Dear Ms. Fisher,
It seems as though I am trivially nervous this evening; however, the nerves have not yet manifested themselves as rabid butterflies making fish food of my stomach. Perhaps the morning will bring this on. At the sight of a school bus my tummy may churn like the thumping of a wooden rod in great grandma’s butter pot. But like the creamy butter that was the result of wood thrashing against metal, the storm in my stomach too will subside and my nerves calm. Give me 3 shots of adrenaline, one for each period, and I am good to go.
Well, writing this has soothed me to a sleepy state. When I wake to the sound of my alarm at 5:20am tomorrow morning I will strive to remember this calm and carry it through the day. Brush it off like Jay-Z and convince the kids they can like Nas…game on.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A glimpse into the future...
White, bare walls. Bumpin' oldies tunes. Yogurt covered pretzels and chocolate hazelnut sticks lonely in their containers. Three piles of paper: 1) parent survey, 2) letter home, and 3) syllabus. A young teacher in a blue button-down, wandering aimlessly around the classroom. Indeed, it is I.
Tonight was family night/back to school night at our school. Of the 80 or more students I will have, a total of 8 families swung by. I met energetic, bright-eyed girls, straight-faced, eye-contact avoiding young men, and a student who I am not sure understood a single word I spoke. My students will range from this last student, N., who moved from (I think) Cambodia to the US 2 years ago, to a private-school looking student whose mother told me she is normally an honor-roll student...sure mom, aren't all of our sons and daughters who somehow got stuck in the remedial math class...Kidding! I firmly believe, and refuse to halt my faith, that these students are simply kids who never were placed in a learning environment conducive to their building strong academic confidence. Many teachers in their past likely treated them with distrust, reproach, and hostility. I intend to create an environment where making mistakes is seen as a learning opportunity and not as something to mock. Where students are excited for tests because it represents an opportunity to participate in school when they know they can and will succeed.
Yes...yes...fair enough...indeed I continue to bask in the blissful ignorance of the naive, young teacher.
Give me these last few days.
Tonight was family night/back to school night at our school. Of the 80 or more students I will have, a total of 8 families swung by. I met energetic, bright-eyed girls, straight-faced, eye-contact avoiding young men, and a student who I am not sure understood a single word I spoke. My students will range from this last student, N., who moved from (I think) Cambodia to the US 2 years ago, to a private-school looking student whose mother told me she is normally an honor-roll student...sure mom, aren't all of our sons and daughters who somehow got stuck in the remedial math class...Kidding! I firmly believe, and refuse to halt my faith, that these students are simply kids who never were placed in a learning environment conducive to their building strong academic confidence. Many teachers in their past likely treated them with distrust, reproach, and hostility. I intend to create an environment where making mistakes is seen as a learning opportunity and not as something to mock. Where students are excited for tests because it represents an opportunity to participate in school when they know they can and will succeed.
Yes...yes...fair enough...indeed I continue to bask in the blissful ignorance of the naive, young teacher.
Give me these last few days.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Quick Facts
Bets news of the day: I HAVE A CLASSROOM!! YESSSS. I am no longer floating. This may not seem like amazing news, but Good Lord it will make my year so much happier I believe.
Best quote of the day: Our principal getting up in front of the school at our meeting with the superintendent and saying (direct quote), "We have it rough at West Meck!" audience applause..."We have kids coming to school pistol whipping other kids over the weekend and bringing all that baggage with them to school on Monday." I was like...what? Did she just say that out loud??
This came just before our gang workshop where we learned that if you see "5 poppin, 6 droppin" written anywhere, it means that the Bloods are going to shoot up some Crips. 5 shooting and 6 dead. We have a decently size gang problem at our school; Crips will cross out all the B's on tests to diss the Bloods and signs are thrown up around the school on a regular basis.
Also, I have asked the principal and athletic director if I can take the Head JV Women's Basketball coaching position...hopefully I'll get it, but there are some complications with stealing a math teacher from another school which may be facilitated if said person were to take a head coaching position - small stipulation in the CMS school rules.
Best quote of the day: Our principal getting up in front of the school at our meeting with the superintendent and saying (direct quote), "We have it rough at West Meck!" audience applause..."We have kids coming to school pistol whipping other kids over the weekend and bringing all that baggage with them to school on Monday." I was like...what? Did she just say that out loud??
This came just before our gang workshop where we learned that if you see "5 poppin, 6 droppin" written anywhere, it means that the Bloods are going to shoot up some Crips. 5 shooting and 6 dead. We have a decently size gang problem at our school; Crips will cross out all the B's on tests to diss the Bloods and signs are thrown up around the school on a regular basis.
Also, I have asked the principal and athletic director if I can take the Head JV Women's Basketball coaching position...hopefully I'll get it, but there are some complications with stealing a math teacher from another school which may be facilitated if said person were to take a head coaching position - small stipulation in the CMS school rules.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Depot'n' and Rappin'
I feel myself becoming the hyper type-A, so ridiculous that it must be TFA, person that I once feared and loathed.
Example A: Yesterday I purchased about 80 - 1 inch view binders from Walmart. I stared at the wall of binders in front of me. It stood about 7 feet tall and consisted of all sorts of brands, colors and sizes. Locating the cheapest brand, I began pulling binders of all sorts of beautiful colors from the sea of choices...blue...sea blue...turquoise ...red...fuscia...and then the vision hit me. 30 students fighting each other for the turquoise gem. Yes, indeed this was a special piece that all student should have the opportunity to use. However, would all students really like this color? And how extremely out of control might my classroom get should I allow students to choose their favorite color? I solved the problem! Everyone gets white!
This was only the beginning. I purchased bright orange printer paper with which students will create binder dividers (turns out a set of 5 is about 3 times as much as a 1inch binder). As a class, we will set up binders in exactly the same way. I also purchased hanging folders and a crate in which to carry them - I will have one folder for each student, where I will keep a student survey, parent survey, and track contacts with parents. Lastly, I got sweet boxes to put white board markers, pencils, and markers in. I'll have these on counters for students to grab when they walk in the door.
Best teacher tip ever: To make white boards for your students go to Home Depot or a similar store. Ask for shower board or cardboard with a white coating on top. You get an 8ft by 4ft board that can be cut into pieces. I now have 32, 1ft by 1ft, white boards all for $12.95. Pretty crazy.
I hope this organization pays off...school starts a week from tomorrow.
Also, my math dept. coordinator asked us to come up with a little rap to present to the staff tomorrow, this is what I offered:
Eh EOC
Yeah you know me
We're comin for ya to achieve
So high, you can't believe
West Mecklenburg
Low scores, we gonna purge
Yo Myers Park, you better hop to the curb
We're goin straight to the top
And you know we don't stop
(EOCs are the NC high school standardized tests and Myers Park is a predominantly white high school with great scores)
Example A: Yesterday I purchased about 80 - 1 inch view binders from Walmart. I stared at the wall of binders in front of me. It stood about 7 feet tall and consisted of all sorts of brands, colors and sizes. Locating the cheapest brand, I began pulling binders of all sorts of beautiful colors from the sea of choices...blue...sea blue...turquoise ...red...fuscia...and then the vision hit me. 30 students fighting each other for the turquoise gem. Yes, indeed this was a special piece that all student should have the opportunity to use. However, would all students really like this color? And how extremely out of control might my classroom get should I allow students to choose their favorite color? I solved the problem! Everyone gets white!
This was only the beginning. I purchased bright orange printer paper with which students will create binder dividers (turns out a set of 5 is about 3 times as much as a 1inch binder). As a class, we will set up binders in exactly the same way. I also purchased hanging folders and a crate in which to carry them - I will have one folder for each student, where I will keep a student survey, parent survey, and track contacts with parents. Lastly, I got sweet boxes to put white board markers, pencils, and markers in. I'll have these on counters for students to grab when they walk in the door.
Best teacher tip ever: To make white boards for your students go to Home Depot or a similar store. Ask for shower board or cardboard with a white coating on top. You get an 8ft by 4ft board that can be cut into pieces. I now have 32, 1ft by 1ft, white boards all for $12.95. Pretty crazy.
I hope this organization pays off...school starts a week from tomorrow.
Also, my math dept. coordinator asked us to come up with a little rap to present to the staff tomorrow, this is what I offered:
Eh EOC
Yeah you know me
We're comin for ya to achieve
So high, you can't believe
West Mecklenburg
Low scores, we gonna purge
Yo Myers Park, you better hop to the curb
We're goin straight to the top
And you know we don't stop
(EOCs are the NC high school standardized tests and Myers Park is a predominantly white high school with great scores)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Rough But Hopeful News
I received a text from one of my summer school students this evening: "Just wanted to let you know I didn't pass the test, hope you are doing well."
I was pretty devastated. Granted this was a student that missed half of summer school, but damn did it hurt. I sent some inspirational words about dominating in school this year and he replied that he would rather look into getting a GED. We texted back and forth for a little, and I eventually emailed him an article about the degree from TIME. Apparently "95% of community colleges and four-year colleges accept the certificate in place of a high school diploma." I found this especially important to share with him so that he does not give up on college dreams.
Although I am bummed that things didn't go perfectly for him this summer, I am happy that he continues to reach out to me to check up every few weeks. Hopefully I can be a positive influence in his life. His story will surely motivate me this year; it will deter me from giving up on a single student.
I was pretty devastated. Granted this was a student that missed half of summer school, but damn did it hurt. I sent some inspirational words about dominating in school this year and he replied that he would rather look into getting a GED. We texted back and forth for a little, and I eventually emailed him an article about the degree from TIME. Apparently "95% of community colleges and four-year colleges accept the certificate in place of a high school diploma." I found this especially important to share with him so that he does not give up on college dreams.
Although I am bummed that things didn't go perfectly for him this summer, I am happy that he continues to reach out to me to check up every few weeks. Hopefully I can be a positive influence in his life. His story will surely motivate me this year; it will deter me from giving up on a single student.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Free Teacher Stuff, Religion, and More Cockroaches
Well today I was hit by the teacher Gods. There is a place in Charlotte called Classroom Central that gives away over 3.5 million dollars worth of school supplies to teachers every year. I went in there not knowing what I was getting into and walked out with literally about $400 worth of merchandise...from new and used binders, notebooks and pens, to mechanical pencils, notebook paper and a backpack! I immediately called my Mom and delivered the phenomenal news: We get to go once a month and pick out basically as much stuff as we would ever need or want. I was a kid in a candy store in there, couldn't stop talking about it.
Last night we sat around the dinner table and had a little religion break down. I expressed my concern regarding the hypocritical nature of people's hating on particularly religious individuals just like they claim highly religious Christians hate on them. After their discussing their reasons at length and my quiet taking in what they were conveying, I think it came across as if I were holding something back from them - like I were a closet super-conservative Christian waiting to sneak into their rooms when they were sleeping and convert them. Addressing this concern that they might mistake my silence for the "judgement of the Southern Christian," I proclaimed that in no way had anything they had said offended me and that I actually agreed with many points - a true statement. Anyway, I think it will all turn out all right...but the divide between conservative Christians and those who lack respect for their culture is certainly great...especially in the South.
Also...the darn cockroaches will not go in peace. Under the direction of a wise aunt, I went on a Boric Acid rampage the other night. Some of my roommates were remarkably concerned by the poison sign on the white bottle that I had picked up from the drugstore. I reassured them that there was little to fear, as I liberally dusted crevices and holes in their rooms and around the house with the bug repellent. Ever doubtful (and perhaps for good reason - as the bottle warned against contact between powder and eyes, fingers and throat), one fellow renter looked it up online to confirm that it had previously been used as a cure-all for eye and yeast infections alike - oh the plethora of uses for Boric acid. Long story short, we have continued to experience cockroach sightings all through the house, particularly in bedrooms. Last night I made a heroic dive under my roommate's bed to catch one before it could disappear from view.
New teacher workdays begin tomorrow. Time to leave the TFA bubble and enter real life...thank God and good God!
Also...I will be reporting to school no later than 6:50am during the school year and will be "floating" - i.e. I don't have a set classroom, but instead will have a cart with which I shall transport my goods. Maybe I'll finally get into coffee.
Last night we sat around the dinner table and had a little religion break down. I expressed my concern regarding the hypocritical nature of people's hating on particularly religious individuals just like they claim highly religious Christians hate on them. After their discussing their reasons at length and my quiet taking in what they were conveying, I think it came across as if I were holding something back from them - like I were a closet super-conservative Christian waiting to sneak into their rooms when they were sleeping and convert them. Addressing this concern that they might mistake my silence for the "judgement of the Southern Christian," I proclaimed that in no way had anything they had said offended me and that I actually agreed with many points - a true statement. Anyway, I think it will all turn out all right...but the divide between conservative Christians and those who lack respect for their culture is certainly great...especially in the South.
Also...the darn cockroaches will not go in peace. Under the direction of a wise aunt, I went on a Boric Acid rampage the other night. Some of my roommates were remarkably concerned by the poison sign on the white bottle that I had picked up from the drugstore. I reassured them that there was little to fear, as I liberally dusted crevices and holes in their rooms and around the house with the bug repellent. Ever doubtful (and perhaps for good reason - as the bottle warned against contact between powder and eyes, fingers and throat), one fellow renter looked it up online to confirm that it had previously been used as a cure-all for eye and yeast infections alike - oh the plethora of uses for Boric acid. Long story short, we have continued to experience cockroach sightings all through the house, particularly in bedrooms. Last night I made a heroic dive under my roommate's bed to catch one before it could disappear from view.
New teacher workdays begin tomorrow. Time to leave the TFA bubble and enter real life...thank God and good God!
Also...I will be reporting to school no later than 6:50am during the school year and will be "floating" - i.e. I don't have a set classroom, but instead will have a cart with which I shall transport my goods. Maybe I'll finally get into coffee.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Cockroaches...apparently they are clean!
Greetings!
As of now, the cockroach count in our condo is 3 and counting. As the four of us snuggled up for a quiet evening of "Wild Things", it wasn't the plot twists that freaked us out so much as the reddish-black, dazzlingly quick creature crawling up the curtain in the background. We were visited again by a friend in the shower last night. Running to the rescue, I was handed a shot glass and a magazine with which to catch and release the demon. As I blew air in an attempt to stir the roach from the cozy crevice it was inhabiting, I failed to hang onto the glass. Unfortunately, the small glass slipped from my hand, only to shatter on the shower bottom beneath it...perhaps one of the worst places for broken glass. Thankfully, my roommates were not filled with ill will after this occurrence, likely due to my willingness to confront the intruding bug and my sincere and repeated apologies for my failed actions. Needless to say, the cockroach got away and we were out one bug catching glass.
In other news, after a great adventure we now have a furnished living room! One roommate and I drove to a local Lowe's yesterday to rent a truck and worked our way around Charlotte picking up a fantastic couch. After an air condition-less ride that pushed my navigational skills to a near perilous end, we arrived at our next pick-up point. A third roommate awaited us at Salvation Army with a coffee table and another couch. She was quite happy to see us pull up, as she had been sitting in the 90 degree heat being eaten alive by mosquitoes for an hour. Once home, we enlisted the aid of a couple of strong fellows who took on our stairs with the heavy couch. After many a grunt, heavy breath, minor hand and wrist injury and curse word, the guys had successfully ascended our staircase with the couch. I have never appreciated a place to sit more than last night. Pillows on the floor are great...but really, flopping down on a comfy couch after a long day will be a far greater reward - especially considering our great efforts that allowed it to rest in the room.
This weekend will involve more online training and unit planning. It will be a long weekend, but it will likely ensure a stronger beginning to the school year.
As of now, the cockroach count in our condo is 3 and counting. As the four of us snuggled up for a quiet evening of "Wild Things", it wasn't the plot twists that freaked us out so much as the reddish-black, dazzlingly quick creature crawling up the curtain in the background. We were visited again by a friend in the shower last night. Running to the rescue, I was handed a shot glass and a magazine with which to catch and release the demon. As I blew air in an attempt to stir the roach from the cozy crevice it was inhabiting, I failed to hang onto the glass. Unfortunately, the small glass slipped from my hand, only to shatter on the shower bottom beneath it...perhaps one of the worst places for broken glass. Thankfully, my roommates were not filled with ill will after this occurrence, likely due to my willingness to confront the intruding bug and my sincere and repeated apologies for my failed actions. Needless to say, the cockroach got away and we were out one bug catching glass.
In other news, after a great adventure we now have a furnished living room! One roommate and I drove to a local Lowe's yesterday to rent a truck and worked our way around Charlotte picking up a fantastic couch. After an air condition-less ride that pushed my navigational skills to a near perilous end, we arrived at our next pick-up point. A third roommate awaited us at Salvation Army with a coffee table and another couch. She was quite happy to see us pull up, as she had been sitting in the 90 degree heat being eaten alive by mosquitoes for an hour. Once home, we enlisted the aid of a couple of strong fellows who took on our stairs with the heavy couch. After many a grunt, heavy breath, minor hand and wrist injury and curse word, the guys had successfully ascended our staircase with the couch. I have never appreciated a place to sit more than last night. Pillows on the floor are great...but really, flopping down on a comfy couch after a long day will be a far greater reward - especially considering our great efforts that allowed it to rest in the room.
This weekend will involve more online training and unit planning. It will be a long weekend, but it will likely ensure a stronger beginning to the school year.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Bad Plumbing and the Po-Po
We have officially moved into the condo!...and I will never...ever rent or buy a condo again. Some words of caution to those signing a lease soon:
1) Make sure you are the only ones who have keys to the place, or at least know all parties that have a key.
2) Ensure that your landlord upholds the darn agreement from the beginning!
A few days ago, we had moved into a nicely renovated condo with two bathrooms and 2 kitchens...little did we know that one bathroom was off limits because the drains were leaking into our downstairs neighbor's ceiling and the electricity in one kitchen didn't work...pretty sweet. One afternoon we came home to a note on a bathroom mirror reading, "DON'T USE SINK OR SHOWER! --Your downstairs neighbor." I mean really? At least get rid of the caps Jeanie. And how freaking impersonal. And she has a key to our place?! Apparently the condo owner and Jeanie have a history of bad blood between them. That night our landlord came over to change our locks...when we discovered that Jeanie actually should have a key according to the condo laws...our landlord proceeded to run to the grocery store and buy us all some crystal light and snack food. A little bribery for our troubles perhaps...as if that wasn't fishy enough, our condo owner brought over a $150 gift certificate last night for a nice restaurant. So clearly something has gone very wrong with their upholding their end of the lease.
Long story short, our bathrooms all work (thanks to Gamel, our great handy-man who worked extremely hard into the evening a couple of days to get us squared away), but one of our kitchens (with the better oven) is still out of commission.
In other news, I got pulled over for the first time last night! Woohoo. We are driving along after out delicious meal on our condo owner and a roomie in the back is telling a great story about being pulled over by the police. I happen to glance in the rear-view mirror and notice that a cop is behind me...hmmm, I better not speed or anything, wouldn't that be ironic if we got pulled over when someone was telling a story about the exact phenomenon. O dear...this is actually happening, lights behind me are flashing, "Is he seriously asking me to pull over?" I question my compatriots. Indeed he was, and I proceed to move into a conveniently located pull-out area, signaling carefully.
I roll down the window and prepare myself for my first ticket. A young policeman approaches my window. "Good evening ma'am, how's it going tonight?" "Very well, thank you" I say. "Have you been drinking tonight?" "No, not a drop" (A true statement) "I'll walk the line or take a blood alcohol level test if you want" "What about everybody else" "Yes, others in the car have been" (Each had a drink at dinner). "Do you know why I pulled you over ma'am?" "No sir, I am very curious," I say with a little too much enthusiasm in my voice." "Your headlights are off" "O wow! I didn't even realize!" I respond with genuine shock, madly turning the knob that would ensure full visibility of the path ahead. "Do you know who usually drives at night with their headlights off?" He asks with a slight air of condescension. "I am guessing drunk drivers?" What do I win Bob?! "Yes, ma'am. License and registration please." I provide the essentials. By this point a second car had joined our party across the street, and shortly thereafter a third car, making three cars blocking traffic with lights flashing. Are they serious? I think. A female approaches with some plastic tubes in her hand. "Have you ever taken one of these before?" she inquires. "No, I haven't." "Take a deep breath, blow hard into the tube and don't stop until I tell you." Taking a deep breath, I blew with all of my might as I avoided cracking under the sarcastic comedic comments relating to sexual references from the peanut gallery in the back. "She's clean" the policewoman reports to her fellow member of the force. The first policeman comes back into view, returning borrowed documents and closes our meeting with, "Thank you for being the designated driver this evening, have a good night." Whew! Not even a verbal warning. I will certainly keep my lights on in the future.
1) Make sure you are the only ones who have keys to the place, or at least know all parties that have a key.
2) Ensure that your landlord upholds the darn agreement from the beginning!
A few days ago, we had moved into a nicely renovated condo with two bathrooms and 2 kitchens...little did we know that one bathroom was off limits because the drains were leaking into our downstairs neighbor's ceiling and the electricity in one kitchen didn't work...pretty sweet. One afternoon we came home to a note on a bathroom mirror reading, "DON'T USE SINK OR SHOWER! --Your downstairs neighbor." I mean really? At least get rid of the caps Jeanie. And how freaking impersonal. And she has a key to our place?! Apparently the condo owner and Jeanie have a history of bad blood between them. That night our landlord came over to change our locks...when we discovered that Jeanie actually should have a key according to the condo laws...our landlord proceeded to run to the grocery store and buy us all some crystal light and snack food. A little bribery for our troubles perhaps...as if that wasn't fishy enough, our condo owner brought over a $150 gift certificate last night for a nice restaurant. So clearly something has gone very wrong with their upholding their end of the lease.
Long story short, our bathrooms all work (thanks to Gamel, our great handy-man who worked extremely hard into the evening a couple of days to get us squared away), but one of our kitchens (with the better oven) is still out of commission.
In other news, I got pulled over for the first time last night! Woohoo. We are driving along after out delicious meal on our condo owner and a roomie in the back is telling a great story about being pulled over by the police. I happen to glance in the rear-view mirror and notice that a cop is behind me...hmmm, I better not speed or anything, wouldn't that be ironic if we got pulled over when someone was telling a story about the exact phenomenon. O dear...this is actually happening, lights behind me are flashing, "Is he seriously asking me to pull over?" I question my compatriots. Indeed he was, and I proceed to move into a conveniently located pull-out area, signaling carefully.
I roll down the window and prepare myself for my first ticket. A young policeman approaches my window. "Good evening ma'am, how's it going tonight?" "Very well, thank you" I say. "Have you been drinking tonight?" "No, not a drop" (A true statement) "I'll walk the line or take a blood alcohol level test if you want" "What about everybody else" "Yes, others in the car have been" (Each had a drink at dinner). "Do you know why I pulled you over ma'am?" "No sir, I am very curious," I say with a little too much enthusiasm in my voice." "Your headlights are off" "O wow! I didn't even realize!" I respond with genuine shock, madly turning the knob that would ensure full visibility of the path ahead. "Do you know who usually drives at night with their headlights off?" He asks with a slight air of condescension. "I am guessing drunk drivers?" What do I win Bob?! "Yes, ma'am. License and registration please." I provide the essentials. By this point a second car had joined our party across the street, and shortly thereafter a third car, making three cars blocking traffic with lights flashing. Are they serious? I think. A female approaches with some plastic tubes in her hand. "Have you ever taken one of these before?" she inquires. "No, I haven't." "Take a deep breath, blow hard into the tube and don't stop until I tell you." Taking a deep breath, I blew with all of my might as I avoided cracking under the sarcastic comedic comments relating to sexual references from the peanut gallery in the back. "She's clean" the policewoman reports to her fellow member of the force. The first policeman comes back into view, returning borrowed documents and closes our meeting with, "Thank you for being the designated driver this evening, have a good night." Whew! Not even a verbal warning. I will certainly keep my lights on in the future.
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