short video clip on a subject that would open up their next unit or class. This allows the students to concentrate on eating their snack but also get more information. Having the students stay focused in the classroom even during these short break times let's the students know classroom is for learning outside and recess is a for playing.

The last area where I saw time being wasted was changing subjects and groups. When I come in on Monday's the class is usually split into three groups. One group is always the same the other two change. It takes the first group, the one that knows what their group is, several minutes to gather their stuff and move to their spot, then another three or four minutes are taken splitting up the rest of the groups, about seven min total. If it was known that every Monday students were going to split into reading groups keep them the same for maybe three weeks at a time. Then to split into the groups all that would need to be said is grab your stuff and get with your groups. Having assigned groups and assigned areas of the classroom they meet in will help the students with structure. Rotating the groups and areas every two to three weeks will keep things fresh for the students as well.

The director of the camp that I went to for twelve years and high school teacher would always tell us that the class he liked most at the beginning of the year was his least favorite at the end because they tried to get away with stuff and he sometimes would be more lax with them on disciple but the class he didn't like at the beginning would be his best students at the end of the year because at the beginning ground rules were established, students knew what their behavior was expected to be and what would happen if they didn't act accordingly. Taking the first weeks of school to really drill home the basics of transitions, expectations and how the class is going to be run will save so much time in the end.

Just recently on one of the TFA blogs I have been following I saw where it states that organizing a classroom can be one of the hardest jobs, but that is one that I think observing really helps with nice really what you are doing is just seeing how a classroom functions. From an outside prospective sometimes it is easier to see the faults or areas that could use some improvement.